My Nonprofit Reviews

To our friends at the Go4theGoal foundation:

As you know, the mission behind Camp No Worries is to provide a summer camp experience solely to give children with cancer and their siblings an opportunity to relax, enjoy themselves, and forget about their troubles for one week every summer. It’s a place that allows children facing a diagnosis of cancer to just be kids. It’s a place of happiness, friendship, and new adventures. It’s a place of camaraderie and acceptance where everyone knows first-hand what it’s like to live with cancer. And it’s a true summer camp experience in every sense of the word.

In 2012, Camp No Worries celebrated its 18th year of providing children with a week of “no worries.” With the generous support of the Go4theGoal foundation we were able to take our Fight like a Girl and Wilderness Adventure programs for the teenage campers to the next level. Natalie Richardson, the Fight Like A Girl program coordinator, said the older girls loved their second year of Fight Like a Girl, which focused on empowerment, self-esteem, and support for one another. The group 'got in the ring' to discuss their strengths and weaknesses and began to understand how they have similarities and can support one another. After receiving their official Fight Like a Girl t-shirts, the girls participated in yoga to learn to strengthen their minds and bodies. The group made two crafts this year including metal stamping jewelry. The necklaces had a metal stamping piece designed by each participant, a unique bead, and boxing glove charm. The closing craft was a tree poster where every girl thumb-stamped their unique print on everyone else's tree, as a reminder that they can stand strong with each other to lean on. This program continues to develop our teenage girl campers, as they grow into mature, strong women.

Jon Bernacki, the Wilderness Adventure program coordinator, said the older boys began their adventure at their campsite and hiked some of the lesser traveled trails of Camp No Worries. They crossed Camp Inawendiwin's Betsy's Bridge then hiked along the stream through the marshes, over sphagnum moss, among the sedges and beneath the Cedar trees that give the stream its brown color. The muddy hike gave a very a different perspective than our usual hot and sandy pinelands campground. The boys ended their hike at the old lakefront beach where the boys were broken into four teams. A large bull's eye target was placed far out in the dry lakebed while the boys took turns working in teams to lob water balloons at the target using giant slingshots. The boys finished their adventure with a few games of tug-of-war across the stream. The games were a great finish and a fun way to cool off after the hike. From this program, the boys were able to walk the path less traveled, explore a unique habitat of the pinelands, and have fun working as a team while playing a variety of different games.

Go4theGoal also provided every one of our campers with a Pillow Pet and helped some of our camp families with their travel expenses to and from camp. In addition, Nick Stefanacci donated his DJ services for our Thursday evening program, which featured inflatable games for our campers. It was clear that campers, counselors, and the staff all enjoyed the music since there was a constant dance party in front of the DJ tent all night long.

Because of Go4theGoal’s support, a cancer patient who has undergone rigorous chemotherapy treatments and has been limited to a strict diet can be found singing songs at a campfire while eating S’mores. His or her sibling, who has spent much of their time at the hospital during visiting hours, can be found swimming alongside other brothers and sisters who have done the same. And still another child who has lost a brother or sister to cancer can be found making arts and crafts with a new group of friends who know exactly what they’re feeling. These children and countless more benefit from Camp No Worries each summer, but we could not provide this experience without the generosity of organizations like Go4theGoal.

We truly appreciate everything you have done for Camp No Worries this year and we are very excited about continuing this great relationship for years to come!

Sincerely,

Chris “Cal” Callanan
Camp No Worries, Director

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