Names: Rachele Gentry & Katie Coffey
Camp Names: Java & Coffee
Years: Senior & Sophomore
Hometowns: Lakeland, Fla. & Tampa, Fla.
Majors: Family and Child Sciences and Psychology & Communication Science and Disorders
Her Campus (HC): For those who don’t know, what is Camp Kesem at FSU?
Katie Coffey (KC): Camp Kesem is a student-led, non-profit organization that provides a free week of summer camp to kids who have been affected by their parent’s cancer. Our goal is to give this overlooked population a week of pure fun and a lifelong support system!
HC: How did you get involved with the organization?
Rachele Gentry (RG): I heard about Camp Kesem at the involvement fair my freshman year. At the first meeting, I won a free t-shirt. I was hooked!
KC: I heard about Camp Kesem at FSU’s involvement fair my freshman year. I went to the first meeting and never looked back!
HC: When camp is in session, you guys go by the names Java and Coffee, respectively. What’s the story behind this?
RG: If you do not choose a name by the end of counselor training, you have to go into a big circle and the other counselors try to come up with names for you. I did not want this to happen! I was in Starbucks the day of training, looked at the menu, and came up with “Java.” And I obviously love coffee!
KC: At camp, everyone gets to come up with a silly camp name. I chose Coffee because of my last name, and because I really like coffee!!
HC: You both have leadership positions on the Outreach Committee. What does the job consist of?
KC: This consists of staying connected to campers and their families throughout the year. One of our biggest tasks is to plan two reunions each year for the campers. These (reunions) help keep the camp mentality going even when camp is not in session. We also go out into the community and find new campers. We want to spread the word about Camp Kesem so that we can reach as many kids as possible.
HC: How has your role in Camp Kesem affected other aspects of your life?
RG: Being able to make a camper who is going through such a horrible situation have at least a week of a being a normal kid is incredibly rewarding. The relationships I have built with the campers and counselors are rare to come by and are some of the most meaningful. Kesem is something that is and always will be a constant reminder of strength, hope, and love and I truly believe that Camp Kesem has made me a better person in all aspects of my life.
KC: I went to Camp Kesem for the first time this past summer, and it was one of the best weeks of my life. It was so amazing to see everyone come together and find strength in the midst of a terrible disease. Camp Kesem has given me an amazing, lifelong family. It has shown me how to find strength and hope even during the most difficult times.
HC: Talk us through a typical day at Camp Kesem. What about it makes each camper’s experience so magical?
RG: Throughout camp, we do our best to not focus on cancer because we are there to have fun! However, one time during the week, we give our campers the opportunity to speak about their experiences and how Kesem has helped them through it. This is appropriately called the “Empowerment Ceremony.” At Empowerment, campers of all ages talk about their parent’s cancer. Although this brings up many emotions and brings out many tears, it brings everyone together. After, everyone in the room is encouraged by the strength and hope of others.
KC: A day at camp usually starts off with some camp songs (we do a lot of those!). Then we do many fun activities throughout the day. Some of the activities may be arts and crafts, sports, swimming, messy Olympics, going on an inflatable water slide, canoeing, karaoke, and a talent show!
HC: What is one of your favorite memories from camp? Favorite camp traditions or activities?
RG: My favorite memory from camp is a memory I will never forget. One of our teen campers, who tends to keep to himself and not participate, told one of his friends: “this is the happiest I have ever been in my entire life.” It’s amazing what Kesem (and zip-lining) can do!
KC: One of my favorite memories is the empowerment ceremony (and the dance party we have after it). This is an opportunity for everyone to talk about anything they might be going through, and I just loved when everyone realized that they were surrounded by a community full of love and support. I also love all of the camp songs! My favorite one is called “Razzle Dazzle.”
HC: What goals do you have for the future of Camp Kesem? How do you hope to help grow and expand the organization?
RG: Our biggest goal is to get as many campers and raise as much money as possible! We are hoping to reach out to a wider population of kids so we can show more people the magic of Camp Kesem.
KC: I am hoping that Camp Kesem will continue to grow rapidly so that we can help as many kids as possible. In the next year or two, I hope that FSU’s chapter will be big enough to have two weeks of camp instead of one. This would allow us to serve a much larger population, and I think we can do it!
*All images are courtesy of Katie Coffey.