Dear Camp Smile-A-Mile Return Volunteer Counselor:
2010 is going to be the best year yet for Camp SAM! We are celebrating 25 years of providing programs in Alabama for children with cancer and their families! The success of this program is because of your involvement! I do hope you will be able to join us this year at camp. Please find enclosed a volunteer counselor application, medical form, expectations of all volunteer counselors, requirements, qualifications and job position descriptions. Please mark which camp dates you would like to be a vounteer. The dates are listed on the first page of the application.
| If you are a return volunteer who has not attended camp since 2005 or earlier, you will be required to fill out a new volunteer counselor application and go through a phone or in-person interview if you apply for a weekend camp; if you apply for week long camp, then you will be required to attend a personal or phone interview. You will also submit information for a background check. |
The single most important element to the success of our program is you! The enthusiasm, creativity, energy and generosity provided by you have given our campers wonderful times and cherished memories. Coming to camp for the whole week or weekend is a commitment. If you can not be there the entire duration, please do not apply! When you mark which camp you would like to attend, please make it a priority. Let's work together to make this year's camp sessions safe and fun for the kids. Please always remember the mission of Camp Smile-A-Mile. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS!!
Camp Smile-A-Mile was founded in 1985 with one basic goal in mind: to create an unforgettable recreational experience for young cancer patients from across Alabama, at no cost to their families. These special children would be able to participate in a normal camping environment while remaining under medical supervision. Before Camp SAM, many children were not able to go to a sleep-over camp because they were undergoing chemotherapy. Now every child up to age eighteen who is a current or former cancer patient can go to camp through our program. Qualified medical personnel from the Hematology-Oncology department at The Children's Hospital stay at the camp during each camping session. They administer chemotherapy as well as take care of all the first aid needs of the campers.
Our mission today is to provide year round challenging, unforgettable recreational and educational experiences for young cancer patients, their families as well as young adult survivors from Alabama at no cost. Our purpose is to provide these patients, families and survivors with avenues for fellowship, to help them cope with their disease, and to prepare them for life after cancer.
In Camp Smile-A-Mile's twenty-five years of operation, our original goal and many others have been realized. Our programs have expanded to include year-round activities for juvenile cancer patients, their parents and their siblings. More than 400 children a year participate in Camp SAM.
With the help of many caring volunteers, board members and medical personnel, we have brightened the smiles of many children with cancer. We want all of our campers to go home with SMILES A MILE wide. |
REQUIRED CAMP ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
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All accepted volunteers (new & return) for a weekend camp or a weeklong camp, attend a REQUIRED Camp Orientation and Training Session in April at Children’s Harbor. On Friday, April 9th, volunteers will have the opportunity to arrive at the campsite beginning at 5 pm to check-in and get settled into their cabins. At 6 pm there will be a tour of the campsite for new volunteers followed by an informal gathering, reunion and pizza party at 7 pm. If you can’t make it before 7 pm you are still welcome to come to the campsite anytime that evening. We will begin our training session at 9 am on Saturday, April 10th. If you can not arrive til Saturday, please be at camp between 8-8:30 am to check-in. Please put these dates on your calendar now!
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All weekend camps will be staffed by return volunteers which allows more return volunteers to work at more weekend camps.
Your application, FAQ’s, (frequently asked questions), job descriptions, expectations, medical history form and release form are included.
Wanna just volunteer for a weekend? Here is what you need to know: For all family camps (May, Off Therapy & Sept.), volunteers arrive on Friday afternoon approximately 2-3 hours prior to the families arrival. For Sibling camp, volunteers arrive approximately two hour's before camp officially begins on Friday at noon, therefore, expected volunteer arrival time for Sibling Camp is around 9-10 am.
For the two weeks of summer camp, volunteers arrive the day before the campers, which is a Sunday. Your arrival time will be sometime between 3-4 pm; this time may vary and the exact time will be made known to you closer to camp. Since Sibling Camp and Summer Family Camp back up to both week long camps, we hope some of you will choose to join us for 9 fun filled days at camp.
Please note the application deadline dates. Please have your completed application, release of liability, background check, and medical form in ASAP or by the deadline date March 15th. (Please see check list at the end of this packet). If you fail to mail in your application and medical form by the deadline date, it may not be accepted. Once all applications have been submitted by the deadline, we will inform you of your acceptance.
Remember, volunteers must be 19 or older for all camp sessions (we have raised the age by one year) except Teen camp and Jr/Sr. Weekend - applicants must be ages 21 or older. If you know someone that would like to be a volunteer at a week long camp this summer, don't forget our age requirement. Let them know they can download a new volunteer application off of our website, www.campsam.org. If you have any questions regarding anything, please give me a call (205) 323-8427 or toll free 888-500-7920 or email.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Queen
Program Director
jennifer.queen@campsam.org |