Kesem is the largest national organization dedicated to supporting children impacted by a parent’s cancer, at no cost to families. Our innovative and fun-filled programs provide children with peers who understand their unique needs, and create long-lasting impact. We believe all children facing a parent’s cancer deserve the chance to fully experience the joys of childhood and be their best selves.
Creating fun. Building community.
Empowering the next generation.
Passionate college students lead our community. Working alongside alumni and supporters, they create experiences and connections where these children can process, connect, heal, and thrive.
For many of the children and our volunteers, Kesem is a life-changing experience that spans far beyond a week at summer camp. It fosters bonds and understanding that builds resilience, confidence, and lasting feelings of hope and joy.
That’s the magic of Kesem.
The first Kesem chapter was founded at Stanford University in 2000 as a project of Hillel at Stanford. Since then, we have grown to more than 130 chapters across the country.
At camp, we focus on creating fun experiences that help these children escape – even if for a short time – the challenges of coping with a parent’s cancer diagnosis.
Campers find adventure and creativity, build trust in themselves, and create new friendships. Many children say that Camp Kesem is the best week of the year, and we agree!
The Challenge
Today, more than 5 million children are impacted by a parent’s cancer in the United States.
These children can experience increased anxiety, emotional isolation, loss of social interest, and feelings of hopelessness, among other things. And that’s why, at Kesem, we are committed to creating a world where every child who has a parent with a cancer diagnosis or has lost a parent to cancer is never alone. We support these children through and beyond their parent’s cancer with free, fun-filled creative programs and a lasting community.
While many programs, services, and communities support those coping with their own cancer diagnosis, these children often lack the resources, spaces, or peer-to-peer support tailored to help address their needs and experiences.
¹Source: Center for Disease Control and American Cancer Society data analyzed by Decision Resources Group.
Who We Are
We work to ensure that every child affected by a parent’s cancer is never alone.
In our community, thousands of children facing the challenges of a parent’s cancer can escape the sadness and isolation that cancer creates and connect with peers who understand and are able to provide comfort and support.
Core Values that Guide Our Work
At Kesem, a set of shared values guide our work and how we conduct ourselves every day.
- Compassion
- Accountability
- Resilience
- Empathy
MORNING
Our fantastic counselors will wake you up bright and early every day! And trust us, everyone gets ready super-fast because a new fun-filled day is ready to start.
Your camper wakes up early to have one of their three nutritional meals of the day. Later, your child will go with their peers in the same age group to different camp rotations. This may include traditional camp activities such as arts and crafts, sports, and swimming. Morning activities end with “Cabin Time,” a chance for your child to relax with their bunkmates, nap, do crafts, or write letters home.
With every activity at Kesem, participation is optional and alternate choices are always made available.
AFTERNOON
Lunchtime is a time to recharge, refuel, and have more fun! Every Camp Kesem has its own traditions for campers to participate in to remind them of the loving community they are a part of. One of our camps does a lunchtime “Web of Kindness” – where any camper has the opportunity to share a story about someone helping them out, something awesome that they saw another camper do, etc. No matter what the tradition is, every Camp Kesem camper is regularly reminded of the love and support surrounding them by their fellow campers, their counselors, and the entire camp staff during their fun week!
Your child will again go with their group to do an activity. They’ll also choose a free rotation to have extra time in a favorite program or try something new. They’ll end with another “Cabin Time” to rest and recharge.
Even though there are so many activities to be done at Camp Kesem, everyone gets a period specifically to rest so that they have enough energy to enjoy all those activities!
Similar to the morning activity rotations, each age group travels to a different activity together.
EVENING
Your child catches up with friends and sings camp songs at dinner before joining an activity like a talent show or s’mores. Before bedtime, campers gather in their cabin for “Cabin Chat.” Cabin Chats give everyone the chance to speak in a comfortable atmosphere about anything on their mind – from thoughts on their day to experiences at home. Your child goes to sleep to get ready for another fun-filled day!
EMPOWERMENT
There’s one time during the week that we set specific time aside for the entire camp to get together to acknowledge why we are here. This is a time for your child to share their stories about fears, accomplishments, hopes, and dreams. Anyone can talk if they choose to, but not everybody has to. It is a truly magical experience for everyone involved.
The true power of Kesem comes from empowering passionate college student volunteers to become leaders in their own local communities. We are proud to continually invest in training, support, and leadership development opportunities for our student leaders, as they prepare to provide life-changing experiences for our families nationwide.
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