Camp Agape Northwest

CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST IS A WEEKLONG OVERNIGHT CAMP FOR FAMILIES WITH A CHILD WITH CANCER. WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN A CHILD HAS CANCER, THE ENTIRE FAMILY IS AFFECTED AND THEREFORE THE ENTIRE FAMILY NEEDS CARE AND HEALING, WHICH COMES THROUGH AGAPE, THE MOST PURE FORM OF LOVE. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING A WEEKLONG OVERNIGHT CAMP AT NO COST. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, CAMP WAS HELD VIRTUALLY THIS YEAR, SERVING 12 FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. THE CAMP HAS OPERATED SINCE 1997 AS A MINISTRY OF THE METROPOLIS OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH, BUT IS NOW A STANDALONE ENTITY THAT IS LOOSELY AFFILIATED WITH THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH AND IS LEGALLY INDEPENDENT.CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST IS OFFERED TO A CHILD WITH CANCER, THEIR PARENTS/LEGAL GUARDIANS, AND TO ALL THEIR SIBLINGS, STEP-SIBLINGS AND LEGAL FOSTER SIBLINGS. FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE CANCER TREATMENT IN WASHINGTON ARE ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND. CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST IS OPEN TO FAMILIES OF ALL RELIGIOUS FAITHS, NATIONALITIES AND BACKGROUNDS. CAMPERS AND THEIR SIBLINGS RANGE IN AGES FROM INFANCY UP TO 23 YEARS (AND PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF ANY AGE). THE UPPER AGE LIMIT PARALLELS THE UPPER AGE LIMIT OF PATIENTS TREATED AT ANY OF THE WASHINGTON STATE CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS. APPROXIMATELY 20 FAMILIES PER YEAR ARE HOSTED AT CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST. IN 2020 CAMP AGAPE SERVED 52 PEOPLE FROM 12 FAMILIES. FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND UP TO TWO YEARS. IN THE EVENT OF RELAPSE, FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND AS SPACE IS AVAILABLE. FAMILIES ARE RECRUITED THROUGH PRINTED MATERIALS, SOCIAL MEDIA/INTERNET, SOCIAL WORKERS AT HOSPITALS, AND THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH FROM PREVIOUS CAMPERS. FAMILY ACCEPTANCE IS BASED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS AND IN THE CASE OF VACANCY SPACES ARE FILLED FROM THE WAIT LIST (PREFERRED) OR FROM PREVIOUS CAMPERS. CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST IS HELD ON ALL SAINTS CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER IN RAFT ISLAND, WASHINGTON. THE RETREAT CENTER IS LOCATED ON THE PUGET SOUND WITH PRIVATE WATERFRONT ACCESS AND A PRIVATE DOCK. IT IS HELD DURING THE LAST WEEK IN JULY OF EACH SUMMER. CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST OCCURS FOR ONE WEEK EVERY SUMMER. CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST GIVES CHILDREN WITH CANCER AND THEIR FAMILIES A CHANCE TO FEEL NORMAL, SIBLINGS A CHANCE TO FEEL SPECIAL, AND PARENTS A TIME TO BE TOGETHER. ALL CAMP ACTIVITIES ARE CREATED WITH THIS IN MIND. FAMILIES ARE OFTEN DIVIDED AS ONE PARENT STAYS AT THE HOSPITAL AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY IS AT HOME. ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE FAMILY BONDING AND TO INCLUDE CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ALONG WITH THEIR PARENTS. CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO CANCER KIDS' LOW IMMUNITY, ALLERGIES, AND SAFETY FOR ALL AGES. THE GOAL OF THE ACTIVITY IS TO CREATE SAFE, POSITIVE AND HAPPY FAMILY MEMORIES FOR ALL.WHEN CHILDREN ARE CRITICALLY ILL SO MUCH OF NORMAL CHILDHOOD IS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM AND THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY. CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST IS SOMETHING THAT GIVES FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK OUTSIDE THEIR ILLNESS. IT RESTORES A SENSE OF CHILDHOOD BACK TO THE CHILD AND NORMALCY BACK TO THE FAMILY. ENTERTAINMENT OCCURS DAILY DURING THE WEEK OF CAMP WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING FAMILY MEMORIES. ENTERTAINMENT VARIES EACH