Camp Sunshine supports seriously ill children and their families.  The camp will become the one of the few programs in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of a serious illness on every member of the immediate  family—the ill child, the parents, and the siblings.  The first Camp Sunshine, located in Casco, Maine, has provided a haven for over 3,400 families from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Many of the services and activities listed below are based on the first Camp Sunshine, in Casco, Maine, founded by Dr. Larry & Anna Gould, and available from their website. Help further development by donating now or becoming a volunteer.

Families with a child diagnosed with diseases such as cancer, kidney disease, lupus, diabetes, solid organ transplants, hemophilia and other serious illnesses attend one of the week-long camps.  Our focus is on alleviating the strain that serious illness takes not only on the sick child but also on other family members.  Families have an opportunity to rebuild their relationships together and meet other families facing similar challenges. 

Services and Activities (Based on those established by Dr. Larry and Anna Gould of Camp Sunshine Maine)

Free quality services will be provided at the camp including accommodations and meals, onsite medical services, counseling services, and recreational facilities.  Transportation will be the responsibility of the family, unless assistance is needed. While the camp is in session, each family stays in their own family suite.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served each day. 

Volunteers, except for those who live nearby, will also stay on the property.  Camp Sunshine will be staffed almost entirely by volunteers, many of whom return year after year.  The volunteers reflect the diversity of the families and help with recreational leadership, childcare, food service and whatever else needs to be done. 

Another distinctive component of the program is the medical facilities and professional staff that will be available to address the taxing physical needs of children with intrusive diseases.  A physician will be located at the camp for the entire session so that families can be secure in the knowledge that the camp offers 24-hour onsite medical support.

Recreational hours allow children to relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood while their parents find quiet moments to walk by the lake and reaffirm their support for one another. In addition, games and events are designed to foster family involvement, encouraging families to laugh and play as a unit.  This approach builds a new foundation the family can take with them when the camp is over to unite them during the darker times they will face.  

Each family is sponsored by an individual, civic group, corporation, or foundation, which enables a family to spend a week at Camp Sunshine free of charge.  The sponsorship for one family to participate in the week-long program will range from $1,500-$2,500.  The Family Sponsorship Program provides a way for donors to sponsor a family or families from their geographic area. 

The Camp Sunshine Program is FREE.