Special thanks to Angel On My Shoulder for sponsoring this post. The views expressed here are genuinely mine as I am happy to support a local cause worthy of celebrating.
Life can throw some challenging situations our way, some of which seem to come in droves with no reprieve. With summer right around the corner, I am planning some exciting adventures for my family to relax and connect after a whirlwind of draining events. While we are anxiously awaiting a much-needed vacation, there are a few others who need something more… a break from the heart-wrenching challenges they face every day as a result of a family member who is battling, or who may have lost the battle, with cancer.
Angel On My Shoulder, a registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit, offers a number of cost-free camps, both summer and year-round, that were designed to address the needs of young people whose lives have been affected by cancer through the illness or passing of a close family member (parent, sibling, or grandparent). These weekend camps, held in Wisconsin, are fully funded through donations, giving everyone in need an opportunity to attend. Angel On My Shoulder camps offer children and families a safe place to connect with others like themselves and create happy memories in a well-supervised environment.
New Campers get ready for a weekend of fun at Camp Angel
Angel On My Shoulder hosts a total of five different weekend camps for kids who have a close family member who is battling cancer. Camp Angel is for kids ages 7-12; Camp Teen Angel is for teens ages 13-15; Camp Angel Adventures is for older teens ages 16-18; and, Camp Angel Adventures Extreme is for 16-18 year olds who want to experience more extreme activities, and Camp Hozhoni, is a family camp for families with a child 18 or younger who has cancer.
Angel On My Shoulder summer camps include swimming, kayaking, canoeing and fishing and winter camps include snowshoeing, ice fishing, dog-sledding and sleigh rides. Angel On My Shoulder also sponsors two retreats for adults; Angel Care and Healing Angels. Angel Care is for Cancer Caregivers, and was created with the express purpose of giving cancer caregivers a respite from the often times grueling work of caring for a loved one with cancer. The retreats are held several times a year and provide activities such as yoga and discussion sessions to help these selfless individuals give back to themselves. Healing Angels is for cancer survivors who are in remission.
Darci Sullivan (far right) enjoys a wet and wild ride at Angel Adventures
Angel On My Shoulder serves families from the Twin Cities and Chicagoland areas, providing them with a weekend of mental, physical and spiritual healing for those affected by cancer. To seek support from AOMS or volunteer in a camp, visit angelonmyshoulder.org for more information.