Ronald McDonald Camp
For 40 years, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times (a program of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California) has been at the forefront of designing medically supervised programs that respond to the needs of the pediatric oncology community. Our campers, be they children with cancer, their siblings or their parents, come to us in the midst of one of the most trying times in their lives. Our philosophy is that love, care, attention, and above all, friendship transforms lives and leads to healthy outcomes. Camp sessions encompass social, educational, emotional and recreational opportunities for our campers. Camp works with the medical staff in the oncology departments from across Southern California to reach out to the families of children living with cancer and to determine whether or not a child is well enough to attend camp. Campers are chosen on a first-come-first-serve basis and receive all services free-of-charge.
All of our programs are offered at our 60 acre facility in Mountain Center near Idyllwild, CA, which is comprised of 14 cabins (200 beds), a pool, activity areas, hiking trails, dining hall, and an onsite state-of-the-art healthcare center where our campers’ medical needs are attended to 24/7. Whether a child has an amputated leg, is using a wheelchair or walker, or has compromised vision, staff and volunteers are specifically trained to ensure everyone can participate in camp programming, providing campers with access to activities that are normally out of reach builds self-esteem and confidence. Camp activities include: swimming, archery, the “Chandler Courage Course” (a 50-Foot Climbing Tower and Ropes course), basketball, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, yoga, community service, arts & crafts, cooking, nature exploration, music/dance, and team building/leadership exercises.