camp director helping camper with tie-dye

CCC Receives Best of COCA Awards

Children’s Cancer Connection (CCC)’s Camp Heart Connection was recognized by the Children’s Oncology Camping Association – International (COCA-I). Camp Heart Connection provides free camp experiences to Iowa families affected by childhood cancer.

Camp Director Jourdan Reed was the Region 3 recipient of the COCA-I’s Camp Spirit Award. These awards are given to those who exemplify true camp spirit in all that they do. The award also comes with a $1,500 contribution toward camp programs, sponsored by Northwestern Mutual. Reed has served as Camp Director since 2020. She was CCC’s full-time Programs Coordinator for a year prior to that and has a long history of volunteering at Camp Heart Connection Oncology, Sibling and Family Camps, and other CCC programs.

COCA-I also recognized Camp Heart Connection in the Best of COCA Fundraising and Video categories:

CCC’s largest annual fundraising event is Camping the Night Away. The event is held in Des Moines and in Eastern Iowa. The camp-themed events which raised nearly $100,000 for camp programs in 2022, received the Best of COCA Fundraising Award. The next Camping the Night Away is scheduled for May 11 at The Des Moines Heritage Center.

A video produced for CCC as a gift by The Storytellers Studio out of Springfield, IL, took the Best of COCA Video Award. The video, focused on Camp Heart Connection, tells the stories of current and past camp families, and gives an overview of what is means to families affected by childhood cancer to have this tight-knit community. It can be viewed on YouTube.

CCC is gearing up for a big 2023 camp year, as Oncology and Sibling summer camps will head back to their full pre-COVID format. Lots of volunteers are needed, including medical volunteers. Learn more!