Camp Goodtimes

Camp Reed has been voted the Best Camp for Kids by the Inlander Readers Poll for MANY years and our goal is to give your camper the BEST camp experience!

During their stay, Camp Goodtimes campers have access to excellent pediatric, oncology and medical care. Volunteer pediatric and oncology physicians and nurses will work directly with you and your child’s oncologist should any medical needs arise while your child is at camp.

Camp Goodtimes campers have access to excellent, professional healthcare during their stay. Medical oncology professionals from the area’s children’s hospital and pediatric clinics are on-site 24 hours a day, volunteering their time and services to ensure a happy and healthy camping experience for all.

Camp Goodtimes at Camp Reed is designed to provide children the opportunity to develop independence and confidence, learn new skills, and to offer them the chance to make friends with others who understand and share their same situation. By providing a medically supervised summer camp, children are able to enjoy activities and outdoor experiences any child would find at our traditional youth camp. Camp Goodtimes helps to meet the physical, psychological and emotional needs of hundreds of young cancer survivors and their families each year.

The Camp Goodtimes Medical Team

The Camp Goodtimes health program operates under the direct supervision of our medical team and is designed in accordance with guidelines provided by the American

Camp Association, COCA International and Providence Health Services. During day to day operations a member of our medical team may consult with you and/or your child’s physician for direction should a question arise regarding their care, treatment or activities.

Pediatric Oncology Program

The Camp Goodtimes pediatric oncology program operates under the direct supervision of our medical team and is designed in accordance with guidelines provided by the American Camp Association, COCA International and Providence Health Services. In the event of any special or emergency needs our medical team will be in contact with parents/legal guardians as well as the treating physician listed on your camper’s health form.

If a camper should develop a specific health problem that necessitates a break from normal camp activities and requires special health care, we believe that whenever practical, the camper should return to the care of the parent or legal guardian with the understanding that the camper may return to camp if the problem or issue has been resolved.

On-site mobility assistance will be provided to meet each camper’s individual needs. Emergency medical transport is available at all times.

Program Highlights

Camp Goodtimes offers children affected by cancer the opportunity to experience the fun at Camp Reed with the support of skilled medical and program staff. Campers participate in many of the same programming highlights as our traditional camp programs: all camp games, waterfront, arts and crafts, archery, campfires and much more, however, the pace at Camp Goodtimes is structured to accommodate campers with limitations. 2018 program highlights included visits by the Gonzaga University men’s and women’s basketball teams, all camp tie dye, bass fishing day, David’s Pizza dinner, Longhorn BBQ lunch, candle ceremony, Italian soda sip and paint, and luau dinner.

CLICK HERE to take a look at our famous Egg Drop freetime hosted at Camp Goodtimes Family Camp in 2022!

Eligibility Criteria

Camp Goodtimes gives the highest priority for acceptance to children on active cancer therapy along with their siblings or friend, and to children diagnosed with cancer (on or off therapy) along with their siblings or friend applying to camp for the first time.

• Returning campers’ friends are only accepted after all children diagnosed with cancer or children who received a bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplantation and their sibling are placed.
• Ages 7-17
• A child diagnosed with cancer on active cancer therapy
• A child who had bone marrow transplant (BMT) or stem cell transplant (SCT)
• A child who has completed cancer therapy
• The siblings of a child attending camp diagnosed with cancer (on or off therapy) or who had a BMT or SCT
• A friend of a child attending camp with cancer (on or off therapy) or who had BMT or SCT (see camper acceptance priorities)
• A sibling who has attended camp in the past, who lost their brother or sister within the past 2 years, can attend camp for one year.

Mission Statement

Camp Goodtimes at Camp Reed offers families affected by childhood cancer a cost-free week of summer camp, which:

• Affirms the joys of childhood often missed by those in treatment.
• Fosters friendships between these children and families who share a common experience.
• Instills confidence through a variety of programs and activities.
• Cares for their social safety as well as their medical safety.
• Strives to send the children back into the world as more independent, caring, and capable youth.
• Offers families peace of mind as they entrust their children to camp for a week, and take a well-deserved break.

Cabin Assignments

Campers are housed separately by age and gender in clean, comfortable cabins. As siblings are not typically the same age, they may be housed separately. If your child wishes to be in a cabin with a friend, the friend must be the same age/grade and gender.

Family Lodging and Transportation

If your family will be traveling from a distance (2 hours each way or more) lodging at a nearby hotel may be provided for you while your child attends day camp.

If your child will be traveling a distance, airfare may be provided free of charge. Note your request for transportation on your child’s camp application.

Camp Goodtimes offers gas vouchers for all families coming to camp, and occasionally, Camp Goodtimes staff has been called upon to pick up and drop off campers. Call the office to arrange for transportation assistance.

For more details, call or contact the YMCA Camp Reed Office.

Contact Information

Camp Goodtimes at Camp Reed Administrative Office

1126 N Monroe Spokane, WA 99201

Hours: 8am – 4pm, Mon – Fri

Phone: 509 777 9622

Email: Camp Reed

Fax: 509 343 4096

Camp Goodtimes at Camp Reed On-Site Office

If you must speak to a Camp Director while your child is at camp, you may call the on-site camp office. Due to our program schedule, this office will have more variable hours but will have an answering machine that will be checked at least three times daily.

Phone: 509 276 5262

Email: Carly “Calypso” Garras

As we plan for Camp Goodtimes, we continue to evaluate the information coming from the Center for Disease Control, Washington State Department of Health, NE Tri-County Health District, Alliance for Camp Health, and Children’s Oncology Camping Association regarding COVID-19 and other communicable diseases. The Camp Goodtimes medical team will be collecting COVID-19 vaccine date information and COVID-19 infection dates on your camper’s health form. Camp Goodtimes strongly urges all community members to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines will not be required to attend Camp Goodtimes, but testing may be required (more information coming soon). As this is a fluid situation, updated information will periodically be sent out to participating families in coming months with the most current information available.