What is Camp Kaleidoscope?
Camp Kaleidoscope is a Stanford University-based program run by student leaders that supports San Francisco Bay Area children who have or had a parent with cancer. A typical week at camp will consist of arts and crafts, sports, talent shows, s'mores, and endless other fun.
A week of camp as a counselor
As a counselor, you will work with kids for the entire week---starting on Monday morning during camper drop-off and ending the following weekend when we return to campus. Each day, campers (and their counselors) will rotate through different stations including arts and crafts, adventure-nature, and swimming to name a few. After dinner each night, there will be a different evening programming activity that all counselors and campers attend together. At camp, Wednesday night will be dedicated to Roots, an all-camp event designed to give campers and counselors the opportunity to reflect and remember their parent(s) who has suffered from cancer. In this safe and supportive space we foster a feeling of community that sets a powerful tone for the week.
Counselors live in cabins with their campers. This means you will be living with 7-8 campers and 4 other counselors but don't fret---these close quarters make for memorable cabin chats each evening where counselors and campers reflect on the day and connect. All cabins have bathrooms.
Who can apply
You do not need to have a personal cancer experience to apply.
To be eligible to volunteer at Camp Kaleidoscope, you must be on campus as an enrolled Stanford student the two quarters before Camp (Winter and Spring) and be over 18 years old. International students without U.S. citizenship are welcome and encouraged to apply, too!
We have no "ideal" counselor that we're looking for. The unique contributions of each individual counselor will help define the love at Camp Kaleidoscope so as long as you are hardworking, passionate and excited to contribute, you can thrive at Camp Kaleidoscope.
Information about the application process is on the “Apply” page.
Counselor Logistics
Camp Kaleidoscope is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a California public benefit nonprofit corporation. All counselors volunteer their time at camp for no monetary compensation. Food and lodging are provided at no cost.
All counselors must attend a mandatory retreat February 14-16th of Winter Quarter. Throughout Winter and Spring Quarters, we will provide other training to adequately prepare our counselors for the week of camp!
Camp Logistics
Tucked away in the woods, our campsite is located an hour off campus in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains. This means you should bring bug spray!
The YMCA will provide us with 3 meals a day. Meals are served buffet style and there are always plenty of different options for all dietary needs. Mealtimes offer an incredible opportunity for staffers to socialize with guests.
Camp Kaleidoscope is only a week-long summer camp that happens the first week after graduation, June 16-22 (including debrief). This means you can be a counselor and also do an internship in the same summer!
Do you still have a burning question that has not been answered?
Submit any other questions in the form below and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.