ABOUT KESEM
Over 5 million children have been impacted by a parent’s cancer and Camp Kesem is the largest national organization dedicated to this unique population. Kesem’s flagship program, Camp Kesem, operates 132 free summer camps across the country for children ages 6 to 18 who have been impacted by a parent’s cancer. Due to COVID-19, our flagship program is transferring to a virtual space called Kesem at Home this upcoming summer. Along with Kesem at Home, Kesem continuously supports families throughout the year through our other programs offered. Kesem programs have a lasting impact on children by providing them a peer-support network that understands their unique needs, builds confidence and strengthens their communication skills. In 2020, Kesem served over 12,000 children coast-to-coast – all funded by generous donations from individuals and corporate support. For more information on Camp Kesem, please visit www.kesem.org, Facebook.com/CampKesem, and @CampKesem on Twitter & Instagram.
ABOUT CAMP KESEM AT LONG BEACH STATE
Camp Kesem at Long Beach State was founded in 2018 and supports children in the Long Beach community by providing a week-long summer camp experience and year-long peer support. Camp Kesem is provided free of charge to all participating families; funding is primarily provided by private donations and community support.
The chapter at Long Beach State is operated by 40 student volunteers and serves 35 campers ages 6-18 per year. Camp Kesem at Long Beach State is organized by dedicated students at CSULB who work year long to plan and fundraise for an impactful week of camp. For more information about Camp Kesem at Long Beach State please visit our website or Facebook page.
Children attending Camp Kesem at Long Beach State will participate in a host of fun activities including Messy Games, Empowerment, and much more! Nightly “Cabin Chats” are also hosted to provide a safe space for campers to open up to their peers and counselors about their experiences. Click here to watch testimonials from campers who have experienced the Kesem magic from Long Beach State. We are currently accepting applications to attend the free virtual Kesem experience. To learn more or to register a child, visit www.kesem.org.
In addition to our virtual summer camp this year, we offer the below services:
- Day programs
- Grief support
- Birthday cards
- Online resources
These additional services range from organizational wide gatherings to resources provided to families in need. These different programs allow for key touch points throughout the year and allow our families to know we are here for services they may need.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friends and Family Day
For individuals interested in learning more about our programs, we are hosting a virtual Friends and Family Day on March 20th 2021 from 1-4pm. The first portion of the program will consist of an overview of our program and updates for interested parties/new families/participating families. The remaining portion of our programming will be activities that all can participate in. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to [email protected].
Make the Magic
This event is our annual gala held in the spring to help fundraise for our programs throughout the year. Although usually held in person, this year the gala will be held virtually on May 1st 2021 at 7pm. Tickets for this event will be available soon. If you would like to be updated about our annual gala, please contact [email protected].