Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

Childhood Cancer Lantern
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Children’s Cancer Connection

Camp Heart Connection · About this organization

What you get

Your child with cancer gets a free week of overnight camp with medical staff on site day and night, and brothers and sisters get their own free week. Family camp weekends are free too.

How to start

Register online through CampBrain. Summer 2027 camp registration runs February 1 to May 4; family and teen camps have their own sign-ups.

Good to know

  • Your child can come on or off treatment, and after treatment ends.
  • Oncology camp is in June and sibling camp in July; the next family camp is April 24-26, 2027.

The details, as published

B-ALL is in scope Application Window Closed

Free Oncology, Sibling, Family, Teen, and Day Camp programs for Children’s Cancer Connection youth and families affected by childhood cancer.

Go to the official program ↗

What help you may get

Camps And Retreats

Free camp admission

Free overnight, weekend, family, teen, or day-camp admission with activities and on-site medical support for applicable sessions.

Noncash help · Per Event

1–7 camp days per award

Can cover

  • Camp admission
  • Activities
  • Medical support for applicable camps
  • Camp Heart Connection programs are free to participating families.
  • Registration is session-specific; Family Camp may give preference to families who missed the prior session.
  • Length varies by Day, Teen, Family, Oncology, or Sibling Camp session.

Peer And Emotional Support

Childhood-cancer peer connection

Campers and families connect with peers who understand childhood cancer and related sibling or family experiences.

Noncash help · Per Event

Can cover

  • Peer connection
  • Mutual support
  • Family connection

Does not cover

  • Licensed mental-health therapy

Check the main eligibility rules

Diagnosis

B-ALL is in scope. B-ALL is childhood cancer and fits Oncology Camp; siblings and families may fit their corresponding sessions.

Age

Age 5 to age 18, measured at service date.

  • Oncology and Sibling Camps serve ages 5–18 or high-school students; Day Camp serves ages 5–12; Family and Teen session fit depends on program registration.

Treatment status

Active Treatment, Maintenance Treatment, Post Treatment, Survivorship, Bereavement

  • Oncology and Teen Camp accept youth on or off treatment; Sibling Camp includes siblings regardless of treatment outcome.
  • A licensed medical professional must complete the official camper health evaluation for Oncology and Sibling Camp.

Where you live and where your child is treated

Where your family lives

You must live in: Children diagnosed, treated or living in Iowa, and their families..

  • Children’s Cancer Connection serves children diagnosed, treated or living in Iowa, as well as their families. Camps are for children and families served by CCC.

Where your child is treated

Treatment-location rules are not published clearly; confirm with the program.

Where the service, camp, stay, or experience happens
  • Des Moines Y Camp — Published summer-camp venue; it does not independently establish residence eligibility. — Oncology and Sibling Camp venue.
  • Wildwood Hills Ranch Retreat Center — Published Teen Camp destination. — Published 2026 Teen Camp venue.
  • Jeff and Deb Hansen Home for Hope — Published Day Camp service location. — Day Camp hub.

How to get started

Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.

Who can start: Parent Or Guardian

  1. Create or sign into the official CampBrain registration account and choose an open camp session.
  2. Complete the session-specific family and camper registration forms inside CampBrain.
  3. Complete and sign the official camper health evaluation and attach immunization records.
  4. Return the completed health form and immunization record by the published session deadline via email or mail.

Ways to apply or ask

  • Online Portal · Open form or page — Sign in or create an account to view current sessions and forms.
  • Email · Open form or page · camp@ccciowa.org — Official camp-team contact and health-form submission channel.
  • Mail · Open form or page — Mail completed forms to Children’s Cancer Connection – Camp Application, 5701 Greendale Road, Johnston, IA 50131.

Documents to prepare

  • Camp Heart Connection Camper Health Evaluation completed by licensed medical personnel
  • Current immunization records attached to or later supplied with the health evaluation

Availability and timing

ProgramActive
ApplicationsApplication Window Closed
Funding or spaceLimited
Application windowSeasonal · deadline May 4, 2027
Last checkedSep 29, 2026
  • Oncology and Sibling Camp registration runs February 1 to May 4; the 2027 Oncology Camp is at the Des Moines Y Camp in Boone in June 2027. The fall 2026 family camp (September 26–27) has passed; 2026 Teen Camp is October 23–25; the 2027 Spring Family Camp is April 24–26, 2027.
  • Oncology and Sibling Camp registration for summer 2027 opens February 1 and ends May 4. Family and Teen Camp have their own registration on the CampBrain site.

Limitations and things to confirm

  • For children and families served by Children’s Cancer Connection (diagnosed, treated or living in Iowa).
  • Session age, dates, and availability vary.
  • Detailed CampBrain questions and consents require account access.
  • What exact residence or service-enrollment rule defines a family served by CCC?
  • GPT Pro run55 (2026-09-25): Which sessions are currently accepting registrations? The main page announces Oncology Camp June 12–19, 2027 and Sibling Camp July 3–10, 2027, but a register button alone does not establish availability.
  • GPT Pro run55 (2026-09-25): Is the still-linked Camper Health Evaluation Form 2024 valid for 2027, including its May 15 deadline and examination within the preceding 12 months?

Official sources

Program details were last verified Sep 29, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.

Official program