Weather or Not, Camp For All 2U Delivers Smiles
Thanks to YOU, Camp For All 2U, the award-winning program that brings the joy and excitement of Camp into hospitals for children receiving treatment or unable to attend our onsite Camp, lifted dampened spirits in the hallways of Texas Children’s Hospital at The Woodlands in the midst of Hurricane Beryl.
In early July, as Hurricane Beryl made clear that its path would threaten the Greater Houston area, the team at Texas Children’s Hospital, which includes child life specialist Kelsi Martinez, made the difficult decision to allow Camp to continue as scheduled, despite the threatening weather. The inpatient campers ‘had a blast doing crafts and ‘canoeing on wheels,’ Kelsi said. “On that first day, a camper had tubes everywhere, doubled over his IV pole, and didn’t want his mom to leave and by Friday he was running around like, “Bye, mom!” Another camper at TCH to receive antivenom for a snake bite was having so much fun, he had completely forgotten why he was at the hospital in the first place! Campers played games, participated in archery and yoga, and even got to playfully pie their favorite caregivers in the face, filling the halls with laughter and love.
It’s because of YOU that these stories come to life for campers at Camp For All. Your support touches the lives of thousands of children and adults with challenging illnesses, disabilities, or special needs, whether they are able to attend Camp in Burton, or at Camp For All 2U! But, the impact you’ve made isn’t limited to the campers themselves.
TO READ MORE, JUST SCAN!
According to the staff at Texas Children’s Hospital at The Woodlands, the benefits of Camp For All 2U touched everyone. One nurse dealing with flood damage and a tree down on her home said walking through the Camp provided her relief, not even realizing how much she needed it. Parents echoed this sentiment, some crying tears of joy when receiving the call that Camp was still on.
Thank you to our incredible Partners at Texas Children’s Hospital for sharing this story with us, and thank you, our amazing supporters, for making it possible to weather the storm and provide a safe and joyous environment to those who needed it most.
“On that first day, a camper had tubes everywhere, doubled over his IV pole, and didn’t want his mom to leave and by Friday he was running around like, “Bye, mom!”
Campers canoe through the hallways of Texas Children’s Hospital at The Woodlands.
A camper at Camp For All 2U enjoys the peace of a meditative yoga session.
1 Visit www. campforall. org 2 Click the “Find Your Camp” button in the navigation bar 3 Select the category or categories that apply to you or your loved one 4 Contact the organization directly to sign up!
THE QUICKEST WAY TO FIND YOUR CAMP, JUST SCAN!
“It was so fun. I liked the zipline because it feels good to me when the air rushes past me. Thank you Camp For All.”
– CAMPER JACOB
SPRING 2025
Jan 16-17 Gryphon’s Nest
Jan 31 - Feb 2 YMCA Refugee Family Camp
Feb 7-9 Camp LIFE
Feb 7-9 MOST
Feb 14-16 Camp CLIFF
Feb 21-23 Capitol School of Austin Family Camp
Feb 21-23 Lupus Warriors
Feb 27-28 Camp For Joy
Feb 28 - Mar 2 Duchenne Family Camp
Mar 2 Friendship Smile Day Camp
Mar 7-9 Easter Seals Veterans Family Camp
Mar 14-16
Mar 19-21
Cell-A-Bration Next Level
S.M.I.L.E.
Mar 28-30 Shining Stars Family Camp
Mar 28-30 Survived It All
Mar 30 Dermadillo Day Camp
Apr 4 Monarch Chrysalis Day Camp
Apr 4-6 Camp Periwinkle YOLO & Family Camp
Apr 6 Camp LIFE Day Camp
Apr 9-11 MADE Houston Retreat
Apr 11-13
E.S.C.A.P.E. Retreat
Apr 11-13 Pump It Up
Apr 16-17 The Parish School Retreat
Apr 23 Monarch LIFE Elementary Day Camp
Apr 25-27 Be An Angel Family Camp
May 1-4 Higher Ground
SUMMER 2025
May 26-30
Jun 1-6
Jun 1-6
Sunrise
Camp That Love Built
Bayou Bruisers
Jun 8-13 Spike ‘n’ Wave
Jun 8-13 Oasis
Jun 15-20 Star Trails
Jun 22-27 Rainbow Connection
Jun 22-27 Dreamcatcher
Jun 29-Jul 4 Camp Smiles
Jul 6-11
Jul 6-11
Camp PHEver
Camp Social
Jul 13-18 Moran Camp Xtreme
Jul 13-18 Camp Hope
Jul 20-26 Camp Periwinkle
Jul 27-31 Shining Stars
Jul 27-31 Cell-A-Bration
Aug 3-8 Camp Discovery, Texas
Aug 3-8 MDA
Aug 3-8 Camp Impact
Adolescents with academic and social challenges Gateway Academy
Families with refugee status
Youth and adults with developmental disabilities
YMCA International Services
TAMU Center on Disability & Development
Teens and young adults with cerebral palsy Easter Seals Greater Houston
Families affected by cancer
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance
School for children with Capitol School of Austin language-related learning differences
Children and adults with lupus
Lupus Foundation of AmericaTexas Gulf Coast Chapter
Children with language and learning differences The Joy School
Familes affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
Children with cleft lip or palate
Veterans family camp
Teenagers ages 15-19 with sickle cell disease
Friendship Smile
Easter Seals Greater Houston
Sickle Cell Association of TexasMarc Thomas Foundation
Children with autism The Westview School
Families that have a child with kidney disease
Kidney Kamp Foundation
Children and teens with gastrointestinal diseases Texas Children’s Hospital
Families impacted by skin conditions and birthmarks Made A Masterpiece
Children with neurological differences The Monarch School
Teens affected by cancer; Families affected by cancer The Periwinkle Foundation
Children and adults with any disability
Children with learning differences
Adults ages 20 or older with sickle cell disease
TAMU Center on Disability & Development
MADE Houston
Sickle Cell Association of TexasMarc Thomas Foundation
Children with cardiovascular challenges Texas Children’s Hospital
Children with social and learning differences The Parish School
Children with neurological differences
Families that have a child with special needs
The Monarch School
Be An Angel Fund
Adults with brain injuries Texas District of Pilot International
Teens with developmental challenges
Children and adults with spina bifida
Children with hemophilia
Children with epilepsy
Children with Crohn’s and colitis
Children with cancer and blood disorders
Children with cancer
Children with cancer
Children with cerebral palsy
Children with phenylketonuria
Children with learning differences
Briarwood Tuttle School
Spina Bifida Association of Houston
Louisiana Hemophilia Foundation
Epilepsy Foundation of Texas Houston/Dallas/Fort Worth
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Center
Childhood Cancer Connection
McLane Children’s Hospital, Baylor Scott & Whilte
Easter Seals of Greater Houston
UT Health Houston
The Parish School
Children competing in wheelchair sports TIRR Foundation
Children impacted by compromised immune systems Allies in Hope
Children with cancer and their siblings
Children with kidney disease
Children with sickle cell
Children with skin disease
Children with Muscular Dystrophy
Children of families serving in the military
The Periwinkle Foundation
Kidney Kamp Foundation
Sickle Cell Association of Texas
American Academy of Dermatology
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Travis Manion Foundation and Impact a Hero
*Please refer to www.campforall.org for schedule updates.
