I’m back at UKANDU Camp this week, and while I don’t have the time to write a new reflection, I wanted to reshare what I wrote last year—because it still holds true, and maybe even more so.
UKANDU is a non-profit whose mission is to provide joy, hope, and connection to communities impacted by childhood and adolescent cancer. It’s truly a magical space for children and their families.
I want to focus on three things that continue to stand out to me after a week immersed in magic and hope: tutus, fairy dust, and wings.
Tutus capture the playfulness of camp. For a week every summer, children experiencing an unbearable diagnosis get to play. They experience the gift of looking around and seeing themselves & their experience everywhere. They get to ride horses & boats, compete in archery & ropes courses, swim in pools & lakes, and sleep in cabins. Staff & volunteers dress up for daily themes to encourage playfulness and fun – Mustache Mondays, Tutu Tuesdays, and Whacky Wednesdays all add to the entertaining environment.
Fairy dust reflects the community and love that is sprinkled everywhere. Parents are welcomed and share experiences that, in other circles, feel stigmatizing and isolating. Children are welcomed into friendship groups without the weight of pity, charity, or possible exclusion. UKANDU creates “we culture” encouraging the spirit of “YOU-CAN-DO” anything! In general, the answer at UKANDU is “yes!”
Wings capture the growth, magic, and hope of camp. When you enter the world of camp, there is hope and there is belonging. It provides perspective for living your life to the fullest, jumping (literally) into the deep end of the pool, and trying out various roles. Every night there’s magic and mayhem at campfire, songs, and an embracing hug of a village. And every night as the campfire dies down, we remember the possibility of loss, children who are angels, and parents who find community with other bereaved friends. Then, morning comes, and camp is filled with songs and promise, once again.
If you want to learn more about this incredible organization, the joy it creates, or how to get involved, visit: https://www.ukandu.org
As I said last year—and still feel today: I was meant to wear fairy wings, sparkly boas, and pink tutus. Camp gives me far more than I could ever give back.
Here’s to UKANDU Camp 2025. And yes, I’m already counting down to next year.
