"A child’s friend through and beyond a parents’ cancer," is the slogan of Camp Kesem, an organization that provides a free week of summer camp for children who have been affected by their parents’ cancer. Watching these kids run around and forget, or seem to forget, their parents’ cancer is nothing less than inspiring.
I am so in love with this organization for so many reasons but here are just a few of them.
1. Messy Games
What other time of the year can you get an egg cracked on your head, shaving cream on your face, and paint splattered on every part of your body and be perfectly okay with it? Pretty much never. Because outside of camp, all of these things are just nasty to have on your body and inconvenient. But when you have the best kids during the best week of camp it’s just the best time of your life
2. Color Wars
Think Disney Channel Games but with a bunch of 6-16-year-olds. When else will you be able to pitch kids against each other and make them go way too hard about a singular color? Probably never. I’ve never seen people get more competitive at Minute to Win It games. It’s honestly so hilarious that people get so riled up.
3. Camp Songs
Toast Rap, Razzle Dazzle, Pepe. There are so many great chants, songs, raps that get the energy up (and out) and bring everyone closer.
4. SPIRIT CHECK
It’s the hardest yet the best thing to learn from camp. Someone yells “SPIRIT CHECK” in the middle of lunch and it’s completely normal. Now just take 8 weeks to learn it and you’ll be okay.
5. Camp Names
During camp, you won’t hear “John”, “Nick”, or “Alma”. We all have camp names that represent us, our favorite superhero, princess, or food. Anything can be a camp name and everything is encouraged. But also, punishment for using real names at camp is eating baby food and everyone gets a kick out of people eating gross foods.
6. Odds
The game of chance and dares. If you don’t know what odds is it’s where one person asks “What are the odds you’ll ________?” You then state your odds (between 1-10 usually) and then you count down and say a number. If the numbers match you do the dare. If they don’t, the dare turns on the person who originally dared it. The countdown goes again and if the numbers match, the original darer does the odds and everyone laughs and a good time is had by all.
Camp Kesem has by far been one of the best things I have ever discovered and I cannot explain my love for the organization is enough words. There are chapters popping up all over the place. Get involved and get to camp.
CLAM (Camp Love and Mine)
Storm
