Camp Kesem volunteers help lift summer spirits

Childhood is magical. \nSome of that magic stays as people age, and some of it wears off through time and after different life experiences. For children who have parents afflicted by cancer, magic in their lives can sometimes be more difficult to find. \nIU students are working through an organization called Camp Kesem -- a camp designed for children who have or have had parents with cancer -- to bring the magic back into these children's lives Camp Kesem ("kesem" literally meaning "magic" in Hebrew) is a completely free, weeklong summer camp for children ages six to 13, and will be held in August 2005. It's the vision of Iris Rave, a Stanford graduate who first put the idea together in 2000 after working at summer camps for children with cancer. Kesem, which is already established at other universities across the country, was designed for children whose parents have or have had cancer to help them cope and bring them together through their similar experiences. Student volunteers are counselors during the summer and organize the camp itself.\n"Often kids whose parents have cancer go unnoticed," said Camp Kesem's Project Coordinator for IU Sigall Rave. "It really helps kids to be with others who have had the same experiences -- these children know what they're going through, and that is very beneficial."\nCampers are provided with a normal, fun camp experience, Rave said. They can participate in a number of activities such as swimming, arts and crafts and drama. Every night, the camp holds "cabin chat," which is a time for the campers to share anything and also talk about their parents. \n"Children at Kesem are all going through a similar situation at home," said Rachel Ellison, who is on the administration and camp programming committee for Camp Kesem. "We want to create a camp environment in which kids can acknowledge the frustrations and difficulties in their lives that many of their home friends may not be experiencing, and provide them with a week filled with as much fun as we possibly can."\nEllison's committee, along with three others, are currently working out the details for this summer. They've decided on a camp sight, IU's Bradford Woods in Martinsville. Another committee -- the student support committee -- is now looking into prospective counselors. The application process for camp counselors has already begun, and there will be three training sessions in April. The committee is still looking for anyone interested in volunteering. \n"We will be training our counselors to make sure our kids will be safe and well taken care of," said Reena Vanjani, the student coordinator for student support committee. "Our first responsibility is to make the camp as enjoyable and safe as possible for these kids. We are looking for a versatile array of counselors. We want them to bring something to the table and really add to the child's over all magical Camp Kesem experience."\nBecause the camp is completely free, costs are covered by fundraisers. Rave said the families shouldn't have to pay because of hardship many families experience due to medical bills and other expenses. Although Camp Kesem is mostly student-run, there is an adult advisory committee made up of four professionals from the Indianapolis area who attend the monthly meetings. \nCamp Kesem will be held Aug. 7 to 12. Students interested in volunteering are strongly encouraged to contact Project Coordinator Rave at srave@indiana.edu, and can also find more information on the national Camp Kesem Web site, www.campkesemnational.org. The Administration and Camp Programming committee is also looking for special guests to come in to camp: anyone with a special talent who could entertain 6- to 13-year-olds. \n"We want people to understand that Camp Kesem is available," said Rave. "It's a great opportunity for students, a good growing experience, and it also really helps the kids. Families need to know about it."\n-- Contact staff writer Rachel Kenis at rkenis@indiana.edu.