Friends of Santa Claus
Camp MerryTimes · About this organization
What you get
Residential camp with activities, cabins, on-site doctors and oncology nurses, and cancer-family peer connection.
How to start
Fill in the new-family form if you have not enrolled, then watch for the camp’s separate registration.
Good to know
- The camp asks you to check back for 2027 dates. Joining Friends of Santa Claus does not reserve a camp place.
The details, as published
A free residential oncology camp for registered Friends of Santa Claus children and siblings ages 5–17. The May 14–17, 2026 session is over and the current Camper Registration link returns 404.
What help you may get
Camps And Retreats
Camp MerryTimes admission
Residential camp with activities, cabins, on-site doctors and oncology nurses, and cancer-family peer connection.
Noncash help · Per Event
Can cover
- camp admission
- activities
- medical staffing
- Provided free of charge.
Peer And Emotional Support
Cancer-family peer connection
Patients and siblings connect with other families who understand cancer treatment.
Noncash help · Per Event
- Provided free of charge.
Why this may help
Peer And Emotional Support: Your child and siblings spend camp time with others who understand cancer treatment.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. B-ALL is a pediatric cancer within the published cancer population.
Age
Age 5 to age 17, measured at service date.
Treatment status
Newly Diagnosed, Active Treatment, Maintenance Treatment, Within One Year Post Treatment, Post Treatment, Survivorship
- No family fee is charged.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: Western North Carolina; Upstate South Carolina.
- Family must live in Western North Carolina or the Upstate of South Carolina.
Where your child is treated
Treatment-location rules are not published clearly; confirm with the program.
Where the service, camp, stay, or experience happens
- Camp Ton-A-Wandah — Camp Ton-A-Wandah is the service venue and does not itself establish residence eligibility. — Hendersonville, North Carolina
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
- Enroll the family through the official new-family form if not already registered.
- Wait for the next named event registration cycle before submitting event-specific materials.
Ways to apply or ask
- Web Form · Open form or page — General Friends of Santa Claus family-enrollment form; it does not establish that the named event registration is open.
Documents to prepare
The program does not publish a document checklist. Ask before gathering paperwork.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Application Window Closed |
| Funding or space | Not Published |
| Application window | Seasonal |
| Last checked | Sep 25, 2026 |
Limitations and things to confirm
- Current event-specific application questions, medical forms, documents, and signatures are not published.
- When will the next Camp MerryTimes intake open and what current application materials will be required?
- GPT Pro run10 (2026-09-25): When will the 2027 camp dates and event-specific medical forms be available? The public page now explicitly says to check back for 2027.
Official sources
Program details were last verified Sep 25, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Camp MerryTimes · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Information for New Families · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Friends of Santa Claus FAQ · checked Aug 27, 2026