Summer Camp 2022

COVID-19 Update February 2, 2022

We are thrilled to announce that we are planning to hold summer camp in 2022.

Please know that our first prioritiy is protecting the health and safety of our families, staff and volunteers. Kids Cancer Care and Camp Kindle continue to follow the Alberta Restriction Exemption Program and we require proof of one of the following from all program participants:

  1. Double vaccination against COVID-19;
  2. Negative COVID-19 rapid test within 72 hours of program; OR
  3. Medical exemption.

We follow and regularly monitor provincial health guidelines for infection prevention and control, and we update our policies and procedures as provincial guidelines evolve and develop. As we near summer camp, we will inform you of any changes to our policies and procedures relating to COVID-19 precautions.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kate Hilton, Director of Nursing and Outreach.


Restrictions Exemption Program

COVID-19 Update September 20, 2021

Effective September 20, 2021, Kids Cancer Care will be implementing the Government of Alberta's Restrictions Exemption Program for all of our indoor, in-person programs and fundraising events. In addition to mandatory masking indoors, volunteers and participants ages 12 years and older participating in our indoor, in-person programs and events will be required to show proof of one of the following: 

  1. COVID-19 vaccination;    
  2. Negative COVID-19 test (privately paid); or   
  3. Medical exemption (original, non-copied, letter signed by a physician or nurse practitioner).    

You can easily access your vaccine record by visiting Alberta Vaccine Record.

For full details on our implementation of the Restriction Exemption Program, please see the following documents: 

 


Camp Kindle Is Calling: Fall Program Update

COVID-19 Update August 19, 2021

Kids Cancer Care is gradually re-opening and beginning to offer in-person programs for our kids and families. The health and safety of our families, staff and volunteers is our first priority and we are continuing to follow public health guidelines. We have also sought guidance from the Kids Cancer Care Medical Advisory Committee and a public health care professional to review our current infection prevention and control policies and procedures.

At the Camp Kindle Play Day on August 28th, the following health and safety practices will be in place:

  1. Rigorous hand hygiene practices;
  2. Disinfection of shared equipment between use with a Health Canada approved disinfectant; and
  3. Increased frequency of cleaning and disinfection of high traffic areas (i.e. washrooms).

Kindle Play Day is an outdoor event. Physical distancing will be strongly encouraged. The use of face coverings is optional. Please know that anyone who wishes to practice continuous masking will be supported. Kids Cancer Care will ensure that disposable adult and children’s masks are available to all participants should they wish to use them.

Participants MUST self-screen for the presence of adverse symptoms using the COVID-19 information: Alberta Daily Checklist BEFORE arriving at Camp Kindle on August 28th. If you or a member of your household report a positive test for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) or any SAR-CoV-2 variants within 10 days before Kindle Play Day or any future camp sessions, you will be:

  1. DENIED access to Camp Kindle; and
  2. DIRECTED you to the  Government of Alberta website or to Health Link 811 for guidance on testing and isolation requirements.  

If you or a member of your household present with any core symptoms not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition within 10 days before Kindle Play Day or any future camp session, you will be:

  1. DENIED access to Camp Kindle; and
  2. DIRECTED to the Government of Alberta website or to Health Link 811 for guidance on testing and isolation requirements.   

Core and other symptoms include:  

  • Fever 
  • Chills 
  • A new cough or worsening of a chronic cough
  • New or worsening shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Sore throat or painful swallowing 
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Headache
  • Muscle or joint aches
  • Feeling unwell in general, or new fatigue or severe exhaustion 
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or unexplained loss of appetite
  • Loss of sense of smell or taste; or 
  • Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye.

Core and other symptoms apply to all COVID-19 strains, including variants of concern.

Thank you for respecting our efforts to keep our families and larger community safe. If you have any questions, please reach out to our nursing manager Mackenzie Murawsky here.


Our COVID-19 Re-opening Plan

COVID-19 Update June 21, 2021

As the Province of Alberta entered Stage 2 of its re-opening plan on June 10 and has met the threshold to enter Stage 3 on July 1, we are busy preparing for a potential re-opening of Camp Kindle on September 1.

 

We will not be offering our traditional summer camp programs in 2021. The health and safety of our children and families are our first priority. Because so many of our kids are immune compromised, we must proceed with the extreme care and attention as we move to re-open Camp Kindle. As you know, it takes months of planning and lead time to recruit, hire and train the right staff to run a safe and successful cancer camp. In a normal year, this begins in January.

While there isn’t enough time to safely re-open this summer, we are working on a plan to re-open Camp Kindle effective September 1, 2021. We have applied for funding to contract a public health care professional to review our current COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures. This will help to guide potential re-opening strategies for our fall programming and rental operations. If all goes well, we will be able to offer fall Family Camp. We hope your family can join us for this magical weekend.

