Camp Bluebird gives patients fighting Cancer a place to heal, connect and recharge

For many adults facing a cancer diagnosis, the journey can feel isolated. Camp Bluebird offers a powerful antidote: a weekend retreat filled with connection, healing, and joy.

Hosted each spring at Jameson Camp on Indianapolis’s west side, Camp Bluebird welcomes cancer patients and their caregivers for a three-day experience that blends therapeutic support with classic camp fun. From music and art therapy to yoga, massage and nutrition workshops, participants gain tools to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Caregivers even learn hands-on techniques to help loved ones after they return home.

But Camp Bluebird is more than programming. It’s a place where friendships form around fireplaces, laughter echoes through chair volleyball matches and memories are made during Saturday night dances. Each cabin becomes a community, thoughtfully grouped to ensure comfort and camaraderie.

Managed by the Cancer Resource Center at IU Health Simon Cancer Center and facilitated by the CompleteLife program, the camp is open to anyone in the community, regardless of where they receive care. Thanks to donor support, the cost is just $25 per camper — and scholarships are available for those who need them. Last year, 41 campers attended, with several receiving full financial assistance.

“Camp Bluebird saved my life,” one patient shared. “Camp is so enjoyable, Everyone is on a level playing field, and no one is judged. This is my extended family.”

For many patients and survivors, Camp Bluebird is the only vacation they’ll take all year. It’s a chance to step away from the stress of treatment and rediscover joy, surrounded by people who understand.

Your gift can make this possible. A donation of $25 covers a camper’s registration. A gift of $200 supports their full expenses. Every dollar helps create a space where healing happens beyond hospital walls.