SESSION AND SOME EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF ENTERTAINMENT OFFERED INCLUDE FOAM VOLLEYBALL, HENNA ARTIST, AND CARNIVAL TYPE BLOW UP INITIATIVES, PUPPET SHOWS, SWIMMING AT A LOCAL POOL, SQUARE DANCERS, SWING DANCERS, AND KARAOKE. UTILIZING THE PRIVATE BEACHFRONT OFFERS WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS KAYAKING, PADDLE BOARDING, BOATING, FISHING, INNER- TUBING, WATER SKIING, CRABBING, BEACH COMBING, AND A POPULAR DOCK DANCE AT NIGHT WITH A DJ. LESS VIGOROUS ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THINGS SUCH AS LEGOS, BOARD GAMES, CARD GAMES, ARTS AND CRAFTS AND MOVIES. THERE ARE PARENT SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MOM'S LUNCH, DAD'S LUNCH AND PARENTS' NIGHT OUT AT A LOCAL VENUE. FOOD IS A KEY COMPONENT OF CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST. ALL FOOD IS PREPARED AT CAMP AND SERVED BY VOLUNTEERS. VOLUNTEERS MUST HAVE A CURRENT WA STATE FOOD HANDLER'S PERMIT POSTED ON SITE. CANCER TREATMENTS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF APPETITE, CHANGE IN TASTE BUDS AND SMELL, NAUSEA, VOMITING AS WELL AS MOUTH AND GASTROINTESTINAL SORES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE FOOD THAT IS APPETIZING TO THE CHILDREN GOING THROUGH TREATMENT. MILKSHAKES AND SMOOTHIES, ESPRESSO AND SNACKS ARE AVAILABLE ALL DAY FOR PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST ACCOMMODATES DIETARY NEEDS SUCH AS VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE AND ALLERGIES. MEALS ARE SERVED FAMILY STYLE AT THE TABLE. MANY MEALS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY CHARACTERS FROM THE YEARLY THEME ALONG WITH MUSIC MAKING MEALS INVITING AND POSITIVE TO ENCOURAGE EATING. CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST'S TIME IS DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN YEARLY BOARD MEETINGS AND CAMP PLANNING (29%), FUNDRAISING (16%), AND THE WEEK OF CAMP (55%). THE WEEK OF CAMP COSTS APPROXIMATELY $90,000.00 TO FUND EACH SUMMER. CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS. ALL VOLUNTEERS UNDERGO AN APPLICATION PROCESS INCLUDING A BACKGROUND CHECK AND RIGOROUS STAFF TRAINING PRIOR TO CAMP. THE MINIMUM AGE TO SERVE AS A VOLUNTEER IS 15. THE BOARD IS VOLUNTEER BASED AND MEETS ON A MONTHLY BASIS YEAR ROUND. DURING THE WEEK OF CAMP OUR VOLUNTEER STAFF AVERAGES ABOUT 100 OVERNIGHT HELP PLUS 20 EXTRA DAY HELPERS. TYPES OF VOLUNTEERS INCLUDE BUDDIES (COUNSELORS), PARENT CONCIERGES, FOOD AND DINING CREW, ONCOLOGY NURSES, WORK CREW, ARTS AND CRAFTS, MEDIA, AND CERTIFIED LIFEGUARDS. AT CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL AND EVERY CHILD RECEIVES THEIR OWN SPECIAL BUDDY (COUNSELOR) FOR THE WEEK. THIS REQUIRES ABOUT 65 COUNSELORS ON STAFF FOR THE WEEK. PARENT CONCIERGES PROVIDE FRIENDSHIP TO PARENTS AND CATER TO THEIR SPECIFIC FAMILY NEEDS. VOLUNTEER ONCOLOGY NURSES ARE ON STAFF ALL DAY AND NIGHT, SAFEKEEPING THE MEDICATIONS, PROVIDING FIRST AID AND ANY OTHER MEDICAL NEEDS THAT MAY ARISE. CERTIFIED LIFEGUARDS WATCH THE WATERFRONT AND LAKE AREAS KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE WHILE THEY ENJOY THE WATER ACTIVITIES. CANCER KIDS' IMMUNITY CAN BE SEVERELY COMPROMISED DUE TO CHEMOTHERAPY; THEREFORE THE CLEANLINESS OF CAMP IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE WORK CREW CLEANS CAMP DAILY, BUILDS THE STAGE, FACILITATES THE SET-UP OF THE ENTERTAINMENT AND ASSISTS WHEREVER NEEDED. MEDIA CREW CAPTURES THE MEMORIES AND CREATES VIDEOS AND DIGITAL IMAGES FOR FAMILIES AND VOLUNTEERS. A SECONDARY MISSION OF CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST HAS BECOME SERVANT LEADERSHIP. SERVANT LEADERSHIP IS A PHILOSOPHY THAT BEGINS WITH THE NATURAL FEELING THAT ONE WANTS TO SERVE, TO SERVE FIRST. THEN CONSCIOUS CHOICE BRINGS ONE TO ASPIRE TO LEAD. YOUNG VOLUNTEERS AT CAMP AGAPE NORTHWEST LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE OTHERS AND TO LEAD. TIME IS DEDICATED DURING TRAINING AND DAILY MEETINGS TO NURTURE AND GROW VOLUNTEERS INTO THE FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.