For now, we will continue to offer Glamp Kindle—our three-day private family get-aways—throughout the summer. We are also planning an outdoor Family Fun Day for August 28, 2021, at Camp Kindle. We will update you on our plans soon. In the meantime, please save the date!

We thank you for your patience and understanding as we prepare to safely re-open Camp Kindle for our traditional camp programs. We look forward to seeing you in person this fall and for many seasons thereafter. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at all. Here’s our contact information:

Christine McIver, Founder and CEO, by email or by phone at 403 984 6210.
Leighana Shockey, Director of Camp Operations, by email or phone at 403 637 3975, ext. 2.
Mackenzie Murawsky, Nursing Manager, by email or by phone 403 984 6214.


COVID-19 Rollout Phase 2C

COVID-19 Update April 13, 2021

In Phase 2C of the vaccine rollout, eligibility criteria includes caregivers of Albertans who are most at risk of severe outcomes: 

  • All designated family/support people of individuals in long-term care, designated supportive living and  licensed supportive living facilities. 
  • Up to two caregivers for children under 16 who have an eligible chronic condition but are unable to receive vaccine due to age.
  • Eligibility criteria:
    1. PHASE 2C CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILTY
    2. PHASE 2B ELIGIBLE CHRONIC CONDITIONS 

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COVID-19 Office Closure

COVID-19 Update December 13, 2020

Effective December 13, 2020, the Kids Cancer Care office is temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions and for the health and safety of our community. We are still here for you. Our staff is working remotely from home and checking messages regularly. Please reach out if you need us. We are hear to help.  


Cancer and COVID-19 Research

COVID-19 Update November 2, 2020

University of Calgary researcher Dr. Fiona Schulte is collaborating with researchers around the globe to investigate COVID-19 and its impact on the health and well-being on children with cancer and childhood cancer survivors. Here are their findings: 

Forster, V., et. al. "Unique needs of childhood cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Verbruggen, L., et. al. "Guidance regarding COVID-19 for survivors of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer: A statement from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group."

Dr. Schulte has also been active on other research fronts, investigating pain in long-term survivors and the daily challenges of survivorship among other topics. You can read about Dr. Schulte's other research projects here


COVID-19 vs. Influenza

COVID-19 Update October, 26, 2020

In some ways, COVID-19 is similar to influenza (also known as the flu):

  1. Both COVID-19 and the flu cause respiratory disease in people who get sick.
  2. Both spread via small droplets from the nose and mouth.
  3. Neither one is spread through the air over long distances or times, unlike a disease like the measles.

In other ways, there are some important differences between COVID-19 and the flu, which are described below.

Find more information on symptoms of COVID-19 here.

There are some important differences between COVID-19 and the flu. Here are a few:

  1. COVID-19 does not appear to transmit as efficiently as influenza. For the most part, only people with symptoms seem to be spreading the disease.This means that when people with symptoms stay home and remain isolated, controlling the spread is possible.
  2. We currently have no specific vaccine or treatment for COVID-19.
  3. COVID-19 causes severe disease in a higher percentage of cases than seasonal influenza. The death rate of COVID-19 depends on many factors, but on average it ranges from about one to two deaths per 100 people infected. By comparison, seasonal influenza is deadly in about one in every 1,000 who are infected.
  4. Because COVID-19 can cause such a serious illness, it is critical to keep it from spreading by having people with a cough or fever stay home and away from others.

Find more information on symptoms of COVID-19 here.


New infection prevention & control measures in Calgary zone

COVID-19 Update October 26, 2020

With the sudden rise in new COVID-19 cases, the Government of Alberta has implemented the following new temporary infection prevention and control measures effective October 26 in the Calgary zone:

A 15-person limit on social and family gatherings where people are mixing and mingling:

  1. Parties
  2. Special event celebrations, such as retirement events or baby showers
  3. Wedding and funeral receptions
  4. Banquets

The above limit does not apply to structured events where socializing is not the purpose of the activity, e.g., restaurants, worship services, wedding ceremonies, conferences, funeral services or trade shows. Current gathering limits and prevention measures as outlined by official guidance remains in place.

These temporary measures will be reassessed at the end of November 2020 and lifted if new case numbers are sufficiently lowered to reduce the spread.

Voluntary measures

Wear a mask in indoor workplace settings, except when alone in a workspace such as an office or cubicle where you are safely distanced from others or an appropriate barrier is in place.

Limit your cohorts to no more than three

  1. Your core household
  2. Your school and
  3. One other sport or social cohort

Young children attending child care may be part of four cohorts, given that child care settings have not been a high risk for spread.