Thank you for giving the gift of Camp! This year, you have enabled 6,000 children and adults with challenging illnesses, disabilities, or special needs to fish, swim, ride horses, fly down a zip line, learn photography and so much more. The campers have had an enormous amount of fun, but through that fun they have discovered selfconfidence and hope.
With your support, we welcomed our long-time Partners and new Partners. The new Partners included Lupus Warriors/Lupus Foundation of America, Arrow Kinship Camp/Arrow Child and Family Ministries, and Journey School Family Camp/ Be An Angel.
We anticipate many more campers will come to Camp For All in 2025. Already, the staff is busy researching new programming, making facility updates, preparing menus to meet more special diet needs and more. With your help, campers will have more fun but, more importantly, they will discover life.
THANK
Julie Taetz
Marion Anderson
Jim Avioli
Laurie Baker
Tom Behanick
Beth Clarke
Bob Davis
Marcella Foreman
Ashley Frysinger
Bob Funk
Philip Gallegos
Steve Gilbreath
Amanda Gyeszly
Sarah Hastings
Kim Hurst
Alex Jessett
Ally Kelly
Alexis Leiser
Michael Lewis
Liz Logan
Laurie Bruce Maddox
Steph Magers
Matt Mogas
Nick Ndah
Paul Palmer
Stacie Pitts
Joshua Samuels, M.D.
Lesley Schick
Susie Smith
Dena Wren-Mumford
Camille Boudreaux
Jenny Schaer
Pat Prior Sorrells
EMERITUS
Paul Gerson, M.D.
Laurence B. Neuhaus
Robert S. Zeller, M.D.
PRESIDENT AND
Pat Prior Sorrells
GENERAL COUNSEL
Gary W. Miller
Campers from (left to right) Bayou Bruisers, Camp Smiles and Camp That Love Built engaged in just a few of the dozens of barrier-free activities available at Camp For All.
“Their brilliance challenges the darkness and dazzles those of us who watch their light.”
Riley’s Journey to Camp For All
Former Camp Periwinkle camper and childhood cancer survivor, Riley Mika, spoke movingly to the audience at October’s “Bright Lights and Bluebonnets” gala, held at the Brenham Fireman’s Training Center. Riley’s touching and eloquent story, which beautifully defined how journeys to Camp For All allow campers to truly “Discover Life,” brought the guests to their feet in celebration of the impact Camp For All has on thousands of campers each year.
When Riley was only 3 years old, she was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood cancer. She was treated at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, receiving numerous rounds of steroids, chemotherapy and surgeries. In 2009, Riley was declared in remission. Her family also learned about Camp Periwinkle, for children ages 7 to 15 who are treated at Texas Children’s. Riley was excited to attend Camp, but was initially nervous about being away from home. The counselors and staff encouraged her to try new things and step outside of her comfort zone, allowing her to experience things like horseback riding, canoeing on the lake, cooking competitions, and having fun with her cabin mates. She described her favorite part of Camp was when she and other campers got to try on prom dresses, get their hair and makeup done, and have a photoshoot. The pictures were turned into a magazine cover, which campers got to take home. An enduring memory for Riley is her picture in which she wears a red floor length dress and a feather boa wrapped around her neck.
Riley closed her address to the gala guests with a quote drawn from the blog her mother recorded documenting Riley’s treatment and journey into remission. “Children with cancer are like candles in the wind who accept the possibility that they are in danger of being extinguished by a gust of wind from nowhere and yet, they flicker and dance to remain alive. Their brilliance challenges the darkness and dazzles those of us who watch their light.”
“(Campers) have the opportunity to create joyful memories and experience a sense of belonging. By being able to see this firsthand, I was truly impacted by Camp For All in a big way.”
– RILEY
HEAR RILEY’S STORY HERE!
Riley’s story is one of thousands that take place every year at Camp For All, thanks to you. For more than 30 years, your generosity has meant the world to both children and adults who come to Camp and have their lives enriched by discovering life, barrier-free. It is with your support that our mission is brought to life, making a difference to all who come to Camp. THANK YOU!
Riley started out as a camper, (above, top) and grew up to be a wonderful ambassador and speaker for Camp For All. (above, bottom) Also seen at right with her family.