Description
Okizu (oak-eye-zoo), comes from the Sioux language and means unity, to come together, to heal from a hurt, to make whole.
For more than thirty years, Okizu has been committed to the continuing support of the Oncology, Siblings, Family, Bereavement, and Teens-N-Twenties camping and peer support programs for Northern California's children with cancer and their families.
These programs are the result of a collaborative effort of Okizu and the pediatric oncology treatment centers in Northern California. The specific purpose of this corporation is to operate peer support programs for children and families affected by childhood cancer, many of which are based on the community-forming nature of a residential camp experience.
Philosophy Children who are diagnosed with cancer miss a normal childhood. Their illness, treatment and complications can keep them from enjoying activities that often are taken for granted. And yet these children, like all children, need the opportunity to grow, experiment, and discover independence. Camp Okizu began with the belief that a residential camp can be an ideal setting for children struggling with a life threatening illness to explore and enjoy a normal life experience, while interacting with others who truly understand their illness.
We quickly learned that all family members, including the ill child, parents, and siblings, are impacted in powerful and unique ways by childhood cancer. The opportunity for interactions with true peers and the strong sense of community fostered by a residential camp environment provide valuable emotional and practical support for continuing the cancer journey, while also allowing everyone to take a huge break from their routine and have a great time.
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