Halloween during COVID-19

COVID-19 Update October 2, 2020

Halloween may be scary, but COVID-19 is even scarier. By taking a few simple precautions, you can still enjoy your favourite Halloween fun and leave the Halloween terror to the ghosts and goblins, not the pandemic. Before you head out on your trick-or-treat trek, check out these helpful Halloween hints from the Government of Alberta here


Immunization during COVID-19

COVID-19 Update October 2, 2020

The province has ordered 1.96 million doses of the influenza vaccine this year and the Chief Medical Officer of Alberta strongly recommends that Albertans get their flu shots this year. Immunization for vulnerable populations begins October 13 and Alberta's immunization program for the general public begins October 19. 

The Chief Medical Officer of Alberta notes that children ages five and over can be immunized free of charge at any participating pharmacy or their physcician's office. Immunization at public health offices will be by appoinment only and will be focused on administering immunizations to the following populations: 

  1. Children younger than five and their parents and other household members;
  2. Individuals who do not have a provinical health care number; and
  3. Individuals who live in communities where there are no other immunizing health care providers. 

Accessing your child's COVID-19 test results

COVID-19 Update October 2, 2020

Effective October 1, all parents and guardians will have access to their child's COVID-19 test results through MyHealth Records.


Read this, before attending an in-person program or event

COVID-19 Update September 18, 2020

As the world reopens and we begin to reintroduce adapted in-person programs and events, we want you to know that the health and safety of our community — our families, volunteers, staff and financial supporters — is our first priority. 

 

Kids Cancer Care has a long history of providing programs to immune-compromised children and we maintain the strictest protocols on infection prevention and control with enhanced cleaning and disinfectant practices, health screening, monitoring and tracking.

We are also strictly adhering to the Government of Alberta’s COVID-19 prevention and control measures with strict limits on gathering, physical distancing, rigorous hand hygiene practices and the use of face masks in the office and at all in-person programs and events.

While we make every effort to minimize the risk of exposure and transmission, it is vital that you make an informed decision when considering whether to attend our in-person programs and events. We ask that you consult your oncologist, primary nurse, or health care team before making your decision.

We also recommend that you refer to the Government of Alberta COVID-19 Information For Albertans page for up to date information on COVID-19. You may also wish to refer to the resources listed at the bottom of this page.

 

We are here to help. If you have any questions, please reach out to our nursing manager Mackenzie Murawsky [email protected] or call 403 984 6214.


ABTraceTogether: Free COVID-19 tracing app

COVID-19 Update: May 4, 2020

When the Government of Alberta announced its relaunch strategy for the Alberta economy on Thursday, April 30, Dr. Deena Hinshaw also stressed the importance of maintaining rigorous hand-washing routines, social distancing and avoiding groups with more than 15 people. In conjunction with the relaunch strategy, the Government of Alberta released a new app, called ABTraceTogether. 
 

DOWNLOAD HERE

The app traces and alerts individuals should they come into contact with someone who has recently tested positive for COVID-19. It only works if everyone gets onboard. The more people who download it, the more effective the app will be. By downloading the app, your mobile device can privately and anonymously have virtual “handshakes" with other mobile devices using the app. If the owner of one of those phones has recently tested positive for COVID-19, Alberta Health Services receives an alert and then sends an alert to all of the phone numbers that have had a virtual “handshake” with that phone. It's safe and free to use and by using it, you may help stop the spread of COVID-19, so Alberta can get back to business again.

DOWNLOAD HERE

 


Summer camp cancelled due to coronavirus

COVID-19 Update: April 27, 2020

As the Province of Alberta has extended its restriction on social gatherings to last throughout the summer, we have had to cancel all of our summer camp programs. We know it's not the same as being outside in the fresh air at camp, but we would love to see your smiling faces every Thursday at 6 PM at our virtual campfires.


New online programs

COVID-19 Update: April 21, 2020

Our online programs are up and running weekly now. They don’t even come close to seeing you in person, sharing a hug or a handshake, but at least it offers all of us some semblance of contact and community. We hope these sessions give you something to look forward to each week. They sure brighten up our week. Thank you for bringing your smiles, your energy and wonderful attitudes to these sessions. It really does make our day to see you — even if only remotely for now.

Here is our schedule of online programs. Please reach out and share your creative ideas for new program possibilities or if you have a question or concern. We are only a phone call or email away.


Reaching out during the pandemic: offering programs virtually

COVID-19 Update: March 29, 2020

While COVID-19 is wreaking havoc across the globe, Kids Cancer Care is finding innovative ways to fulfill our commitment to the children and families we serve. We’re moving some of our programs onto virtual platforms and we hope you can take advantage of them from the comfort and safety of your home. These online sessions will help break up the monotony of forced isolation and give your kids something to look forward to.

