Cancer and Blood Diseases Resources | Summer Camp

Patients may bring one sibling of similar age as a guest. 

The Cancer & Blood Diseases Institute’s NjoyItAll Camp is by invitation only. Patients will receive an email from cbdi.camp@cchmc.org approximately the second week of February. Follow the instructions to obtain information on registration. Registration will be open for one month but may close early if spots fill.

Cancer & Blood Diseases Institute Patient – No Physical Needed

Patients must have been seen in the Cancer & Blood Diseases Institute two or more times within the past 12 months to be considered a current patient and do NOT need a physical form turned in with the packet. Patients of the 5+ survivor clinic will need a physical.

Siblings – Yes, They Need a Physical

Siblings are required to have a physical prior to attending camp. You may use the form supplied during registration, a school or sport form (filled out in the past 12-18 months), or one provided by your pediatrician.

No. NjoyItAll is staffed by Camp Joy and Cincinnati Children's staff, therefore we have no volunteer opportunities for individuals outside of Cincinnati Children’s.

“NjoyItAll Camp” is held at Camp Joy, 10117 Old 3-C Highway, in Clarksville, OH, approximately 50 minutes from Cincinnati and 75 minutes from Columbus. Easily reached by interstate and state routes, the camp occupies 315 acres of trees, trails, fields and meadows overlooking a river valley. Three handicap-accessible cabins with indoor bathrooms and hot showers will house campers near the air-conditioned dining hall.     

The staff works closely with the Cincinnati Children’s medical team to create a safe, supportive environment for children, no matter what their abilities.

The camp provides:

• Activities such as the tower climb, swimming, rafting trips, fishing, archery, arts and crafts and campfire time.
• Around-the-clock medical monitoring by CBDI physicians and nurses.
• Educational programs to help children become more independent in managing their condition.

All activities are adapted to each child's abilities.

No Guests Other Than Siblings

You may attend Teen Week if you are a patient, age 12-16, or Kids Week if you are a child, age 7-12. You must be a patient who has been seen in the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute at Cincinnati Children’s two or more times within the past 12 months, or the 5+ Survivorship Clinic once in the past 12 months.

Patients seen in the Hemophilia Treatment Center are eligible if they have the following diagnosis: Type 2B VWD, Type 3 VWD or Hemophilia.

The patient and one sibling will then be eligible to attend the same week of summer camp together. The week they attend is based on the patient’s age so a sibling would have to be in the same age group as the patient in order to attend.

It is offered for one sibling to attend camp for the week along with the patient. This gives them a chance to spend time with their brother or sister and share in the experience together. When bringing a sibling to camp, he or she has to be in the same age group as the patient. (For example, if a patient is 14 and the sibling is 11, the sibling would not be able to attend because the age groups are 7-12 and 12-16.)

Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute young adults aged 17 and over may apply to be Jr. Counselors. If interested in being a Jr. Counselor, contact the camp director. Jr. Counselors will be needed July 26-31 to assist with Kids Week.

In order to safeguard the privacy of all campers and to foster camper independence, visitors and phone calls are not permitted during the camp session.

If a camper MUST be contacted in an emergency, the parent or guardian should contact the NjoyItAll camp administrator at 513-636-6569  or toll free at 1-800-344-2462, ext. 6-6569. They will then reach the director on site. In an emergency, you can reach Camp Joy’s on-call phone at 937-725-4036. This is strictly an emergency line.

The camp staff includes a full-time camp director, program specialists, summer cabin counselors and auxiliary staff.  The counselors are selected from experienced college-age individuals and others with a special interest in working with children who have medical disorders. A medical team including physicians from the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute at Cincinnati Children’s will be on-site 24 hours a day.  Medical staff and a hospital pharmacist will meet with the campers’ parents on the first day of camp to review medical orders. Camp personnel will adhere to all medical orders and activity recommendations sent by the camper’s physician.

Through the generous support of the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, the Tri-State Bleeding Disorder Foundation and other donors, there is NO COST to attend camp.

Learn about giving opportunities.

Accepted campers will be required to stay the entire week; the only exceptions are for medical needs.