Children's Oncology Camping Association International is an international assembly of
people providing camping programs for children with cancer. Many of our member camps
serve a broad range of special needs populations but we all share the common thread of
working with
paediatric oncology patients.
In 1982, a dozen pioneer oncology camps founded COCA. The personnel from these
twelve camps found that camping immeasurably enhanced the lives of children with cancer.
Noting their similar experiences, these visionary souls believed a forum should be created
to share their ideas and experiences. That forum now known as COCA currently
consists of over 100 member camps from within the United States. There are also
several member camps from the Canadian provinces as well as Europe. In 1996, COCA
officially changed its name to Children's Oncology Camping Association International, to
incorporate these camps outside the United States. COCA International meets annually at a
conference that is hosted by a member camp.
A committee of the Board of Directors of COCA International is working on creating a
comprehensive set of Guidelines for Oncology Camps. Included are areas such as:
programming, staffing, risk management, medical, psychosocial and administrative details
of running camps specifically for children with cancer. It is hoped that the next
draft will be presented to the Board of Directors and registrants at the upcoming COCA
conference in Colorado, USA this October 1998. The Candlelighters Canada Guidelines
were used as the basis for these standards that will be an enhanced and very detailed
checklist for oncology camps to test their programs against. It is because of the
increased popularity in such programs and the need to put a lot of effort into this
document that it has been a work in progress for nearly three years. The desired
outcome is to ensure that the many conscientious camping programs will continue to have
excellent programs that are safe, fun and therapeutic.
As there is no procedure in place to monitor compliance with these guidelines, they will
at this time be used as a checklist for existing camps and for countries that are starting
a camping program. In time, once an accreditation process has been developed, it is hoped
that these guidelines will become standards, similar to those used by regional camping
associations all over the world. Ideally, there will eventually be a procedure to assist
oncology camps in complying with them.
For more information about becoming a member, or of the upcoming conference dates and
locations, please contact:
Jean Lockrow, President COCA International
c/o Camp Rainbow
909E. Brill, Phoenix, AZ 85006
USA
For a list of the member camps, visit their website at: www.coca-intl.org