I’m not sure if I have ever written about this part of camp Kesem but it’s the most important and emotional part of camp. It usually occurs on the second to last day of camp.

It starts with all of camp designing a paper bag with why they Kesem. Kesem is for kids whose parents have or have had cancer or are no longer on earth. This year Wildflower (who is the camp director, I worked with two years ago when I did a different Arizona camp and then ran into last year at Arkansas camp) handed me one so here is what I came up with.

After this activity everyone gets in a circle and we do step in and step out. The leader reads a statement such as step in if you’ve ever worried about your parent. Step out. After just a few of these it’s obvious that everyone has felt every one of these things and it screams you are not alone and you are not weird.

Then two circles are formed and inner circle closes their eyes. The narrator then reads statements tap someone who made you laugh, tap someone you made as a new friend etc. The circle reverse so everyone gets tapped many times. After this the sharing circle begins. The kids have a choice if they want to share their story. I would guess it’s usually about fifty percent that will talk.

After sharing is finished a skein of yarn is passed around and each person wraps it around their wrist and passes to the next thereby connecting everyone. Then the string is cut and you are left with a bracelet to remind you that you are not alone.

This is the magic of Kesem. The college kids pour so much time and energy into this camp that it is mind blowing. They are all trained to assist with the big feelings this brings up and do a really good job.

After this hard emotional feelings a fun activity is planned for the evening. Every camp has done a dance party except WI is planning a happy hour. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited and can’t wait to see what it’s all about.

Mole Moral~ If you know any parents with cancer or who have passed and they have children 5-18 set them up with this camp. It’s amazing and the kids love it.