Camp Kesem UF is a college student-run one-week summer camp each year for children who have a parent that has been diagnosed with cancer.
Contact: uflorida@kesem.org, (352) 247-2223, Dante Jenkins, dante.jenkins@kesem.org
Mailing Address: PO Box 14097, Gainesville, FL, 32604
Who they are: Camp Kesen UF is one of many Camp Kesen programs around the nation in the following states: Florida, Indiana, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Missouri, Washington D.C., North Carolina, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arizona, California, Georgia, Wisconsin and Massachusetts. Their mission is to give children who have a parent diagnosed with cancer a fun summer camp experience at a week-long sleep away camp. The goal is for the kids to have the “most fun week possible, while providing the extra support and attention they need.” The values of Camp Kesem that guide each area of their programs are: leadership, safety, compassion, confidence, community, and magic.
What they do: Camp Kesem UF was started in 2007, and the first camp started in August 2008. The camp is for children ages 6 to 13. The camp is of no cost to the children and their families, so University of Florida student volunteers are needed year-long to make this camp happen. UF students raise the money and organize the entire camp each year.
What YOU can do to help: If you are a student at the University of Florida and would like to volunteer with Camp Kesen UF, call the number listed above for more information on how to join in. There are many volunteer opportunities available with this group since they plan for this camp year-long. There are four main committees in the group:
Camp Planning and Administration
Finance/Budget; Facility; Camp Programming
Fundraising
Organizations/Corporations/Foundations; Private Donors
Student Support
Student Recruitment; Counselor Recruitment; Counselor Training; Counselor Debriefing
Camper Care
Communications/Marketing: website, newsletter, forms
Family Outreach; Community Partnerships/Public Relations; Reunions
***To be a volunteer, the group requests that you commit to volunteering for a full school year, attend meetings, and participate in fundraising activities.