Pennsylvania Campgrounds Come Together to Send Children with Cancer to Camp

Across Pennsylvania, something special happens each September.

 

Campgrounds aren’t just welcoming guests; they’re coming together for a shared purpose: helping children with cancer experience the joy, healing, and freedom of camp. Through the “Compete for Kids!” campaign, the Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association (PCOA) partners with the Care Camps Foundation to turn the camping season into something even more meaningful.

 

Held annually during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Compete for Kids campaign brings campground owners, staff, and guests together in a unique way, through friendly competition with a powerful purpose.

Participating campgrounds host creative fundraising activities such as:

Each campground competes to raise the most funds and make a real difference in the lives of children and families facing cancer.

 

At its heart, this campaign is about impact.

 

“Pennsylvania’s camping community is proud to support the Care Camps Foundation and its life-changing mission,” said Jason Vaughan, PCOA Executive Director. “By partnering together, we’re helping raise vital funds to send children with cancer to specialized camps where they can find joy, healing, and hope. It’s more than just camping it’s creating unforgettable moments for kids who need them most.”

 

Those moments matter.

 

For children battling or recovering from cancer, these camps provide safe, medically supervised environments where they can simply be kids again making friends, enjoying outdoor activities, and building confidence.

 

The Compete for Kids campaign highlights the strength of Pennsylvania’s camping community.

 

“The campaign is a powerful example of the camping industry coming together to make a difference,” said Care Camps Foundation Development Director Jenna Berneck. “Campgrounds across Pennsylvania are joining forces to raise critical funds that send kids with cancer to these magical camps where they can experience joy, hope, healing, and friendship in the great outdoors.”

 

From small family-owned parks to larger resort-style destinations, campgrounds across the state unite around a shared mission—proving that camping can be about much more than a getaway.

 

Each year, top-performing campgrounds are recognized for their incredible efforts. At the annual PCOA Convention, the following campgrounds were honored as 2025’s leading fundraisers:

Their commitment and the generosity of their camping guests helps bring these life-changing experiences to thousands of children.

The work of the Care Camps Foundation reaches far beyond Pennsylvania.

In 2025 alone:

These numbers represent more than funding—they represent smiles, friendships, and moments of joy during incredibly challenging times.

 

The Compete for Kids campaign will return in September 2026, and Pennsylvania campgrounds are already looking forward to another year of impact.

 

“Compete for Kids is such a meaningful way for our campgrounds and guests to come together for something bigger than ourselves,” said Melinda Koehler, Communication Director at Driftstone Campground. “Every event, every donation, and every guest who participates helps create an opportunity for a child with cancer to experience the joy of camp. We’re excited to see even more campgrounds get involved in 2026 and continue growing this incredible effort.”

 

Whether you're a campground owner, a seasonal camper, or a weekend visitor, there are many ways to get involved—from participating in events to simply supporting fundraising efforts during your stay.

 

Camping has always been about connection to nature, to family, and to each other.

Through Compete for Kids, Pennsylvania’s campgrounds are showing that those connections can go even further bringing hope, healing, and happiness to children who need it most.