Camp Joy

06/05/2026

When Caleb first came to Camp Joy as a camper with Type 1 diabetes, he found a community that understood him and helped him thrive.

That experience stayed with him.

Later, he returned as a counselor. Today, he's an experiential educator, helping create meaningful experiences for children and adults across Camp Joy.

His journey is a reminder that the impact of camp doesn't end when a session is over. Sometimes it grows into a lifetime of giving back.

We were honored to share Caleb's story during our Dance for Joy mission moment. Thank you to everyone who helps make stories like his possible.

06/04/2026

When the WOW (Women of the Woods) group returned to Camp Joy after first coming here in the 1980s and 1990s, they reminded us that growth, adventure, and connection can continue throughout every stage of life.

The group spent the day enjoying great food (including a nature-themed birthday cake 🎂), reconnecting with one another, and participating in outdoor team-building activities together. As they took on new challenges, encouraged one another, and shared plenty of laughter along the way, it was clear that some of the obstacles we build up in our minds can feel much bigger than they really are. By stepping outside their comfort zones together, they strengthened relationships that have already stood the test of time while creating new memories to carry forward.

Whether it’s celebrating a milestone, reconnecting with lifelong friends, or simply spending meaningful time outdoors together, venture out is all about building relationships, embracing new experiences, and creating moments of joy. 💙

📸 A special thank you to WOW member A2C Photography for sharing some of the photos featured in this post.

06/03/2026

The earth is in a constant state of change and evidence of that can be found everywhere at Camp Joy! 🌎

6th grade students from St. Jude explored Fossil Creek during our Outdoor School Program and experienced this first hand. Formed by glacial meltwater more than 10,000 years ago, the creek gives students a hands-on look into the past through our Everchanging Earth class. During the experience, students searched for and identified fossils from the Ordovician era, including Gastropods, Horn Coral, Trilobites, and more. 🪨

Experiences like this help students better understand the world around them and recognize how our actions can impact the environment, lessons that become even more meaningful through hands-on learning outside the classroom.

06/02/2026

On her 68th birthday, Judy sat at the top of our pamper pole and leaped. And we are still talking about it.

Judy is the mother of our Executive Director, Elyse Lohrbach. But her story starts long before that moment on the pole.

At 67, serious back problems led her to try the gym for the very first time. She was also a breast cancer survivor. She knew hard things. And she refused to let them write her story. "I didn't want to live on medications and injections," she told us.

She started moving. She kept moving. Then she watched Elyse take this same leap at Camp Joy and said: "I want to do that in the spring." Her gym class started a countdown. She never lost sight of it.

At the top of the pole, she didn't rush. She paused and took it all in. When we asked what she was thinking, she said:

"There's still so much goodness out there. It was just a moment of solitude and peace and joy and gratefulness."

Her advice to all of us? "You need to keep moving. Don't let the aches and pains stop you. Take care of yourself as soon as you can."

Growth has no expiration date. Read Judy's full story and watch the video here:
https://camp-joy.org/elyses-mom-took-the-leap-on-her-68th-birthday/

06/02/2026

Hey, everyone! 🍌⚾

The Savannah Bananas are coming to town June 19–21, and we have one mission: get them to Camp Joy! 💛

Our staff put their dance moves to the test with the iconic "Hey Baby" Savannah Bananas dance in hopes of catching their attention. Now we need your help!

If you'd love to see the Bananas bring their energy, fun, and JOY to our summer campers, tag them in the comments below and help us spread the word. 👇🍌

Let's show them why Camp Joy would be the perfect stop while they're in Cincinnati! 🙌

06/02/2026

We're so excited to host Camp Joyful Hearts in just a few short weeks!🩵

We're less than 3 weeks away from Camp Joyful Hearts! We're still accepting campers! Use the link below and register!

https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/h/heart-institute/patient-resources/camp-joyful

05/29/2026

Some friendships only grow stronger with time. 💙

Recently, the WOW (Women of the Woods) group returned to Camp Joy to celebrate a very special 70th birthday through our Adult Team Building and Leadership program, and the day was full of laughter and lots of memories. 🎉

For many of these women, Camp Joy has been part of their story since the 1980s and 1990s. Throughout the day, they shared memories from their earlier years at camp while creating brand new ones together decades later. Watching those stories, friendships, and experiences come full circle was incredibly special. 🫶

05/26/2026

Join us in celebrating some incredible workiversaries! Big shoutout to these amazing campions for everything they do for Camp Joy. 🥳

Photo (left to right):

Josh: 2 years
Holli: 4 years
Emily: 1 year
Elyse: 1 year
Chelsie: 1 year

05/21/2026

We always love Family Camp weekends with Cincinnati Children's Heart Institute! ❤️

Our partnership over the years has meant so much to us, and it’s incredibly special to watch these kids and families come to camp to have fun, build relationships, feel understood, and grow through new experiences together.

This Family Camp was definitely one for the books! Thank you for your continued partnership and for allowing us to be a small part of these families’ journeys.

05/20/2026

Today our Venture Out team was downtown at Fifth Third headquarters working with this year’s intern class before they head out to branches across the country.

One moment from the day stuck with us. An intern said:
“Let’s keep failing.”

That’s actually a big part of what we talk about in Venture Out experiences.

The willingness to try. To speak up. To miss the shot, rethink the plan, support your team, and keep going anyway. Fifth Third Bank

It’s the same thing we see every day at Camp Joy with campers and students in Outdoor School. Kids getting out in Gaga Ball in the first round, hesitating at the climbing wall, or navigating a challenge course for the first time.

Growth usually starts the moment people realize they don’t have to get it perfect to keep moving forward. Fifth Third Bank