Camper Information

Camp Quality USA believes that a diagnosis of cancer should not prevent a child from experiencing the simple joys of childhood.

Camp Quality serves children affected by cancer and their families by providing year-round camps, programs, and experiences at no cost. Camp Quality promotes hope and inspiration while helping children foster life skills and develop their full potential. Our motto is ‘Letting Kids With Cancer Be Kids Again.’

Camp Quality USA serves the whole pediatric oncology community and believes that everyone deserves a chance to be their authentic selves. CQUSA is committed to being a place and providing camp experiences where everyone feels safe, included, respected, and valued.

One of the core values of Camp Quality USA is that all camps and programs are provided to camper families FREE OF COST.

We can only accomplish this through the generous support of individual donors, business sponsorships as well as local and national foundations and grants. Families incur no other expenses to participate other than those associated with their personal transportation to/from camps and programs.

Camp Quality USA is a leader in providing empowering, supportive, and fun experiences for children (5-17) who have been diagnosed with cancer, their siblings and their families.

Camp Quality USA was named based on the words of a pediatric oncologist: “No one can do anything about the quantity of one’s life, but all of us can do something about the quality.” It was founded in 1983 in Sydney, Australia, by Vera Entwistle, who was also responsible for introducing Camp Quality to several additional countries, including the United States.

The first U.S. camp was held the summer of 1986 in Northwest Missouri for 43 campers. Today, Camp Quality USA hosts 13 Summer Camp programs as well as multiple other year-round camps and programs across the country.

From our extremely popular week-long Summer Camp experiences, which serve hundreds of children from all across the country, to Family Camps and other various excursions and events, we offer over 30 programs throughout the year. All of our programs are designed to meet the emotional, educational, and support needs of pediatric cancer patients and their families, and are totally FREE to attend.

Camp Quality USA would not happen without all the amazing volunteers that serve our camps and programs throughout the year. Key to our program success are our Medical Team volunteers. This team of volunteers at each camp is led by a Medical Coordinator, that must be a licensed RN or Physician, and have working knowledge and background in Pediatric Oncology. The medical teams may also include physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and emergency medical technicians.

For camps and programs where parents/guardians will not be present, there will be two medical team members that are licensed to administer medications and perform treatments according to the laws of each camp’s state. If one must leave for an emergency there will be another team member to continue to provide care. Parents/guardians will meet this team at check-in.

CQUSA makes every effort to ensure your camp participant has a wonderful and safe experience at camp. Giving us information in advance about specific dietary needs and restrictions, behavioral, health-related, emotional, or other issues that affect your camp participant will be critical to their success at camp.

Each location also has a Psychosocial Team who oversees the social and emotional wellbeing of campers and participants. These team members typically work as Child-Life Specialists, Social Workers, Psychologists and have expertise in working with children affected by cancer.

The status of a child’s therapy or stage of illness rarely affects their eligibility to participate. In addition to having been diagnosed with cancer, some children participating in our programs have either physical and/or mental challenges. Camp Quality USA is committed to adapting all activities to meet the needs of each and every camper.

Typically, up to 25% of campers receive oral chemotherapy or other treatments on-site during their time at the camp from our incredibly dedicated and skilled volunteer doctors and nurses. If additional treatments or procedures are needed during camp, the Healthcare Coordinators from your camp will reach out to learn more and ensure our ability to support your child at camp.

The status of a child’s therapy or stage of illness rarely affects their eligibility to participate.

Acceptance of any camper, including hematology patients, is at the discretion of the local camp and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Camp Quality USA requires, on an annual basis, each volunteer to complete a series of Online Education Modules prior to the start of their first camp program experience each year.

Additionally, all volunteer applicants will be asked to provide information for an annual background check, which includes a federal and local criminal check, sex offender search, and Social Security Number (SSN) Trace. Additional background checks may be required based on state regulations.

NEW VOLUNTEERS with Camp Quality USA also go through an interview process and reference checks.

For each specific camp experience, volunteers also receive pertinent information and materials, as well as attend a required at-camp orientation, for each camp program at which they participate throughout the year.

Camp Quality USA is a Gold Ribbon accredited organization through the Children’s Oncology Camping Association. The Gold Ribbon Accreditation Program is a voluntary educational program created to support COCA member camps in identifying and implementing policies and practices that are specific to their unique settings and populations. These practices are carefully documented and integrated into the delivery of medically and emotionally safe camp experiences for children with cancer.