Frequently asked questions

Answered by a team member at Camp Hobe

• What is your mission?

  Camp Hobé is a special psychosocial support program for kids being treated for cancer (and similarly-treated disorders) and their families, through summer camps and family outings. Our mission is to create an atmosphere that enhances self-esteem, foster independence and friendships, and offers a sense of belonging. Participants are given the freedom to “just be kids” for a time and to stretch their limits physically, mentally, and socially. Our programs provide medical and psychosocial supervision to ensure participants are safe physically, mentally, and emotionally. We are passionate about improving our participants' overall mental well-being. Our programs are run by staff and volunteers who are trained to supervise and guide participants in activities that challenge, support, and grow their physical, mental, emotional, and social health.

• How are donations used?

  Your donation helps us provide our programs at minimal cost to our camper families. Cancer and similarly-treated disorders have a huge financial impact! We strongly believe no child should be turned away from our programs due to finances. We charge minimal registration fees of $10 to $35 per camper for summer camp, and although our cost to provide the program is more than $200 per camper-day for in-person camp. Family outings are free to participants, while our cost ranges from $10 to $30 per person. We also provide fee waivers and transportation assistance to support our families through these difficult time and minimize financial barriers to participation.

• What can be done with a $100 donation?

  Provide 1 child with 12 hours of fun, friendship, and healing at in-person summer camp.

• What is the history of your organization?

  For more than 40 years, Camp Hobé has served kids with cancer (and similarly-treated disorders) and their families from within the referral area for Primary Children's Hospital (eg, UT, WY, NV, ID). Established in 1985, our programs have grown from 15 campers the first year to almost 300 campers each summer, and at least 4 family outings throughout the year. Kids or teens diagnosed with cancer (and similarly-treated disorders) may participate in Camp Hobé programs while they are treated with immunosuppressive therapy & for 3 camp seasons after their final treatment. The patient's family members may also participate during this time.

  Camp Hobé offers 4 summer camp programs each year: a 2-day in-person session for ages 4 to 8 years, a 5-day overnight in-person session for ages 7 to 11 years, a 5-day overnight in-person session for 12 to 19 years, and a virtual session for 6- to 19-year-olds. Our family outing program offers 2 to 4 free family events throughout the year.

  While at in-person camp, these kids spend time in the mountains. They take part in soccer clinics, nature hikes, arts & crafts, swim in the only medically supervised pool in Utah for cancer patients, campfire sing-a-longs, & late night talks with new friends. Although this picture portrays an experience that kids all over America participate in each summer, a closer look at Camp Hobé reveals that our campers are special. In addition to the fun activities, many campers also take strong medications between meals. Many have central lines for medical treatment that they must replace immediately after swimming in Utah's only "medically-supervised" pool for cancer patients. Some play field games with prosthetic limbs or are assigned their own personal counselor due to blindness or other disabilities caused by cancer therapy. A few receive low-dose chemotherapy while at camp. Each camper has the chance to spend time at our Remembering Grove, planting flowers & telling stories of those they love who’ve passed away from cancer or about their own desire to survive, a healing process that is inspired by the natural beauty of their surroundings.

  Starting in 2020, we added a Virtual Camp session as our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We've continued the Virtual Camp program, so that we may better serve our more seriously ill campers and those who live farther away. Virtual camp looks a bit different, with campers participating in dance parties, pictionary, crafts, yoga, campfires, grief work, and other virtual activities from their home or hospital bed.

  Throughout their time with our programs, Camp Hobé participants grow in spirit, strength and understanding. We provide activities to help participants learn healthy coping mechanisms to better their psychosocial well-being, through grief work and emotional support during challenging activities. Camp Hobé is a place where participants can challenge their mental and physical strengths by participating in activities such as high ropes, swimming and many more. Campers make lifelong friends who understand the devastating effects of these illnesses. Camp Hobé lets kids be kids!