I'm back from another week at Camp Quality Ohio! As always, I had a wonderful time and felt truly inspired and humbled by the amazing CQ kids.

We had crafts, woodshop, fishing, boating, sailing, "Olympic" games, trivia, balloons, martial arts, a Cleveland Zoo trip, a remembrance celebration (for campers who have died), therapy dogs, teambuilding activities, a talent show, swimming, cake decorating, and MORE! The campers decide how they want to spend the day (based on the schedule of events) and the companions who are paired with them join in the fun.

Camp Quality is a meaningful way to use your summer vacation as a school counselor. I was able to work with kids on social skills, anxiety, depression, and other difficult issues just by being their friend. During the end-of-camp reflection exercise, kids shared that Camp Quality makes their cancer go away and that it's a place where they can truly be themselves.

I feel lucky to have met these children and other volunteer staff. Please consider volunteering at your local CQ. You will be glad you did.

This July will mark my 3rd year volunteering with Camp Quality Ohio, a volunteer-run summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings. I work as a companion, which means that I am paired with one child for the entire week. My job is to be my camper's friend and mentor, but most of all, my job is to make sure that he or she has FUN!

When thinking about children with cancer, we often picture little kids with no hair, hospital beds, and IV's. We tend to forget about the other kids who suffer: siblings. I wanted to share two powerful videos to help remind all of us to treat all students, even those who are struggling more indirectly, with kindness and understanding.

Within the next few days, I plan to post my resources for both illness and grief. These will go in my individual and small group counseling sections. Stay tuned!