Mar 18 2025 58 mins
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/sunrise-camps
The Sunrise Association: Transforming Lives of kids affected by Childhood Cancer
The Sunrise Day Camps started as an optimistic idea less than 20 years ago- and has grown into an unbelievably wonderful reality in which 2500 children- cancer patients, survivors, and their siblings- attended day camps last summer for no charge, with no wait lists- ever! Overall, they serve over 60,000 children each year through their day camps, year-round hospital programs and virtual programs. No organization has ever done anything like this in the camp space, their story is super-inspiring, and we can’t wait to share it with you all.
Highlights:
- 02:21 The Genesis of Sunrise Association
- 05:05 First Camp and Recruitment Challenges
- 16:50 Eligibility and Long-Term Impact
- 22:46 Hospital Programs and Expansion
- 31:10 Flexible Attendance for Campers
- 34:13 Data Analysis and Communication Strategies
- 39:23 Communication and Enrollment Process
- 41:34 Expanding Camp Locations and Services
- 44:35 Impact of the Pandemic on Camp Operations
- 45:31 Virtual Programming and Hospital Outreach
- 50:44 Fundraising Strategies and Community Support
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Links from this Episode:
- www.sunriseassociation.org
- Sunrise Association Intro Video - https://www.youtube.com/c/SunriseAssociation
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Your Hosts:
- Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
- Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
- Aileen Hoffman, Senior Vice President - Strategic Expansion, Sunrise Association
- Deanna Slade, Vice President of Camping and Related Services, Sunrise Association
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Sponsors:
- AMSkier
- AMSkier is a leading insurance and strategic partner for many of the finest camps in America. AMSkier partners with camps to provide public relations, legal, medical, behavior support and more - Experience the AMSkier difference. Learn more at amskier.com.
- Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)
- Looking to elevate your camp experience? For over 25 years, Commercial Recreation Specialists has been transforming camps with water inflatables, Splashpads, playgrounds, and more! Boost your programming, drive registrations, and attract more campers. Our team of Recreation Specialists is here to help you design the ultimate space. Let’s take your camp to the next level – because we’re serious about FUN! Find out more at https://crs4rec.com/
- CampMinder
- Campminder has the most robust offerings of features out there. But more importantly, every feature works together to create a full, seamless system that helps camps run more efficiently. Visit them today at campminder.com