Frequently Asked Questions

Registration is open year-round and continues throughout the summer. So, that means it is never too late to register your child for a summer of fun! We also offer year-round programs, so if it’s after the camp season, contact us to enroll for these.

Feel free to contact Karen at kabrams@jccchicago.org or Leslee at lcohenlavin@jccchicago.org for help or additional information.

When a child has cancer, it affects the entire family. Siblings, too, may face tremendous challenges socially and recreationally as the family’s focus understandably turns to their brother’s or sister’s medical needs. But at Sunrise, siblings can play and interact as other brothers and sisters do; they are free to be with friends in a very normal, fun way while escaping the constant worry often found in a home with a chronically ill child.

At Sunrise, siblings learn to better understand and deal with their brother’s or sister’s illness and their own feelings. Siblings are welcome to attend whether or not the child with cancer is able to be a camper.

Please select the one you prefer for most or all of the summer. This will allow us to plan for properly for both our camp programs. If you change your mind at any time, just call your camp registrar and they will make the switch for you.

To plan a medically safe camp, we have been working with a Medical Task Force made up of a select group of pediatric oncologists and infectious disease specialists and developed protocols designed to protect your children and the camp community.

Sunrise Day Camp has a private, air-conditioned Wellness Center and is supported by on-site pediatric oncology nurses and a medical director on call. Most medications can be easily administered, and ample indoor areas are provided for children to just “cool down.” In the unlikely event of an emergency during the camp day, transportation by ambulance is provided.

Sunrise Day Camp is within driving distance of its local communities. We encourage parents to drive their children to and from camp in order to limit their time on buses and keep them in the most comfortable environment. If driving is not an option, free bus transportation is available from select locations. Please contact Sunrise Day Camp to find a bus hub near you.

Children bring their own lunches from home, so they never have to wonder what’s on the menu (of course, we’ll refrigerate it). We provide snacks and water throughout the day whenever needed. And, we do provide lunch on our weekly pizza and hot dog days!

Allergy Aware: We strive to be a nut free environment. Because a large number of our campers have nut allergies, we request that any food sent to camp be nut free.

Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions and we can help to accommodate your needs.

Sunrise Day Camp is staffed by incredible and experienced counselors, specialists, and supervisors who are highly trained prior to camp’s opening each summer. Our camp’s on-site Directors have extensive experience with children and camping, and our staff to camper ratio often exceeds 1:4, ensuring excellent supervision of our campers. Special arrangements can be made for children requiring more extensive supervision.

We want you to be partners with us in the care of your child. As always, we will offer a parent orientation, which this year may be virtual. We will review the general camp program, and both our longstanding and new protocols for summer. We will also provide this to you in writing.

Yes! We love to give tours of camp. You can come to one of our open houses or contact the camp director to set up a tour. 

Sunrise Fundays – Our kids love camp so much that we just had to extend the fun beyond the summer. During the school year, our camp hosts Sunrise Fundays — special activity days for our campers — along with many of the same staff who helped to make their summers so wonderful. Our year-round program makes it possible for our campers to see their friends throughout the year while enjoying summer fun all year long. These camp-like activity days include sports, crafts, as well as special shows & programs. Some of these days are family events, where parents and children enjoy the fun-filled festivities together. Free transportation is available if needed. As with all our programs, these are offered to our families at no charge.

Sunshine from Sunrise – Whenever we become aware that one of our campers is hospitalized, parents can request a “Sunshine Visit,” from camp counselors or year-round camp staff, who will visit with a few special surprises and a cheery smile. They will sit at bedside and play, share stories of camp days, and even give mom or dad a drop of respite so she or he can go home for a few hours, change clothes and maybe have a hot meal. The continuity from camp to bedside helps our campers feel connected to their counselors, friends and fun, lessening the sense of isolation and fear that a hospital admission can bring.

Sunshine from Sunrise is just that – a burst of cheerfulness during the darkest times, bringing sighs of relief to parents and smiles to their children.

Ever see a child not want to leave a hospital because they’re having so much fun? At Sunrise On Wheels, it happens every day! Sunrise on Wheels provides a day filled with Sunrise fun to children awaiting treatment in pediatric oncology units of participating hospitals. Volunteers wheel a rainbow trunk bursting with toys, games and activities right into the hospitals and change what could have been a difficult day into a day of camp fun! Our signature Wheels program currently brings fun to thousands of children in over 30 hospitals around the world. Contact Karen Abrams for more information.