Advertisement

This year marks the 20-year anniversary in Michigan of the non-profit organization that provides camping experiences and year-round support programs for children with cancer and their families.

Executive Director Eleanor West has been an instigator and advocate for the project since the beginning.

Seated behind her desk at the Boyne City headquarters of Camp Quality, she emanates a focused energy and enthusiasm when she discusses her 20-year career as the Michigan director for the camp.

"The most rewarding aspect of this job is seeing children gain their confidence back after going through a horrendous struggle with cancer," West said.

Established in 1987, Camp Quality Michigan began as a summer camp with 12 campers participating the first year. This year the camp will host 68 campers.

Also this year, another Michigan Camp Quality opened in Fenton with a week-long session July 8- 13.

"That first year we were $5,000 in debt," West recalls. "But ever since then we've made our budget with something left over. We are very grateful to have that kind of support."

West also expressed gratitude to the 125 volunteer staff members at the camp.

"So many people give their time and talents. We have cooks, nurses, doctors, waterfront and crafts supervisors and people who participate in archery and horseback riding," West said. "And we have one-on-one companions for every camper.

Some campers with special needs have more than one companion. The relationships that are formed during camp often become life-long friendships."

The focus of Camp Quality is to create a stress-free environment that offers activities, fosters new friendships and helps to give children courage, motivation and emotional strength. It is funded 100 percent through donations from small businesses, organizations, service clubs and individual supporters.

"The recovery rate for our kids is between 75-80 percent," West said. Indicating a picture of smiling boy in a baseball cap, she added, "Michael died last October. I've had a lot of friends who, for whatever reason, have been in my life for just a short time. But I've been blessed to have known them."

West will stay on as director through 2009.

She would then like to start a year-round support program in Michigan to help ease the transition of children suffering from cancer back into the school environment. The Camp Quality Puppet Program, developed last year in Canada, utilizes large-scale puppets. The puppets enact situations that enable primary school-aged children to understand the importance of supporting one another when a child has a serious illness.

Camp Quality is an international program with over 55 locations in 19 countries. The United States has 15 camps in 11 states. It was established in 1983 in Sydney, Australia by Vera Entwhistle.

She named it Camp Quality after a doctor told her:

"No one can do anything about the quantity of one's life, but all of us can do something about the quality." "Vera Entwhistle felt that if you have a quality program, people will want to be involved." West said.

"We are blessed to have so many people who generously lend their support." And how does West sum up her work for the past 20 years?

"I feel like a grandma to these kids." said West. Camp Quality is Aug. 12-18 at Camp Daggett