BATON ROUGE, La. — A weeklong summer camp that brings children treated at St. Jude and their siblings together for activities and peer support began Monday at the Baton Rouge Ochsner Discovery School.
Called Camp Care, the program runs through the week and serves 40 St. Jude patients and siblings, ages 5 to 13. This year marks the first time the Dream Day Foundation has taken over the camp from Cancer Services of Baton Rouge, organizers said. Camp Care is part of a broader family support program that offers practical help to families of St. Jude patients throughout the year.
What Camp Care includes
Leaders described Camp Care as a mix of recreational, educational and social activities designed so kids can play while families access resources. The week’s events include field trips, hands-on demonstrations and on-site activities arranged by local partners.
- Participants: 40 children, ages 5–13.
- Location: Baton Rouge Ochsner Discovery School.
- Host organization (2026): Dream Day Foundation, taking over from Cancer Services of Baton Rouge.
"Camp Care is part of a broader family support program designed to help families of St. Jude patients with practical resources throughout the year."
Year-round resources tied to the program
Organizers emphasized that Camp Care links to other supports for families whose children receive care through St. Jude. The program’s listed services include a nutrition pantry, a comfort cart at clinic visits, and transportation help for medical appointments.
| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Nutrition pantry | Food support for families |
| Comfort cart | Items to ease clinic visits |
| Medical transportation | Help getting to appointments |
Other ongoing supports listed by program organizers are monthly mini-events at the clinic, assistance with the adolescent oncology support group, a quarterly teenage sickle cell support group, and a free device charging station inside the clinic. The family program also helps coordinate the annual St. Jude Family Christmas Party.
Week-at-a-glance
The camp schedule combines off-site visits with on-site demonstrations and themed activities planned for the kids.
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday | Blue Zoo and the movies |
| Tuesday | On-site activities with Baby Kangaroo and a parrot demonstration |
| Wednesday | ExxonMobil STEM activities and Louisiana Art & Science Museum |
| Thursday | On-site: balloon animal class, Trucker Hat Bar, GymFit obstacle course |
| Friday | Farewell finale party with parents and other siblings |
For Baton Rouge families with children undergoing treatment, programs like Camp Care offer a concentrated chance for normalcy and peer connection. The shift in management to the Dream Day Foundation this year reflects how local nonprofits collaborate to keep supportive services available. Organizers said the camp and its year-round services aim to reduce practical burdens and build community around families navigating pediatric illness.
Local residents who want more information about Camp Care or the St. Jude family supports can check with the Dream Day Foundation or St. Jude-affiliated clinic coordinators in Baton Rouge.
