Lighthouse Family Retreat
Childhood Cancer Retreats · About this organization
What you get
Free Christian retreats with lodging, meals, parent groups, and activities for children.
How to start
Choose a retreat and fill in the family application. Arrange the medical consent paperwork with your child's oncology team.
Good to know
- Limited gas assistance may be requested only after acceptance and requires social-worker participation.
- Oncologist or social-worker medical consent is required before attendance.
The details, as published
No-cost Christian weeklong and weekend retreats for first-priority families whose child is age 18 or younger and in focused cancer treatment or within one year after treatment; lodging, meals, planned activities, parent groups, and child activities are covered while families arrange travel.
What help you may get
Camps And Retreats
Childhood Cancer Retreats — camps and retreats
No-cost Christian weeklong and weekend retreats for first-priority families whose child is age 18 or younger and in focused cancer treatment or within one year after treatment; lodging, meals, planned activities, parent groups, and child activities are covered while families arrange travel.
Noncash help
Can cover
- Meals during the retreat
- Planned family and children's activities
- Retreat lodging
Does not cover
- Personal expenses outside planned program activities
- Transportation to and from the retreat
- Food, lodging, and planned activities are covered once the family arrives.
- A second retreat is possible only while the family remains eligible and as space allows; families that have attended twice are not accepted again.
Lodging Near Treatment
Childhood Cancer Retreats — lodging near treatment
No-cost Christian weeklong and weekend retreats for first-priority families whose child is age 18 or younger and in focused cancer treatment or within one year after treatment; lodging, meals, planned activities, parent groups, and child activities are covered while families arrange travel.
Noncash help
Can cover
- Meals during the retreat
- Planned family and children's activities
- Retreat lodging
Does not cover
- Personal expenses outside planned program activities
- Transportation to and from the retreat
- Food, lodging, and planned activities are covered once the family arrives.
- A second retreat is possible only while the family remains eligible and as space allows; families that have attended twice are not accepted again.
Meals And Food
Childhood Cancer Retreats — meals and food
No-cost Christian weeklong and weekend retreats for first-priority families whose child is age 18 or younger and in focused cancer treatment or within one year after treatment; lodging, meals, planned activities, parent groups, and child activities are covered while families arrange travel.
Noncash help
Can cover
- Meals during the retreat
- Planned family and children's activities
- Retreat lodging
Does not cover
- Personal expenses outside planned program activities
- Transportation to and from the retreat
- Food, lodging, and planned activities are covered once the family arrives.
- A second retreat is possible only while the family remains eligible and as space allows; families that have attended twice are not accepted again.
Practical Items And Home Help
Childhood Cancer Retreats — practical items and home help
No-cost Christian weeklong and weekend retreats for first-priority families whose child is age 18 or younger and in focused cancer treatment or within one year after treatment; lodging, meals, planned activities, parent groups, and child activities are covered while families arrange travel.
Noncash help
Can cover
- Meals during the retreat
- Planned family and children's activities
- Retreat lodging
Does not cover
- Personal expenses outside planned program activities
- Transportation to and from the retreat
- Food, lodging, and planned activities are covered once the family arrives.
- A second retreat is possible only while the family remains eligible and as space allows; families that have attended twice are not accepted again.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. The official FAQ serves families with a child age 18 or younger in focused cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, so pediatric B-ALL is within the published scope.
Age
Age 0 to age 18, measured at application.
- The child with cancer must be age 18 or younger; siblings age 21 or younger who live at home may attend.
Treatment status
No specific treatment status is published.
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
- The child's oncologist or social worker must sign the Medical Consent Form within two weeks of the retreat.
- The reviewed official pages do not publish an income test for retreat attendance.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
No residence restriction is published.
- Eligible families in the United States and Canada may apply. Retreat properties are service-delivery destinations, not state eligibility limits.
Where your child is treated
No treatment-location restriction is published.
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: Caregiver, Parent Or Guardian
- Arrange transportation to and from the retreat.
- Choose a weeklong or weekend retreat and submit the linked family application.
- If accepted, have the child's oncologist or social worker complete the Medical Consent Form within two weeks of the retreat.
- Review the family FAQ and current retreat options.
Ways to apply or ask
- Online Portal · Open form or page
Documents to prepare
- Medical Consent Form signed by the child's oncologist or social worker
- Lighthouse confirms acceptance and retreat placement before the family completes medical-consent and travel arrangements.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Not Published |
| Funding or space | Limited |
| Application window | Not Published |
| Last checked | Aug 24, 2026 |
- The official site displayed current 2026 family retreats; placement is first come, first served and some family categories may be waitlisted.
- Applications are tied to scheduled retreats and capacity.
- Apply early because qualifying families are considered first come, first served.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Limited gas assistance may be requested only after acceptance and requires social-worker participation.
- Oncologist or social-worker medical consent is required before attendance.
- Only dairy, gluten, nut, and seafood allergies are listed as menu accommodations.
- Selection and exact retreat placement depend on capacity.
- The family must pay for and arrange travel to and from the retreat.
- This is an explicitly Christian, faith-based program; belief is not required, but Christian words and activities are part of the experience.
- How much limited gas assistance is currently available after acceptance?
- What family information is required in the initial application?
- What infection-control, vaccination, and medical-stability requirements apply to a child in active treatment?
- Which retreats currently have family openings rather than a waitlist?
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 24, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- CHILDHOOD CANCER FAMILY | Lighthouse · checked Aug 24, 2026
- FAQ - Retreat Families | Lighthouse · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Childhood Cancer Retreats · checked Aug 24, 2026