Camp Hope
By Leslie Foley
Rebecca’s Wish, a San Antonio-based 501(c)3, in partnership with the National Pancreas Foundation, decided that children with pancreatitis deserve the opportunity to participate in a rite of summer that is commonplace for able-bodied children. The two nonprofits came together in 2021 to create Camp Hope, a pediatric pancreatitis summer camp where children and young people suffering from pancreatitis, or post-pancreas transplant, can experience all the joys of camp without limitations. This one-of-a-kind camping experience put together specifically for children with pancreatitis would not be possible without the participation of a world-class team of physicians and nurses from all over the country who have agreed to staff the pop-up field hospital to attend to the complicated medical needs of the campers.
“For most of our children at Camp Hope, held at Morgan’s Wonderland Camp, this is their first time attending camp and away from home, because of their pancreatitis. And without our hospital, there is no way these children would be able physically to participate. In 2024 at Camp Hope, our medical team provided care on nearly 200 occasions to our campers, many of whom would have been hospitalized for treatment had they not been under our supervision,” stated Rebecca’s Wish President Christyn Taylor.
Nearly 130 campers from 36 states attended Camp Hope this year, marking the largest number of campers participating in the program since its inception. The experience is entirely subsidized by Rebecca’s Wish and takes place at the Ultra-Accessible™, fully-inclusive Morgan’s Camp, which is a 102-acre recreational oasis on the northern outskirts of San Antonio. “Campers get to experience things at Camp Hope that they never have been able to do before including swimming, archery, cycling, horseback riding, and ziplines,” stated Taylor. “We want our campers to discover a new sense of belonging, while staying safe under the guidance and care of an onsite medical and psychosocial team. We are grateful for another summer at Morgan’s Camp, which for a fourth summer, is facilitating an unforgettable experience for our pancreas patients.”
