About Us

Our mission is twofold:

• To provide children affected by a parent’s cancer with a supportive, lifelong camp community that recognizes and understands their unique needs.
• To empower college students to make a difference and build invaluable leadership skills by developing and managing every aspect of their Camp Kesem chapter.

Our history

• The Camp Kesem Emory chapter was founded in February 2008. Since then we have held our kickoff carnival and two successful week-long summer camps. In August 2009, we held our first camp at Camp Toccoa in Toccoa, GA with 18 campers. In 2010, we had 31 campers and enjoyed a fun-filled week at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA. In 2011 we hosted 33 campers at Camp Dream in Warm Springs, GA. We returned to Camp Dream in July 2012 with 35 campers and 25 student volunteers.

Our campers

• Camp Kesem Emory is open to all children, ages 6-16, who have a parent who has or has had cancer.

Our Staff

• Camp Kesem Emory maintains a 2:1 ratio of campers to staff at all times. In addition to our student leaders who undergo extensive training prior to camp, Camp Kesem Emory staff also includes a nurse and licensed psychologist.
• The Camp Kesem administrative team is comprised of two Project Coordinators, and eight Committee Coordinators under the guidance of the Camp Kesem Advisory Committee and Camp Kesem National’s professional staff.