Camp Good Days and Special Times
Encyclopedia
Camp Good Days and Special Times, commonly called "Camp Good Days", is a residential summer camp
which provides summer camping
experiences for children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer
and other life challenges. The camp is operated by a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, "Camp Good Days and Special Times Inc.", which is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the country. In addition to camping, the organization provides year-round events and activities in several locations.
After his daughter's death in 1982, Mervis, with the help of friends and organizations in his hometown of Rochester
, NY, continued to provide summer camp sessions for other children with the disease. As the program grew, Camp Good Days and Special Times was formed. At first, week-long camp experiences were held at private camps. In 1986, the Branchport
property, formerly cottage resorts "Campbell's Beach" and Pebble Beach", was purchased to provide expansion of the program.
Camp Good Days was the fourth organization of its kind in the United States and the first to be started by a lay person. As of 2010, the camp has served more than 43,000 campers from 22 states and 25 foreign countries. The camp has maintained accreditation from the American Camp Association, and has been inducted into the Safety 1st Hall of Fame by Markel Insurance Company.
Mervis has never charged to attend camp. "I never wanted potential campers to be turned away by cost," Mervis says. "I never wanted people to have to choose between a car payment and going to camp."
, a craft-lodge, a playground, a ropes course, a go-cart track, a miniature golf course, an archery range, and additional sports, residential and recreational areas.
in New York State's Finger Lakes
region, at the southern edge of the hamlet
of Branchport, New York
. It is about 50 miles south of Rochester, New York
. Its headquarters and volunteer training center are located in Mendon, NY and the camp also maintains offices in Buffalo, Syracuse, and Ithaca, NY.
tournaments, dinners and disco
s in efforts to fund its camping programs. One of its most famous fundraisers is the World's Largest Disco
, an annual event held in Buffalo the Saturday after each Thanksgiving. The World's Largest Disco, which has taken place annually since 1994, regularly draws thousands of participants.
Several notable public figures have stated their support of the cause, including the Lieutenant Governor of New York and former Rochester mayor
Robert Duffy, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Congressman Tom Reed, Maggie Brooks
, James Alesi
, and David Koon
.
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
which provides summer camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
experiences for children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and other life challenges. The camp is operated by a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, "Camp Good Days and Special Times Inc.", which is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the country. In addition to camping, the organization provides year-round events and activities in several locations.
History
Camp Good Days was founded by Gary Mervis after his daughter Elizabeth "Teddi" Mervis was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at the age of nine, in 1979. Mervis believed that the loneliness of being the only child in her school and neighborhood dealing with cancer was as painful to his daughter as the treatments. To help alleviate this isolation, he organized a camping experience for Elizabeth and 62 other children with cancer.After his daughter's death in 1982, Mervis, with the help of friends and organizations in his hometown of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, NY, continued to provide summer camp sessions for other children with the disease. As the program grew, Camp Good Days and Special Times was formed. At first, week-long camp experiences were held at private camps. In 1986, the Branchport
Branchport, New York
Branchport is a hamlet in the town of Jerusalem in Yates County, New York, United States. It is a "crossroads community" which contains about 85 dwellings, six stores, two churches, a library and a firehouse....
property, formerly cottage resorts "Campbell's Beach" and Pebble Beach", was purchased to provide expansion of the program.
Camp Good Days was the fourth organization of its kind in the United States and the first to be started by a lay person. As of 2010, the camp has served more than 43,000 campers from 22 states and 25 foreign countries. The camp has maintained accreditation from the American Camp Association, and has been inducted into the Safety 1st Hall of Fame by Markel Insurance Company.
Programs
Camp Good Days provides activities and services for children, adults and families who have been affected by cancer and other life threatening illnesses. These include programs for children, Adult Oncology Programs, Family Programs and Brain Tumor Family Retreats. All services are free of charge for participants.Mervis has never charged to attend camp. "I never wanted potential campers to be turned away by cost," Mervis says. "I never wanted people to have to choose between a car payment and going to camp."
Facilities
The camp's fifteen acre site includes lakefront facilities and a large swimming poolSwimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, a craft-lodge, a playground, a ropes course, a go-cart track, a miniature golf course, an archery range, and additional sports, residential and recreational areas.
Location
Camp Good Days is located on the western shore of Keuka LakeKeuka Lake
Keuka Lake is an unusual member of New York's Finger Lakes because it is Y-shaped, instead of long and narrow. Because of its shape, it was referred to in the past as Crooked Lake...
in New York State's Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
region, at the southern edge of the hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
of Branchport, New York
Branchport, New York
Branchport is a hamlet in the town of Jerusalem in Yates County, New York, United States. It is a "crossroads community" which contains about 85 dwellings, six stores, two churches, a library and a firehouse....
. It is about 50 miles south of Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. Its headquarters and volunteer training center are located in Mendon, NY and the camp also maintains offices in Buffalo, Syracuse, and Ithaca, NY.
Fundraising
Camp Good Days holds several annual events including GolfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournaments, dinners and disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
s in efforts to fund its camping programs. One of its most famous fundraisers is the World's Largest Disco
World's Largest Disco
The World's Largest Disco is an annual event held at the Buffalo Convention Center in Buffalo, New York each year the Saturday after Thanksgiving...
, an annual event held in Buffalo the Saturday after each Thanksgiving. The World's Largest Disco, which has taken place annually since 1994, regularly draws thousands of participants.
Cancer Mission 2020
On December 2nd, 2010, Mervis announced a new initiative to end cancer by the year 2020. This effort was the result of continued discussions, suggestions, and plans originally set forth in the Camp Good Days’ Cancer Summit, held in 2009. The first step, according to Mervis, is to collect 1.5 million email addresses. From there, further summits will be held in an effort to bring together the necessary professionals from the medical, research and legislation fields.Several notable public figures have stated their support of the cause, including the Lieutenant Governor of New York and former Rochester mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Robert Duffy, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Congressman Tom Reed, Maggie Brooks
Maggie Brooks
Maggie A. Brooks is a broadcasting personality and politician most notable for having served as the first female County Executive of Monroe County, New York....
, James Alesi
James Alesi
James S. "Jim" Alesi is a New York State Senator, representing parts of Monroe County, and a member of the Republican Party.-Early life:Before entering office, Alesi ran a firm that operates washers and dryers in apartment complexes and colleges....
, and David Koon
David Koon
David R. Koon is an American Democratic politician who represents District 135 in the New York State Assembly, which includes the towns and villages of East Rochester, Penfield and Webster, and Fairport, neighboring communities located in upstate New York in the eastern suburbs of...
.