What if camp could come to the kids who can't come to camp? In this episode, we sit down with Deanna Slade, Sunrise's Vice President of Camping Services, and Meredith George, a Child Life Specialist at Monroe Carroll Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, to introduce Sunrise H Camp, the organization's first ever in-hospital summer day camp. The "H" stands for Hope, Healing, and Happiness, and that spirit shows up in every detail, from a “campfire” and camp songs in the waiting room to themed activity spaces reimagined fresh each day. Deanna and Meredith share how a beloved Sunrise on Wheels partnership grew into a full pilot program, why these children deserve every chance to simply feel like kids, and how the Tel Aviv University impact study gave them even more reason to dream big. It's a conversation about meeting children right where they are and turning a hospital day into something to look forward to.
Topics Covered:
How the Sunrise on Wheels partnership in Vanderbilt's infusion clinic sparked the idea for H Camp
What the "H" in H Camp really stands for: Hope, Healing, and Happiness
Why a brand-new child life therapeutic space made Vanderbilt the right place to launch
A walk-through of a full day at H Camp, from the waiting room campfire to themed activity rooms
What carries over from Sunrise's in-person camps and what gets modified for a hospital setting
Keeping immunocompromised children safe while keeping the magic of camp fully intact
Bringing activities right to the infusion bays so no child misses out on the fun
How Vanderbilt's nurses and child life specialists are "all in," costumes and all
What the Tel Aviv University study revealed about resilience and the Sunrise Effect
The dream for H Camp's future and what an in-hospital camp could become anywhere there's a need
About Sunrise Association
The Sunrise Association brings back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings worldwide through inclusive day camps, year-round programs, and in-hospital recreational activities, all completely free of charge. Founded in 2006 with one camp and 96 campers, Sunrise now reaches nearly 77,000 children annually across 14 summer day camps, 85+ weekly in-hospital programs, and virtual platforms.
Learn more at Sunrise Association → https://www.sunriseassociation.org/