Reunion brings together Kesem campers, counselors

Parents, campers and counselors gathered at the Monroe County YMCA for the Camp Kesem Spring Reunion on Sunday afternoon for a chance to relive the experiences of a typical day at camp. For almost four hours, last year's 21 campers were able to reunite with counselors and other campers while their parents looked on. \n"The reunion is a great chance for everybody to reconnect during the year since we're not at camp and we don't have the time we did," Project Coordinator and junior Sigall Rave said. "It's good to just get together for a few hours to see everybody."\nThe reunion marked the first time campers and counselors were together since last summer's camp, an annual week-long event for children who have or have had a parent with cancer. Both groups fell into their old rhythm quickly, playing games and filling the room with laughter. \nCamper Rachel Goldberg said that bond is what made Camp Kesem so special for her.\nShe said her favorite parts of Camp Kesem were "playing around with all the counselors and the kids, having everyone who can understand how life is like with all your parents going through the same thing, and just being able to go to a place where you're totally comfortable with everyone around you." \nThe program began with lunch, after which everyone joined in renditions of several camp songs. The party was then split into groups, with parents staying in one room to make cards for their children to receive at this summer's camp. The campers went off to begin their day, participating in arts and crafts, sports and drama games.\nThe program also provided a chance for new counselors to meet campers they will be working with this summer. New staffer Megan Armington said she thinks there are advantages to having college students run Camp Kesem.\n"I think that having (college) kids run the camp makes it easier for the kids to relate to (counselors)," she said. "We're close in age. I think it makes it more fun, rather than having adults run the camp."\nVeteran counselor Ben Petty agreed and said he was eager to move the camp to its new site at Waycross Camp in Morgantown, Ind. \n"I feel like we can give a little bit more of a fun aspect to (camp) ... We add that extra touch to it," he said. "I'm looking forward to the new site this summer ... We're going to have a bunch of more room."\n Parent Michelle Combs said she believed that "everything" about Camp Kesem was good. \n"When you're the one that's sick, it's amazing how the concern really shifts to your kids and there's not a lot of resources out there for kids," Combs said. "For them to have some place they can go where everyone can relate to them and be this huge support network for them, it's priceless"