Northwestern’s chapter of Camp Kesem, a student-run summer camp for children whose parents currently have or have survived cancer, received a record number of camp counselor applicants this year.
The organization received 92 counselor applications for the 2013 camp, with 21 new counselors accepted. Counselors work in various committees, programming each year’s camp, recruiting campers from the Chicagoland area and fundraising to ensure the camp is free for the attending children’s families.
Camp Kesem was started in 2000 by students at Stanford University and has since grown to include 37 chapters. NU’s chapter was founded in 2003, and this year’s camp will mark the organization’s 10th anniversary.
Group co-chair Sarah Coughtrie said she was surprised by the higher number of applicants because Camp Kesem is “sort of under the radar” on campus.
This year, the group aims to raise $60,000 and invite 100 campers to Camp Kesem, an increase from approximately 80 last year. Coughtrie is optimistic but cautious about the growth. Having more than 130 campers would detract from the close bonding and community of the camp, she said.
“We are trying to expand within reason,” the Weinberg senior said. “We’re sort of at a transition phase where we’re trying to figure out how we can keep growing and moving forward but still stay a small student group and stay close-knit.”
However, Weinberg junior and co-chair Austin Rim, said the group will continue to “rev up publicity” every year.
The camp runs for a week during the summer and is open to children ages 6 to 16. Coughtrie said it runs like a normal summer camp, and children do not have to talk about illness, but counselors find that campers are open to sharing stories and experiences in special empowerment programs during the camp.
SESP junior Benison Choi, a student support coordinator who recruits and interviews potential counselors, said he is excited to see the program grow.
Choi said the camp is a supportive environment for all involved. Like the campers, he also experienced having a family member with cancer.
“The things that children have to go through can be disheartening at times,” he said.
This year’s session of Camp Kesem will be held from June 16 to 21 at Camp Kupugani in Leaf River, Ill.
