Founded in 1980, HIC is one of the longest running residential summer camps for children with cancer in America. Since our first summer in 1982, we have hosted over 18,000 children with cancer and their siblings.
Happiness Is Camping is proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association. ACA Accreditation requires camps to meet 250 research-based standards that go beyond state requirements and delve into topics including program management, staff training, and campers’ emotional well-being.
HIC is also an original member and Gold Ribbon Camp of the Children’s Oncology Camping Association. Gold Ribbon Accreditation requires camps to implement over 50 policies and procedures that are documented and delivered in the course of providing a medically and emotionally safe pediatric oncology camp experience
In 2023, Happiness Is Camping proudly expanded its mission to offer programs specifically designed for children with sickle cell disease for the first time in our 40+ year history.
HIC is a past recipient of ACA’s Eleanor P. Eells Award for Program Excellence and was named “One of America’s Best Summer Camps” by Newsweek.
