What you need to know.

Camp Esperanza has 140 camper slots available for camp each summer. We have a clearly defined set of eligibility requirements. The medical director and team go through a very specific process to select all 140 campers. Camp Esperanza campers must be current patients at Children’s Medical Center Dallas and are between the ages of six and fifteen. The campers have been treated for or have received radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or a bone marrow transplant.

Camp Esperanza also offers a pee-wee day which takes place the Wednesday at camp. These pee-wee campers are selected by the child-life specialist at Children’s Medical Center.

Eligibility for Camp Esperanza:

  1. Ages 6 years through 15 years
  2. Current patient at Children’s Medical Center Dallas
  3. Have received radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or a bone marrow transplant
A group of men sitting next to each other.

Camp Esperanza follows strict procedures while considering and recruiting all volunteers. This includes background checks, extensive training and orientation formats, more training and orientation and yep, even more training

Still have questions? See frequently asked question below to set your mind at ease

You name it, we’ve got it. Camp John Marc has a whole slew of fun stuff to do. To name a few there’s arts and crafts, archery, boating, cooking, dance, fishing, sports and games, ropes course and much more. GET INVOLVED

There are many ways for you to help. Fundraising, pre and post camp volunteers, in-kind donations, and more. Visit our GET INVOLVED page for more details.

The Camp Esperanza counselors are recruited by referral only. We have a 90% retention rate average therefore we need very few.

Applications are send out each spring through Children’s Health.

Eligibility for Camp Esperanza:

  • Ages 6 years through 15 years
  • Current patient at Children’s Health in Dallas
  • Have received radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or a bone marrow transplant
Pack everything your child may need for the week. Camp provides only the food and the fun! Please put your child’s name, in BOLD and CAPITOL letters…on everything! If you have any questions about the “what to bring” list, please let us know. If you do not have a specific item, please call the child life specialist and we will try to find one for your child to use! Visit our CAMPERS page for more details.

Unless there is an emergency we do not allow phone calls or visits. No doubt sending a child to camp can be a tough decision. Add in a sick child and you could easily find ways to keep them home, safe and sound. We understand the fears of sending your child to camp and we promise to provide all the support your child might need including: safety, emotional and social support and most of all medical.

It’s not unusual for children, especially younger ones away for the first time. We provide structure and keep campers busy from the moment they arrive, which helps to shift their focus away from home to new friends and having fun.

Camp Esperanza includes a full medical staff to provide care to your child during their week at camp. The medical staff includes 2-3 oncologists, 4-5 oncology nurses, a child life specialist, and a social worker. The medical building is state of the art. Due to this, the medical team is able to deliver all the care that can be given in our oncology clinic while your child is at camp. Therefore, your children are able to have fun at camp and also receive all the medications and monitoring needed to keep them safe.

Camp is paid for by the fundraising efforts of The Bridewell Foundation. It costs $500.00 to send a child to camp. Find out more about the foundation and how you can help. Link to page

Camp John Marc has hosted Camp Esperanza for 30 years, providing campers with an incredibly beautiful place to play, learn and grow. The facility provides wheelchair accessibility throughout the grounds, a brand new medical building with all the bells and whistles and a top-notch staff that works super hard year round to ensure all camps are safe, fun and convenient. You”ll also find a dining hall large enough for every kid, counselor and Camp John Marc staff to enjoy three meals a day together. There are pathways to help campers’ transitions from building to building with ease and of course, there’s ice-cold air conditioning.

We have a band-aid box

Camp Esperanza includes a full medical staff to provide care to your child during their week at camp. The medical staff includes 2-3 oncologists, 4-5 oncology nurses, a child life specialist, and a social worker. The medical building is state of the art. Due to this, the medical team is able to deliver all the care that can be given in our oncology clinic while your child is at camp. Therefore, your children are able to have fun at camp but also receive all the medications and monitoring needed to keep them safe.

Aside from their normal duties, the medical staff also participates in many of the camp activities such as theme night, skit night and cook outs. Your child will love seeing them zipping around camp in decorated golf carts ready to give someone a helping hand or on stage at skit night giving a top notch, hilarious performance. Camp Esperanza’s medical staff will not only give your children the care they need by applying their expertise in every detail related to their care. They will also show their spirit of camp and happily join in when it’s time to play. Woo Hoo!

We practice safety

No doubt sending a child to camp can be a tough decision. Add in a sick child and you could easily find ways to keep them home, safe and sound. To address this concern, we assure you that Camp Esperanza follows strict procedures while considering and recruiting all volunteers. This includes background checks, extensive training and orientation formats, more training and orientation and yep, even more training. The minute your child steps on the bus headed for camp, we have in place extremely well-trained and qualified volunteers to oversee not only their transportation to and from camp but also to provide high-level supervision while at camp. Our cabin ratio, fourteen kids to six adult counselors, is perfect for offering each child the attention and supervision they’ll need. We’ve worked hard to fine tune the safety measures required while your child is in our care and lean also on Camp John Marc’s expert staff to guide and help us along the way. Bottom line, we’ve done our homework and we assure you, your child is in good hands.

Now go plan a relaxing week for yourself while we have an incredibly fun week with your child.

We’re counting down the days!

It's For the Kids!
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Tt’s a great experience for the child to attend Camp Esperanza. The children have fun and they don’t need to worry about being at the hospital.

Camper Parent

ust do it!!! It’s harder on you than them. They love it! It’s a chance for them to be (feel) normal and have fun!

Camper Parent
I have watched her grow from the first camp. The best part is knowing you guys have showed her that there is life outside of her cancer. Thank you.Crazy! Awesome! Super funny! I had the time of my life at the Disco Party! Very cool!

Camper Parent

Never get tired of doing little things for others. Sometimes, those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.
– Unknown