I have been a volunteer for this program for over 30 years. I have amazed from the very beginning how this program literally and figuratively takes 95% of every dollar raised and pours it directly into the program for the children. Everyone from nurses, doctors, camp directors, assistants and on down the line volunteer their time and energy into the program. The program is so unique in that it provides a safe environment for children ages 5-14 that have chronic and life threatening illness that require medical care daily that almost no other camp can provide. It gives them a week to be kids again with others that they can relate to and to do it with no one being left on the sidelines or felt alone with their illnesses. This is all provided with no cost to them or their families, including the transportation to get them to the camp.
It is an “under the radar “ amazing organization that should be recognized as one of the true heroes in a society of volunteers giving of their time, heart and love to children in need.
Dream Street Foundation is one of my favorite organizations. They provide an opportunity to for seriously ill children to have a free away from home camp with excellent medical support. The organization is purely volunteers and many of them have been actively involved for many years. It is wonderful to talk with other adult volunteers that were once campers. This is a truly amazing group of people. Seeing the children's faces when they are enjoying camp activities and knowing not a single one had to pay to attend makes me happy in a way that few things do. I encourage everyone I know to support Dream Street Foundation.
I have been volunteering for over 25 years to this organization and am now a board member can say it is worth every minute of my time.
They provide these great camping programs for many of these kids that attend and the attention to detail is beyond what anyone could imagine.
The group of volunteers always make you feel welcomed and there is never a dull moment.
Dream Street offers a one-of-a-kind experience to kids and young adults dealing with life-threatening diseases. I can't speak about the organization highly enough.
I have had the opportunity to experience Dream Street as both a camper and a counselor. Dream Street completely changed my life! It gave me hope during one of the darkest, most challenging times of my life. As a teenager who was diagnosed with cancer, I felt scared and alone. Dream Street at Canyon Ranch introduced me to a family and provided me with the strength I needed to fight! I am so grateful that Dream Street exists. The smiles, joy, and laughter camp brings to hundreds of kids each summer is incredible! I love supporting such an awesome organization of volunteers!
I cannot speak highly enough about my experience at Dream Street . There is nothing normal about having a life threatening illness. Being with others who shared my experiences made me feel accepted and loved. I will always be grateful for what I learned and the friends I made.
I was a camper at Dream Street for several years and it changed my life forever.
Everything about this program is awesome.
Dream Street Foundation is a program like no other. The number of lives affected by the positive environment that this program are uncountable- from its team of volunteers to the children diagnosed that attend down to the families. It brings light into the lives of those who benefit from it. Dream Street is the happiest place on earth for those who are involved and I hope this program goes on and on and on to help as many people as possible. Thank you to everyone who is a part of making it what it is.You have made a difference in the lives of others.
As a two time pediatric cancer survivor, sometimes it's hard to find a place where you fit in, but not at Dream Street. Dream Street provides a fun, over the top, and a healing break from the scarriness of serious illness for children and young adults. As kids, Dream Street gives campers the most epicly fun week away at camp to forget about their illness. There are petting zoos, snow cones, laser tag, go cart, dances, and other jam packed fun activities to make these children feel a sense of normalcy . For young adults, Dream Street takes them to a spa to relax, heal, and learn how to overcome the struggles of disease. What's even more amazing is that Dream Street provides the largest on camp medical staff in the country so that campers, parents, and doctors can feel safe to send their children away for a break. Dream Street changed my life forever in the most positive and impactful way. Dream Street taught me how to laugh hard, Smile often, Be goofy, take risks, Talk openly, take a breath, relax, trust others, have confidence in myself and to overcome cancer.
For the thousands of campers , volunteer counselors and volunteer medical staff that have participated in the camps that the Dream Street Foundation provides, their lives have been changed forever! We all look upon our time at camp with memories and love that was so meaningful and could not have taken place anywhere else.
To a camper who has a life threatening or a chronic disease at Dream Street , camp is camp, a week away filled with fun , games, dances, swimming, horseback riding and making a life time of friendships . Dream Street changes lives forever.
