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Name: Samantha Kerr
Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA
Major: Nursing
Engagement Track: Leadership
Giving Kids Kesem
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My EDGE project consisted of volunteering as a camp counselor and unit leader at Camp Kesem. Camp Kesem is a national non-profit organization run by students at many different colleges for children who are affected by cancer. The kids themselves do not have cancer, but rather come to camp for support and to be with other kids going through similar experiences. As a counselor and unit leader I gained leadership experience leading both the large group of six-year-olds in my unit and the other counselors. Additionally, to be a counselor it is required everyone fundraises $500 to help pay for the camp which we provide at no cost to the families. I personally fundraised over $750, which also gave me great experience interacting with others.
Camp Kesem is a life changing experience for everyone involved. The work counselors put into camp making sure all the games and activities go off without a hitch is tiring, but worth it when we see the kids smiles as they go across the zip-line. At home most of these kids are forced out of their childhood early because their parent’s cancer takes control of the household. At camp they can let loose and truly be a kid again, and their strength and happiness is contagious. This project offered me great leadership experiences that will help me when working with children in my future career as a nurse.
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The inspiration for my project came from a general meeting I attended my freshman year at SUU. As a pre-nursing major, there is a lot of stress to receive community service hours. Camp Kesem, as a weeklong service project, was very appealing to me. I had no idea what I was getting into, and I never expected my need for community service hours would offer me so much in return. Camp Kesem has become something I will never forget, and I plan to give back to this organization for as long as I can.
The main challenge I encountered with this project was staying on top of scheduling at camp. Getting a group of six year olds anywhere on time is a struggle, let alone having to make sure they are all dressed, sun screened, and carrying their waters. At camp we have hourly rotations of activities starting with breakfast at 8 AM and ending with closing circle at 9 PM. Making sure we made it on time with everyone in attendance was my biggest obstacle as a unit leader, but my skills improved as the week went on. This tested my skills as a leader, but I believe it bettered me in the end.
Camp Kesem is something the kids who attend look forward to all year long. At home they are surrounded by the stress of their parents receiving cancer treatments, but at camp they get to be surrounded by fun. One of the most amazing things about camp is seeing how the kids benefit from being around others going through the same situation. It truly forms a family between all the campers and the counselors, and everyone is benefitted. Another group who this project benefited was the parents who were sending their kids away. Camp Kesem comforts their kids in ways parents cannot, and they are eternally grateful for it.
Like I have said before, Camp Kesem has been a life changing experience for me. Interacting with kids who are half my age but have two times the emotional strength I ever will is humbling. I love knowing that a project I took part in has made a difference in other’s lives, because I feel like I too benefitted just as much. It also gave me leadership skills both in working with children and also peers my same age. The experiences I have gained from Camp Kesem will stay with me in all of my future endeavors.
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“Today Shooting Star made the comment that she ‘wished cancer would die.’” Even though she’s the youngest girl at camp, she still has the same feelings we are all experiencing and it’s awesome.
“Feet on bed time is quickly turning into my favorite part of the day. Who knew taking naps was more enjoyable for the counselors than the kids?”
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