My son has attended Camp Casco's overnight program for the past two summers. My son comes home with a smile and a great deal of excitement to share his camp stories. My son enjoys the camp activities and interacting with the camp counselors. Most importantly, my son speaks of the friendships camp cultivates. As a cancer survivor, my son relishes the time he spends with other children who have shared his struggle and faced the same adversities. Thank you, Camp Casco, for this amazing opportunity!
Camp Casco was Melissa's first sleepaway
Melissa was shy when she went to camp for the first time, but on pick up day she had changed and she was a bit more outgoing and social. Camp is a place where everyone knows how she felt and new how to help her with the physical and emotional issues that came about do to the treatments she had.
Erin and the whole staff are faboulas, they asked all kinds of questions to make her time at camp fun, and safe, this was her first time she was ever away from us. They called and gave us an update and sent pictures to reassure us she was having a great time.
Melissa has to go to extended school year for half the summer and she knows that at the end of school there is Camp Casco.
I would like to say thank you to all the volunteers and all the donors that make this week at camp possible for Melissa and all the campers and future campers.
Tammy and Alan Loftus
Previous Stories
Our daughter is one of the original campers, and it was her first time away with out family.
The staff asked all kinds of question to make this first time away as memoriable as possible.
She was a little scared when we drop her off, but at the end she was not happy to leave. She looks forward to camp every summer. The staff is faboulas and having little get togethers during the year, it keeps the friendship going and she meets new campers before camp week.
We had a annoamous send me a linc to camp and the rest is history.
The Loftus family
Camp Casco was an outstanding experience for my daughter. What a great camp for childhood cancer patients and survivors. My daughter has been attending for 2 years, she talks about it often, and cannot wait to go back this summer. She loves the constant creative activities and we love the way she can connect with the other kids that have gone through similar treatment experiences. We also adore the counselors – they are all extremely dedicated to the camp and understand the special needs of these kids. I can't say enough wonderful things about this camp and my child's experience.
My daughter loved the week long sleep away camp. She said the week was filled with great activities and especially loved the staff. A great experience for her to share with others who have gone through the same life experiences as her.
Camp Casco is my daughter's happy place. There, one can expect their child to experience a place of intense positivity and personal growth. After camp this summer, Maeve has grown tremendously since her cancer diagnosis by challenging her body and soul with the support of the amazing councilors. Maeve also gained a sense of peace and acceptance within herself. She achieved this emotionally by participating in Circle Time, sharing her thoughts and feelings (normally something very difficult for her), and physically by challenging herself to try new things while honoring her body when it was time to take a break. Not only do the councilors at Camp Casco communicate these breakthroughs with us throughout the week, but they also celebrate them with the children. Camp Casco is a place of honor and a place of peace. We are forever grateful to have come across the fiercely talented and caring individuals who run the camp, and Maeve cannot wait to become a counselor there in the future!
Camp Casco is the best summer camp for childhood cancer patients and survivors!! It's an amazing week away in the Berkshires, at Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA. It's really the best week of the year! There are so many fun activities, from archery and swimming to "snow ball" fights and fossil digs. Real life Mario Kart racing and under the sea dance parties and camp songs and s'mores around the camp fire! The counselors (always dressed in costume for the various theme days) put their hearts and souls into this week.
In the midst of all the fun, the campers are surrounded by others that have gone through similar experiences, by others who can truly understand what they are going through. We create a safe space where cancer is the new normal. Watching the campers grow and mature and support each other throughout the week and throughout the years has been utterly heartwarming. At the end of the day, Camp Casco is a place for kids to just be kids again and play, a place where we believe that a week of fun can lead to a lifetime of support. I can't wait to go back!
