Camp Hawkins

Camp Hawkins, named for one of Utah’s foremost pediatric heart surgeons, was created for those affected by congenital heart disease and defects. In 2010, local families organized Camp Hawkins with an aim to improve the lives of and provide support to children and families living with congenital heart defects. In June of 2010, Camp Hawkins organized its first session held at Camp Wapiti in Tooele, Utah. In its first year, 40 campers attended. By 2012, the third summer session, over 100 campers participated in the four-day camp.

Camp Hawkins is dedicated to providing a summer camp for children whose hearts limit them to a most un-childlike childhood. While at camp, campers and their siblings have the experience of a lifetime. And, if we are lucky, they will be able to return year after year!

Volunteers, including on-site medical staff, provide a fun and safe experience tailored to each child’s needs and abilities. While some campers and volunteers travel a great distance to participate, the majority are from Utah and Idaho. The volunteers, including doctors and nurses, wear T-shirts instead of lab coats. They don costumes, sport baseball caps, and hurl water balloons instead of wearing medical masks and enduring the pokes of sharp needles. Night brings a sky full of stars and possibilities, giggles and confidence instead of lonely hospital rooms and worries about tomorrow.

At Camp Hawkins campers take part in a variety of activities including hiking, swimming, arts, crafts, music, and more. Campers interact and engage in these activities with other children who face, and overcome, similar challenges. Camp Hawkins offers the companionship and reassurance of camping with other children who share “broken hearts” in its literal meaning.

Camp Hawkins is expecting an even bigger turnout this year. With growth, also comes the demand for additional funds to provide this great social and learning opportunity for these children. While at Camp Hawkins, these kids meet new friends who are challenged by similar issues. In addition to the fun, campers learn many life skills such as group interaction, teamwork, leadership, financial literacy, and creativity.

Additionally, Camp Hawkins is unique in the aspect that no individual involved in organizing the camp receives financial compensation. Camp Hawkins is made possible through the time and resources of its nearly 80 volunteers. Camp Hawkins is extremely lucky to find so many amazing volunteers who are willing to commit four full days in June and many planning hours during the year to help make Camp Hawkins successful.

The Board of Directors continually plans during the year and is committed to ensuring that 100% of the funds donated go directly to the cost of insurance, food, games, activities, camp rental fees, and the safety of the children. The registration fee of $60/child to attend Camp Hawkins, covers only a small portion of the actual cost to organize and run the camp. The cost this year is expected to be approximately $250/child.

Recognizing that many of these families are overburdened with substantial medical bills, Camp Hawkins does not deny any child the opportunity to attend camp due to financial circumstances. As a result, the Board of Directors waived the enrollment fee for approximately 24% of the campers who come from low-income families. Because of this commitment, total camp fees have historically covered less than 15% of the total cost of camp.

Camp Hawkins has relied on generous donations from individuals and corporations to cover the remainder of the costs. Based on our budget, Camp Hawkins anticipates needing approximately $25,000 from private donations to ensure a successful camp experience this June. Each donation will help allow numerous children from low-income families to attend camp this year.

We are grateful to all of the donors and volunteers that help make Camp Hawkins a success and ask for your support. We need you! Our campers are hungry, busy, and on the move—and so are our volunteers. Join us by planning with us, camping with us, or donating with us! We are requesting donations to help ensure a successful camp for these children this year. Thank you again for your compassionate support. We hope that you will partner with us in our commitment to the children of Camp Hawkins. Please follow our progress at www.camphawkins.org or by searching Camp Hawkins on Facebook.