Blog

When Violet’s mom arrived to pick her up from Camp Joyful Hearts, she found her 10-year-old daughter surrounded by a group of girls. They were hugging, lingering, and could barely bring themselves to say goodbye. Just days earlier, most of them had been strangers. Now, they were “camp besties,” already making Violet promise she would come back next summer. For Violet’s mom, Erica, it was a moment she wasn’t sure she would ever see. A Prescription for Camp  The year before, Violet’s cardiologist at Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute, Dr. Pater, had given the family an unusual prescription: Camp Joyful [...]

The patio lights glowed softly above the Firefly deck as music played quietly in the background. Nearby, a campfire crackled while a group of campers gathered around it, making s’mores and holding popsicle sticks in their hands. Before the sticks went into the fire, each camper was invited to write down a wish. It was one of the final moments of their week at Camp Joy. Throughout the summer, cabin closings can look very different. Some cabins end their week around a fire. Others celebrate with a pool party. Some spread blankets across the grass and look up at the [...]

“I didn’t like camp at first because I was homesick a little bit and also just coming off of a bone marrow transplant,” McKenna Crews remembered. “It was all just kind of new.” Her story with Camp Joy began in 2009, when she and her sister attended Camp N’Joy It All, a specialty camp for children impacted by hematology and oncology diagnoses. McKenna was adjusting to life after a bone marrow transplant, and her first experience at camp was not immediately easy. Her parents encouraged her to keep coming back. Slowly, something changed. McKenna began making friends, including Gracie, a [...]

The Budget Dilemma  Every leader I talk to right now is saying the same thing: budgets are shrinking. The loss of federal funding that used to be dependable and the rising cost of nearly everything, from supplies to training tools, software to salaries, has forced organizations to face difficult choices about what to shift and it can be difficult to prioritize team development. I hear versions of this same struggle from many of the teams and leaders I connect with. Some teams are bound by new policies made by their organizations to limit or restrict spending, while other teams aren't stuck on policy, they're stuck [...]

Introducing Joy Drop  For more than 40 years, Camp Joy has helped leaders and organizations across the tri-state area grow through immersive, experience-based leadership development. Along the way, we have seen what helps teams build trust, navigate change, communicate more effectively, and turn shared experiences into meaningful progress. Now, we are bringing those lessons to you through Joy Drop. Joy Drop is a new newsletter featuring practical insights, useful activities, and honest conversations about the challenges leaders and teams are facing today. Drawing from decades of Camp Joy experience and the perspectives of our own leaders, each edition will offer [...]

Pudding, our feral Rock Dove (pigeon), has become a familiar face in Camp Joy's Nature Center. Curious, social, and always eager to interact with guests, it's hard to imagine that his story began with a serious injury that threatened his survival. Found shortly after hatching, Pudding's journey from an injured young bird to a beloved animal ambassador is a testament to his resilience. How Pudding’s story started At just two and a half weeks old, Pudding was found trapped between two barn doors after falling from his nest at a horse rescue. Fortunately, Anne, who volunteers at the horse rescue [...]

There's a moment at the top of the pamper pole when the world goes quiet. The trees, the sky, the voices below, all of it softens. And you're left with one question: Am I doing this? Judy answered that question on her 68th birthday with a resounding, joyful yes. The leap that started long before the climb Judy is the mother of Elyse Lohrbach, our Executive Director. But to understand what happened on that pole, you have to rewind about two years, to a woman navigating real pain, real limits, and a crossroads many of us will one day face. [...]

In her first month as Executive Director, Elyse has spent her time listening deeply to the stories, dreams, and history that make Camp Joy so impactful. From meeting campers and staff to reconnecting with alumni and board members, she’s discovered what many already know: Camp Joy is more than a camp—it’s a spirit that changes lives. a a a a a a a a a a a a a A 30-Day Reflection In my first month at Camp Joy, I've done a lot of listening to participants, staff, alumni, board members, external partners, and an [...]