About Us

Camp Kesem Story

Camp Kesem started in 2000 at Stanford University. After becoming a National Organization in 2002, Camp Kesem has grown to 38 college campuses through the country. In 2011 alone, over 1,500 campers and over 1,000 university volunteers were involved in Camp Kesem.

Camp Kesem Magic Comes to BYU

A small group of dedicated Brigham Young Univserity students directed our first camp in the summer of 2008. Only a handful of campers were invited the first year. Since that time, community support has accerated our growth to include over 50 campers, and 30 univserity student counselors, in 2011! We will celebrate our sixth year of operation with the summer 2013 camp. We are excited to welcome more campers than ever this year.

Camp has been held for several years at Camp Kostopulos in Emmigration Canyon just outside of Salt Lake City. We are quickly outgrowing the capacity and we are looking for other locations so we may serve more families.

Our camp activities include sports, arts and crafts, and drama to give campers a fun-filled week. Campers also participate in “cabin chats” with fellow campers and counselors, giving children the chance to share their experiences coping with a parent’s cancer with each other. There are plenty of laughs and lots of emotional support, although no formal therapeutic is offered. The tremendous fun and support campers experience is what makes Camp Kesem BYU a transformative, magical week for campers and counselors alike.

Brigham Young University is a Community Partner of Camp Kesem BYU. The activities of Camp Kesem BYU are entirely organized and directed separately from Brigham Young University , its employees and administrators. Although many of the coordinators serving Camp Kesem BYU are full-time attending students of BYU they are not participating on behalf of BYU but rather as community members that are also students at BYU. For more information regarding the Community Partnership please contact our support team at byu@campkesem.org.

Camp Kesem BYU Impact

Camp Kesem BYU makes a huge impact on the lives of children, but it also prepares and empowers a generation of student leaders by allowing responsible university young adults to make a meaningful difference. Camp Kesem BYU is organized and operated by the leaders of tomorrow who gain hands-on experience in fund-raising, finance, marketing and project management. In addition to real-world skills, Camp Kesem enables student-leaders to discover their passion for serving others.

Camp Kesem and the Camp Kesem logo are trademarks of Camp Kesem National. Camp Kesem BYU operates as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization separate from Brigham Young University. BYU is not a sponsor nor a beneficiary of any fundraising activities directed by Camp Kesem BYU.

 © 2012 Camp Kesem National.  All Rights Reserved.