The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, advocacy, eduction and service.

Arizona Camp Sunrise is dedicated to providing an exciting, medically safe camp program for children who have or have had cancer and their siblings.

OVERVIEW

The American Cancer Society's Arizona Camp Sunrise, the first camp in Arizona for children with cancer, began in 1983. There were 23 cancer patients and 8 staff, and it was held in a pasture in the White Mountains. Everyone slept in tents and pitched in with the cooking. In 1985, the camp moved to the R-C Scout Ranch, Northeast of Payson. And thanks to the generous donations and contributions of many Arizonans, the facilities now include seven sleeper cabins, a fully equipped dining hall and kitchen, and a medical center.

The Sidekicks program, the only program in the state made specifically for the siblings of cancer patients, started in 1988. The American Cancer Society recognized that these children have unique needs also, and deserved a program of their own.

The Camp Sunrise and Sidekicks programs now serves thousands of children, with a volunteer staff of more than 100 adults. There are retreats, teen trips, and other special events year round.

We try to give these kids a "normal" summer camp experience, in a setting that caters to their special medical needs. Medical staff are on call 24 hours a day.

Some traditional camp activities we offer include archery, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, arts & crafts, and singing around a campfire. We also offer some non-traditional activities like rappeling, dance, drama, rocketry, magic, scrapbooking, and cooking. We also have fun activities like a dance, a carnival, and the oh-so-sticky Jello War.

ACCREDITATIONS

We are an accredited camp of the American Camping Association (ACA). This means that our camp maintains high standards with regards to the safety of the campers and staff. Every three years, we go through a recertification, where standards visitors from ACA come out to the camp property during camp and spend six hours reviewing over 800 guidelines. Everything is included, such as staff and camper paperwork, staff certifications, food service, medical facilities, emergency procedures, and activities such as archery and horseback riding.

We are also a member camp of Children's Oncology Camping Association, International (COCA). This is a network of oncology camps that meet once a year for a conference. At this conference we have seminars and guest speakers from fields such as education, psychology, and medicine. It is a way for these camps to get together and network, learn about other camps, their problems and successes, new advances in oncology, and to share ideas. It is a great resource that we use in planning our programs.