Kids ‘N’ Cancer: Camp Agape began in 1995 as the major outreach program of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral Philoptochos Society. Philoptochos is a nation-wide philanthropic organization incorporated in New York and established in Portland, Oregon in 1944. The local Philoptochos in 1994 looked to expand its outreach program and decided to establish a camp for children with cancer. Working
closely with the Oregon Candlelighters (the parent support group for children with cancer), the Oregon Health Science University, Legacy/Emanuel Hospital and local pediatrics-oncology departments Kids ‘N’ Cancer: Camp Agape was established. Our name “Agape” is taken from the Greek work for “self-less love.”
Camp Agape is held at the Camp Angelos facility on the Sandy River. Camp Angelos is owned and operated by the American Hellenic Education Center. Camp Agape is a family residential camp open to all families with a child with cancer. The camp operates solely on contributions and there is no cost to the family. All funds to support the camp are raised independently of all other Philoptochos projects. The Kids ‘N’ Cancer outreach committee plans the day to day activities and menus, prepares the camp site and secures the resources, materials and funds needed to operate the week- long camp. The camp is held the first week in August and children from the ages of one to seventeen years may participate. Families register through the Candlelighters, OHSU, Legacy Emanuel Hospital and local pediatric clinics. The camp provides room and board for the entire family. Shared cabin facilities along with tent sites are used for housing the families. All meals and snacks are served in the main lodge of Camp Angelos. The lodge also serves as the central gathering point for the families. Performances are presented in the lodge; a pre-school play area is available; reading materials and board games are also located in the lodge area. During the week sports activities such as archery, soccer, basketball, swimming, hiking and volleyball are available as well as other yard games. Fishing at Lake Melonas is another very popular activity for the children as well as the parents. Arts and crafts rooms are used as an integral part of the day to day activities. Each day the camp activities center around the camps yearly theme i.e. Welcome and Registration Day, All About Fun, Jet Boats on the Willamette, visits from OMSI, Theater groups, Storm Troopers, Lego Robotics, and Greek Day. A 24 hour Medical staff is maintained throughout the week. Camp Agape has been a successful camp for 20+ years. It has truly become a place where families come to relax, enjoy good food, fun activities and build strong relationships.
