An eight-year camp veteran, Anthony’s most impactful experience comes from learning the importance of perspective. A camper with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and an individual living with hemophilia, Anthony has learned the importance of understanding your background, history, and condition, as well as the story of others. “I’ve learned not to be afraid or ashamed because a lot of people have it worse than I do…they have harder day to day struggles, [...]

Jajuan is an eight-time Camp Joy veteran who started coming to camp due to the partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Hematology and Oncology departments. At age 2, Jajuan was diagnosed with sickle cell disease and soon began treatment and surgery. “I used to be insecure and I didn’t want to tell anyone about my condition. Now I’m confident enough to not only talk about my condition, but to be a [...]

It isn’t easy staying optimistic as a teenager, but 17 year-old Cohen has mastered the art of positivity: “No matter what happens in your life you have to stay positive.” This positivity was contagious according to Cohen who was responsible this summer for a camper named Micah. “I used to be really self-conscious about my hemophilia but Micah showed me that you could still be happy and enjoy life with [...]

Emily has been coming to Joy for 11 consecutive years, not even her family’s brief relocation to Oklahoma could separate her from her friends at Joy. Emily attributes her development of self respect to the lessons taught to her by former Camp Joy counselors: “The most influential people in my life are these counselors. They taught me self-respect and respect for other people.” Originally coming to Camp Joy through Camp Wekandu [...]

Encouraging Others Shaya Shaya is a 15 year old resident of East Walnut Hills in Cincinnati, Ohio. This was Shaya’s fourth year at Camp Joy, and she has been enjoying the activities and learning new things ever since. “Each year was different. There are new activities every year and the activities have gotten better. One thing I’ve learned istobemyself. It’seasierformetobearoundnew people now.” Shaya remembers being shy in her first two years as a camper, [...]