Camp joy thank you and summer media

Camp Joy FoundationP.O. Box 417, Clarksville, Ohio 45113

(937) 289-2031 (Local)www.camp-joy.org

• Helped more than 2,500 children through summer camp programs

• Delivered over 30 different camp program sessions

• Launched camp program for children with parent in the military

• Dedicated six new Yurt cabins

• Nearing completion of Rachel A. Hutzel Observatory and Nature Center

• Collaborated with more than 30 partnering organizations

• Enhanced year-round program for youth in foster care

C A M P J O Y – S U M M E R O F I N S P I R A T I O N

Thank you for a great 2014 Summer Camp Season!

Thank you for your wonderful generosity! Together we have grown to help more children in the community. We are excited to celebrate and build on this success through our year-round programming!

See what’s making news at Camp Joy...

Four young boys sit at a table

inside a cabin discussing the best

way to inject medication into their

arm. They talk about the process in a

matter-of-fact way as most of them

have been taking medicine this way

for years. The only difference is that

this week they are at camp, with

peers willing to offer suggestions and

words of support.

For most children, summer camp

is mainly a chance to get away and

share experiences with friends.

Camp Joy, a nonprofit located in

Clarksville, about 40 miles northeast

of downtown Cincinnati, is

celebrating the 15th anniversary of

its partnership with Cincinnati

Children’s Hospital Medical Center,

offering more than just a typical

weeklong retreat. Kids with medical

conditions are invited to a place

During the hemotology/ “Think of a happy place, Austin,”

oncology youth camp – Camp said Tyler, who had already gone

NjoyItAll – one first-time camper, through a vein in his arm and foot

Austin Carper, 7, of Anderson before trying successfully one last

Township, was struggling to time in his right arm. “Take your

overcome his fear of the needle. turn and then I’ll go again. You’ll see

Shutting his eyes as the other boys it’s not that bad.”where they can be monitored and at the table took their turns with the Tyler was right. A nurse helped receive their medications, but also infusions, Tyler Bertel, 10, of West feel normal and be around others Austin with his shot of medicine, and Chester Township, offered who are dealing with similar motivation.situations.



THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

CAMP CREATES JOY THROUGH SUPPORTBy Amanda [email protected]

Published Saturday, July 26, 2014

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Zach Sence, 12, laughs during a playful shaving-cream fight during Joyful Hearts camp at Camp Joy. The camp is offered through Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center for kids and teens with heart disease. THE ENQUIRER/AMANDA ROSSMANN

Creating joy via support at Camp Joy

15 YEARS OF COLLABORATION1997: Camp Joy builds an accessible pool, paving the way for medical camps to expand.

1999: The first Cincinnati Children’s summer camp collaboration with Camp Joy is offered to 45 youth with arthritis, called Camp Wekandu.

2003: Children’s camps expand to serve patients with heart conditions, cancer and bleeding disorders.

2008: Accessibility improvements are made, including the construction of the Health Cottage with support from Children’s.

2013: Camp Joy and Children’s collaborated to impact 1,042 participants through 17 programs.

For more information on camp programs, call 937-289-2031 or visit www.camp-joy.org.

I am a photojournalist and multimedia producer visually documenting life and events in my hometown. Email me at [email protected].

7 5 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y C A P I T A L C A M P A I G N

Helping people grow and succeed through

life-long, experience-based learning.

he was brave. His spirits lifted when

it was over and the room clapped.

Kameron and Kaleb Kinebrew,

17-year-old twins from Colerain

Township, are examples of the good

that has come from this partnership.

The twins, who have been diagnosed

with sickle cell disease, have been

coming to the camp for the past eight

years. Just recently, they also

returned for a week as junior

counselors, learning how to be

leaders and also role models for

younger children.

“It gives me a new perspective.

When I was a camper, I did

everything I wanted to do, but when

you are a junior counselor you have

to look out for what is good for

everyone,” said Kameron. “Here, I

can meet other kids with sickle cell,

who know how I feel and we can feed

off of each other, saying this helps camps, they are encouraged to set experience is ‘freedom,’ ” Madsen me, or this doesn’t work for me.”goals for themselves focused on their said. “There is a freedom for the It can be challenging for parents of diseases, but are also encouraged to campers to be themselves. They are children coping with illness to have fun. Medical staff from free to play and challenge commit to the camps, but organizers Children’s also oversees the camps, themselves. They are free to think say it proves to be worth it for the but this gives campers a chance to about their heart condition without children and parents alike.see these adults in a new light. feeling different, or free to forget “Sometimes it is really difficult for During the Joyful Hearts camp, a about their heart condition because, these parents to let go for a week,” week dedicated to children with heart for one week, it is not a unique says Gunner Blackmore, disease, one of the doctors, Nicholas experience. They are free to simply development director for Camp Joy. Madsen, M.D. of pediatric cardiology, enjoy themselves fully without a lot “They are used to making sure their could one minute find himself of outside expectations in a safe place kids take their medicines on a overseeing treatments in the medical surrounded by their friends.”routine basis and always checking to cabin and the next minute running see how they feel. Camp Joy is a after kids (who are often his patients) place that parents know other with a squirt gun during a shaving children will have similar conditions cream war.along with a structured environment

“It is such a magical week and for and they feel better about letting go.”me the word that best sums up the When campers come to the various

Kameron and Kaleb Kinebrew, 17-year-old twins from Colerain Township, at Camp Joy's hematology/oncology camp. The twins have sickle cell anemia. Camp NjoyItAll is a weeklong overnight summer camp experience for patients ages 7-18 with cancer, blood diseases and immune disorders. THE ENQUIRER/AMANDA ROSSMANN

WHO’S ELIGIBLE?A variety of family camps and day or weekend retreats are offered throughout the year. Personal donations, corporate sponsorships and grants cover the cost of most of the Cincinnati Children’s camps offered through Camp Joy. While most of the camps are free to patients, others do have a fee, but financial assistance and scholarships are available. Campers need to be patients of Children’s Hospital within the past 18 months and must register through Children’s Hospital.

