Who can attend?
Camp Hope is a camp for youth who have or have had cancer. We accept campers from age 5 through 17. We also offer a Camper for a Day program for youth ages 4 through 17 who are either too young for the week-long camp or who are unable to attend a full week.
When is it?
Camp Hope is held the third full week of June each summer. Most years it starts on Father’s Day.
How much does it cost?
Camp Hope is provided FREE of charge to all attendees.
Where is it located?
Camp Hope is held at Camp Aldrich near Claflin, Kansas. More information about Aldrich can be found here. All of the cabins are air-conditioned. There are concrete paths connecting all of the main areas of camp. There is a swimming pool with licensed lifeguards, a basketball court, a playground, a kickball court and more. The campground is approximately 90 minutes from Wichita and 4 hours from Kansas City.
How do we get there?
Camp Hope offers free charter bus transportation for campers from Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City; each bus is staffed with a medical volunteer. Many parents choose to drive their child to camp themselves.
What kind of activities are there at camp?
Camp Hope provides a traditional summer camp experience. Activities each year include pool swimming, archery, arts and crafts, a dance, a talent show and much more. We often play basketball, kickball (including slip-n-slide kickball!) and baseball. In addition we often take trips into Great Bend to go bowling, miniature golfing and to visit their water park! We try to tailor our activities to the needs of both our young campers and our teens. The teens get several teen-only events throughout the week.
What about campers with special needs?
Many of our campers have special needs and we are able to tailor the camp experience so that everyone can enjoy it. The campground is designed for wheelchairs and we provide volunteer-driven golf carts for any campers with more limited mobility.
Are there any medical restrictions to attend?
Our only rule is that the camper must be healthy enough to enjoy the camp experience.
Medical Needs
Camp Hope provides 24 hour on-site medical coverage consisting of physicians, nurses, mental health specialists and pharmacists. We typically have over 15 members of the medical staff there 24/7. This team provides basic first aid, distributes medications, and monitors the physical and mental well-being of our campers. We have chemotherapy-certified nurses available should your child need chemotherapy while at camp. Our dedicated medical facility gives us space to monitor sick campers and perform minor procedures. We are a 15 minute drive from a hospital and an emergency room.
Volunteer to camper ratios
Our campers are divided into groups by age and each group has volunteers (houseparents) assigned to them. We maintain a minimum ratio of 5 campers per volunteer but in reality we have so many volunteers that we average 2 volunteers per camper. We are able to provide 1 on 1 for campers who need extra help and assistance as well.
Volunteer selection
Our volunteers undergo a strict selection process that includes an annual background check and an annual check of the national sex offender database. We also routinely check the Kansas and Missouri child abuse databases. New volunteers must undergo an interview and reference check before being hired.
What makes Camp Hope unique?
Camp Hope is the only oncology camp in the area that is accredited by the American Camp Association. This means we meet over 300 strict safety standards. We have maintained that accreditation continuously since 2002.