PONCHATOULA — Camp Quality is a unique summer camp for children with cancer. Founded to provide a supportive environment, this camp offers children and their families a chance to create memories at no cost.
Falyne Kirkpatrick, a dedicated volunteer for nearly 14 years, shared her passion for the camp. “I’ve been volunteering at Camp Quality for probably close to 14 years. I am a past executive director of the Texas chapter, but I was born and raised in White Castle, Louisiana.”
The camp not only serves children with cancer but also includes their siblings. “Each child, patient, and sibling, is paired with an adult one-on-one that we call a companion, and those form lifelong friendships,” said Kirkpatrick.
Camp Quality is an entirely volenteer run camp. “The only person that is paid is the executive director of the camps. Everybody else is volunteers,” explained Kirkpatrick. The dedication is proof how deeply people care about the children and their families.
In Louisiana, Camp Quality used to operate in the Monroe area, but it faced challenges when the people running it retired. Now, progress is being made to rebuild the camp in the state.
“The current CEO reached out to me and asked if I could help rebuild Louisiana a little bit. We’ve been gifted a weekend camping experience from a campground in Ponchatoula to introduce families to Camp Quality,” Kirkpatrick shared with UWK.
Camp Quality has 17 camps nationwide, along with one in Canada and one in Australia. She recalled many touching moments from her years of service. “I remember my first year going to camp. One of our campers, Macy, is now 24-years-old and a pregnant mom-to-be. You can never tell her she can’t do anything.”
The camp not only provides fun activities, but also helps families come together. “Families find a place of connection, especially parents with a newly diagnosed child. They can talk to someone who has been there for several years. Kids can talk to other kids on the same journey, and siblings can talk to other siblings,” Kirkpatrick explained.
The camp will be held November 8th-10th, 2024 in Ponchatoula. The camp is completely free and the only qualifications are that you have a child (ages 5 -17) with a present or past pediatric cancer diagnosis and be a resident of Louisiana.
“If we have enough interest in the next year or two, then we can build a Camp Quality in Louisiana,” said Kirkpatrick.
Camp Quality is more than just a camp. It’s a place where children with cancer and their families can find joy, support, and lasting friendships.
“Once you meet these kids and see what Camp Quality does, you’ll understand why it has my heart. It’s my heart work because it does my heart good to help these kids.”
Anyone with questions on how to join the camp can email Falyne Kirkpatrick at: Falyne.Kirkpatrick@campqualityusa.org
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