Camp: Camp Joy’s Fostering Success program

Where: Clarksville, Ohio

Ages: 9 – 16

CLARKSVILLE, Ohio — Foster care youths recently

kicked off a new year of a program designed to help

them be successful in foster care and beyond. The

2014-2015 year of the Fostering Success program

began the week of July 7 at Camp Joy.

It's one of many ways Camp Joy’s staff members

strive to achieve their mission of “helping people grow

and succeed through lifelong, experience-based

learning.”

Founded in 1937 by St. Barnabus Episcopal

Church, Camp Joy is a nonprofit organization in

Clarksville, Ohio.

“Our goal is helping them (campers) to that

transformation and to go back to their communities

and make changes in their communities as well,” said

Sales and Marketing Director Kevin Hackman.

Designed for children ages 9 to 16 in foster care,

Fostering Success is one of several camp programs for through May of the following year, with youths

underserved youths and families. Others include visiting Camp Joy one weekend every month.

camps for low-income youths and families, those with Campers have “choice times” that allow them to

medical conditions and grieving children and families. participate in traditional camp activities such as

Fostering Success kicks off each summer with a archery, canoeing, fishing and creative arts.

weeklong, residential camp. The program continues




Field trip: Camp Joy’s foster care campaims to teach youth life skillsRoxanna Swift, WCPO Contributor 4:52 PM, Jul 21, 2014

Published Monday, July 21, 2014

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Helping people grow and succeed through

life-long, experience-based learning.

“I like doing the ropes courses and lots of arts and The relationships she developed and the lessons she

crafts. We make lots of bracelets; our arms are covered learned played a big role in becoming comfortable in

in them,” said 14-year-old Kalynne Adams. foster care and building her character.

Makayla Smith, 12, said she mostly does arts and Smith, who has been in the program three years,

crafts and sports during choice times. “I really like to said her favorite thing about the camp is the

do drawings and make bracelets,” she said. opportunity to be a leader to youths who are there for

the first time.

Learning to cope in foster care

Youths who take part in Fostering Success gain A continually growing camp

more from the opportunity than a fun camp Camp Joy serves about 2,500 individuals every

experience. They also learn life skills, which help them summer. About 30 to 35 participate in the Fostering

deal with living in foster care. Success program. While enrollment changes from year

“From my perspective, it’s about teaching you to to year, the goal is to have no more than 55 youths in

deal with all the things going on around you. A lot of the program, said Resident Camp Manager Jermaine

times no one thinks about the fact that some of these Isaac.

kids are really young, and they're living in a stranger’s In recent years, Camp Joy has received recognition

house,” said camp counselor Nadia Goforth. and awards, including the 2012

She speaks from experience - before becoming a Community Service Organization of the

counselor, she was a camper in the Fostering Success Year, 2013

program. Excellence Award as Nonprofit of the Year and the

In addition to incorporating lessons in life skills, 2014 Community

counselors focus on specific topics during each Service Organization of the Year Award.

weekend session. Some of the subjects covered include There have also been challenges, though. Creating

coping skills and positive behaviors. innovative programs that are attractive to funders can

“It has helped me manage my emotions, and it’s be difficult, especially with the recent down trend in

taught me a lot of things,” Adams said. the economy, Hackman said. Paired with that is the

According to Smith, the camp has helped her struggle to maintain growth.

improve her attitude and taught her how to control “Our biggest challenge is that we continue to have

her anger. growth, to be able to have our facility grow with

demands,” Isaac said.

Building relationships

One of the most important life skills campers learn Got a tip for us about an awesome K-12 school,

is how to build relationships. summer program or summer camp? Email Community

Editor Holly Edgell: [email protected].“Camp was the only thing that was consistent for

me in the four years I was a camper there,” Goforth Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This said. Through the experience, she made lasting material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or

friendships. “I'm still friends with some people I met redistributed.

my first summer (at Camp Joy),” she said.

She also kept in touch with her camp counselor, who

is now her boss.

Warren County

Foundation

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber

Lebanon Chamber of Commerce



• Helped more than 2,000 children through summer camp programs• Delivered over 30 different camp program sessions • Launched camp program for families serving in the military• Dedicated six new Yurt cabins• Nearing completion of Rachel A. Hutzel Observatory and Nature Center• Collaborated with more than 20 partnering organizations• Expanded the Fostering Success Program for youth in foster care

Together, we made it! Thanks to your wonderful generosity, more children are now able to participate in Camp Joy’s programs and enjoy upgraded facilities. The 75th Anniversary Capital Campaign projects have made this summer the best ever, and will help fuel continued success for the rest of the year and beyond!

C A M P J O Y – S U M M E R O F I N S P I R A T I O N

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Camp joy thank you and summer media