On August 10, 1986, 48 children were given the opportunity to experience Oregon’s first oncology camp for children. This would be the beginning of the American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU, which now provides approximately 120 children a year with the opportunity to have “outrageous fun.”

American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU was started by a group of Candlelighters parents whose children had gone to Camp Goodtimes, a children’s cancer camp in Washington. (Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation is an international, nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate, support, serve, and advocate for families of children with cancer, survivors of childhood cancer, and the health care professionals who care for them). The wonderful experiences the children had at Camp Goodtimes, prompted a group of parents to work to develop a camp that met the needs of children living with cancer in Oregon. Planning began in 1985, and thanks to a grant by the Fred Meyer Charitable Trust, the American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU was up and running the following year at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp in Rhododendron. The Kiwanis camp staff, supplemented by three American Cancer Society volunteers and a rotation of volunteer pediatric oncologists and pediatric oncology nurses, ran the first Camp. Without the generous donation of time by the doctors and nurses, our camp would not have been possible. The first year was a tremendous success.

1987 brought some changes to the American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU, and the camp started to take on some of the special characteristics that continue today. Already using volunteer counseling and program staff, the entire staff would soon be volunteer only. That year also marked the beginning of some special traditions including the dance, sleeping in teepees, and the Memory Circle. These traditions have become highly anticipated parts of the week.

As the camp continued to grow, a larger site became necessary. In 1989 with 90 children attending Camp, a move was made to Camp Yamhill in Yamhill County. Another fundamental change that year was in the way in which the board of directors was run. The Candlelighters group that had initiated Camp decided to focus more on family and day camps, and so a separate board of directors was established to run the American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU. Camp received a 3-year matching grant from the Fred Meyer Foundation and the board started fundraising more actively.

By 1990, the number of campers attending the American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU had increased to 136. Fundraising for Camp became more and more extensive. Donors included the Fred Meyer Foundation, Rainbow Girls, Ladies of the Eagles, Portland Golf Club Women, KOA, Portland Police, and Kaiser Permanente.

In 1994, the American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU lost one of its visionaries. Dr. Robert C. Neerhout died suddenly that fall. Dr. Neerhout was a charter member of board of directors and played a vital role in making Camp a reality. In honor of his memory, the Dr. Robert C. Neerhout Award for Fishing Excellence was established. It is given annually to the camper who best demonstrates the spirit of the American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU through his or her participation in fishing.

Going into its 10th year, our camp again needed to establish a new home. Camp Magruder in Rockaway was selected to host Camp in 1995. Located on the beach, this site offered the American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU further options for “outrageous fun,” while at the same time allowing most Camp traditions to continue.

More than 120 campers enjoyed the American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU in 1996. A new program was initiated this year in an effort to acquire counselors with previous camper experience: the CIT (counselor in training) program. This program gave former campers the opportunity to be part of Camp after they passed the maximum camper age of 17 and before the minimum counselor age of 21. Its intent was to develop counselors who had an understanding of the American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU philosophy.

Some of the most recent additions to the program were the carnival, which was introduced in 1999, and the rock-climbing wall, introduced in 2000. Both of these have been tremendous hits with the kids.

Our camp continues to evolve to meet the needs of children living with cancer and their families. With a well-trained, all-volunteer staff and the generous support of the community, the American Cancer Society Camp UKANDU is able to fulfill its goal of providing the weeklong program at no cost to the families of the children served. Through quality programming and a highly committed staff, it has earned its reputation as an “outrageously fun” experience!

click below for more information about:

• What is Camp UKANDU?
• Camp Highlights
• Volunteer Information
• Thank You to Our Donors