This is one amazing under the radar program! They provide camping and support programs for really ill children and young adults ages 5-24 at various locations in the US. Everyone and I mean everyone volunteers, doctors ,nurses, counselors, it’s awesome. This camp in Southern California has about 120 children come every summer to have the time of their lives. I have been there, seen how it changes their lives, how it allows them to be children like others who are not suffering with horrific illnessses. They get all the medical attention they need from a volunteer staff of doctors and nurses that come from all over the country to make this experience happen for these campers. I watched these kids come with a shyness, scared, loneliness and leave with love, friendship and such joy in light of their medical issues. The counselors, some who were campers at one time, have such a love for the program and children it makes this 73 year old man cry every year I have gone to this camp. The cost for these children to attend is ZERO, for the parents is ZERO, every program should be like this, I apologize for any spelling mistakes but wanted to tell this story of the loving, caring, amazing Dream Street Foundation.
Lenny
I have been a volunteer counselor at Camp Dream Street for 30 years. Our campers enjoy activities they would normally be restricted from due to their illness, and Dream Street supports their medical needs while at Camp. Dream St brings the dream of normal childhood activities to reality for them during this magical week. Best week of my life too! Lisa
Dream street is a truly unique camp for children with cancer , totally volunteer based I have been doing this camp for the past12 years, a Place for terminally ill children to have the great experience of camp, fully staffed with doctors , nurses, counselors, they make the children's experiences wonderful, be it arts an crafts , wacky olympics, swimming, horseback riding, too many activities to list each, I will be there for the kids as long as I am able,
I have been a part of Dream Street for 21 years as a physician in the infirmary. It is a camp that says no to no patient! I makes Dreams come true for so many and is the only place that I know that is a place of unconditional love.
I have been a part of the DreamStreet family since my sister was diagnosed in 2003. She spent a week at the young adult camp in Arizona and it changed her life. Since then my family has volunteered every summer to give that same experience to others. It is an incredible program that brings so much joy and love into the lives of families that need it so much. There is no camp out there like it and I am so blessed and proud to be a part of it!
Dream Street is a week long, free camp for children with chronic and life threatening diseases. It’s a place of fun, hope, and community. It lifts spirits that desperately need it. The counselors, nurses and doctors are volunteers, and the medical facilities are such that campers can get chemo and other treatments in a very different setting than their hospitals. It also gives the families some relief and support. It means the world to so many people. The volunteers, many of whom are former campers, work year round to raise money for the campers because they care.
Dream street is the most amazing camp where kids with chronic illnesses can take a week to just feel like kids. It’s life changing to see these kids have the time of their lives and not have to worry about anything else. There really is nothing like it!!
Dream Street is an amazing place for any child with a chronic and life-threatening illness.
The camp brings the dream of normal childhood activities to reality for these children. Dream Street is COMPLETELY VOLUNTEER OPERATED. THEY DO NO PAY SALARIES. They provide happy summers for children in need.
Dream Street, where brave, victorious, and inspiring campers spend a week worry free about their medical situation. This is a special place where campers can just truly focus on "just having some serious fun." The positive energy here is contagious. No matter where you go on the campsite there is always giggles, smiles, and laughter. The volunteers come from all walks of life and love pours out from each one of them. I am truly grateful to be a part of the Dream Street family!
Summer of 2015 marks my third year as a volunteer counselor, and I look forward to many more! Dream street is a magical place where doctors, nurses, and other volunteers disguise themselves as angels-- scratch that, they are angels. These angels provide a fun and safe camp for children and young adults that may not be able to attend other camps due to their medical needs. Arts, crafts, sports, dancing, movies, snacks, candy.. the list goes on and on. The only thing I enjoy more than the camp itself, is the overall emanating happiness from the kids though out that week. There is so much more that could be said, but for now, I'll leave this message with:
Thanks dream street!
From San Antonio: I have volunteered each year since 1994. GREAT program which brings SO MUCH joy to so many young people facing incredible challenges. Amazing camp for so many amazing kids. Kids are impacted, parents are given a great gift of their kids being so well cared for, and counselors are inspired.
I know of no other charity that does what DreamStreet does. For the last 10 years I have volunteered at the California camp and have watched lives be changed by so much joy! It is an honor to be a part of this superb organization.
It's been my honor and privilege to volunteer as a counselor for the Dream Street Foundation for the past nine years. It has been and continues to be the one thing I look forward to all year. I've yet to encounter a greater group of people than those who volunteer each summer at Dream Street's California camp
I've been a part of Dreamstreet for over 20 years! I know of no other organisation that can as much joy to kids with medical issues as they can. The smiles they bring to the children's faces is immeasurable, let alone the smiles on the volunteers! There is laughter on a daily basis. Dreamstreet has a part of my heart like no other! You only need to spend a fraction of time here to see what it's all about, and even then you'll want more.