Camp Raya del sol aka Campsunshine!

Volunteers at Camp sunshine always wear a yellow shirt, but everyone wears a smile, like Karely demonstrates below:-)

I spent the week volunteering in the tot lot during spanish speaking week of an oncology session. So all the kids either were sick or had a brother or sister who was sick and currently under treatment. Many came from New York or New Jersey but families flew in from Florida and throughout the country.

Throughout the week our method of travel was a the red wagon campsunshine taxi. In the taxis we brought the kids to the waterfront of Sebago lake, to the big kid playground, and across the wish pond. We pulled them to the Garden where they watered plants and spotted tomatoes and grapes growing. 

There is always a lot of singing and dancing every night at campsunshine, with a performer juggler coming the first night and the lead councilors clapping and dancing to a campsunshine classic "Gimmie your heart". The second night everyone dresses up in their favorite costume and kids and parents are welcomed to the stage to perform in the talent show. 

These are some of the beautiful smiling faces that lead all the volunteers to return year after year, all the donors to give as much as they do to keep the camp running year round.



 Sunny the bear, Chippy the chipmunk and Lupy the bear helped us keep the kids entertained.

On the last night the Celebration show gives each age group the chance to go up on stage and perform. Below you see the girls are all ready to show the audience their hokey pokey skills;-)

I almost didn't make it to camp since my car broke down, but I am so blessed to have wonderful sisters, and an awesome brother-in-law. Diana woke up early to give me a ride to camp, Ben picked me up sunday to bring me back to Freeport for my Parents 30th anniversary, and Nina took me back to camp afterwards. Nina also drove me all the way back to Topsham at the end of the session. Not all of the kids who come to camp sunshine will have their brothers or sisters around, unfortunately. One of the most inspiring things is that many families whose child has passed on or has been cured will come back to volunteer in gratitude and also so they can witness the magic of campsunshine again.