  1. THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE – Dr. Carolina Chamorra-Vina is giving live PEER exercise sessions online for kids of all ages. PEER helps kids to fight the deconditioning and long-term side effects of cancer treatments by building fundamental movement skills, such as running, jumping, skipping, throwing. These sessions will also help build balance, flexibility, endurance and strength, while giving your kids something to look forward to during forced isolation.
     
  2. CHILD LIFE AT HOME – Kim Clark, our child life specialist, is currently developing a virtual Child Life at Home program for kids who are struggling with medical-related fear and anxiety. The goal of these one-to-one online sessions is to introduce your child to medical terminology in child-friendly terms and familiarize them with medical tools and technology through medical play designed to give the child a sense of mastery and control over the process.
     
  3. VIRTUAL TUTORING – Our teachers Karin Schlegel and Nikki Lamarche are matching tutors with students and helping them to move tutoring sessions online.

We are excited by the possibilities of online programming as it will enable us to bring some of our therapeutic programs to families in remote areas across Alberta — something we have been eager to do for some time. If you wish to learn more about our online program offerings, please click one of the email links above. We would love to see your kids at our next virtual session.


Kids Cancer Care office closed temporarily

COVID-19 Update: March 18, 2020

On Tuesday March 17, the Government of Alberta declared a public state of emergency. As a result, Kids Cancer Care is closing its doors at Camp Kindle and at the Calgary office. Although our staff will be working from home, we are always just a phone call or email away.

You’ll be happy to know that we are also busy exploring alternate ways of delivering some of our programs to you and your family. We know self-isolation is nothing new to you, but with the closing of schools and daycares and your children at home, we want to support you in your efforts to keep them busy and active. We will keep you apprised of our developments on this front.

We are hopeful that the threat of COVID-19 will substantially drop to enable us to offer our summer camp programs. Please know that we will continue to monitor the situation, consult our Medical Advisory Committee and keep you informed.

Please continue to register for summer camps and other programs to secure your spots should our programs move forward. We can now confirm with certainty that the following programs are cancelled:

  • Teen Camp (April 3rd - 5th, 2020) 
  • Bereaved Family Camp (May 1st - 3rd, 2020)
  • Spring Family Camp (June 5th - 7th, 2020)

Please know that we are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic under the direction and guidance of our Medical Advisory Committee and provincial and federal health authorities. We will continue to make our program decisions with the health and well-being of your children foremost in mind. We encourage you to refer to information posted by the Alberta Health ServicesGovernment of Canada and World Health Organization (WHO) as this information is updated daily.


Temporarily suspending programs

COVID-19 Update: March 13, 2020

The health and safety of the children we serve are our first priority at Kids Cancer Care. In light of the recent directive from Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer and the vulnerable health of the children we serve, Kids Cancer Care has made the decision to temporarily suspend all programs until further notice. While we are sorry to have to do this, we trust you will appreciate our higher commitment to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our families.

Please know that we are responding to the situation under the advice of our Medical Advisory Committee and under the direction and guidance of provincial and federal health authorities. We encourage you to refer to information posted by the Government of AlbertaGovernment of Canada and World Health Organization (WHO) as this information is updated daily. 

Thank you for your patience as we navigate this most difficult situation. 


Coronavirus update

COVID-19 Update: March 6, 2020

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to evolve, we want you to know that Kids Cancer Care is actively monitoring the situation and is ready to take appropriate action. While the risk of COVID-19 in Canada and Alberta remains low at this time, given the uncertainty of the situation and the vulnerable health of the children we serve, we are taking proactive steps to operate safely and mitigate risk.

Although a small number of confirmed or presumptive cases of the virus have been identified in Canada and Alberta, Health Canada, Alberta Health Services and other Canadian agencies state that the risk to Canadians is low. Our hospitals have strong systems in place to prevent and control infections and the outbreak is being closely monitored by all relevant agencies in our province and across Canada.

Should this issue escalate in Alberta, Kids Cancer Care is ready to respond in accordance with information and guidance from Alberta Health Services and its supporting agencies. Please know that we have plans in place, outlining the necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection and to respond quickly in the event of a COVID-19 incident in one of our facilities.

Serving children with compromised immune systems, Kids Cancer Care has established systems, policies and practices in place to mitigate the spread of infection in order to keep our families, volunteers and staff as safe as possible.

Here at Kids Cancer Care we continue to

  1. Monitor provincial reports on communicable disease outbreaks in the region.
     
  2. Circulate information on our infection prevention practices to families, volunteers, staff and visitors.
     
  3. Conduct health screening prior to camp and outreach programs.
     
  4. Ensure stringent cleaning practices, adapted from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America guidelines, are routinely followed by our professional cleaning contractor (e.g., cleaning common areas and disinfecting high-touch surfaces in common areas at Camp Kindle and in the office).
     
  5. Regular application of a hospital-grade disinfectant at Camp Kindle and in the office. The disinfectant our professional cleaning contractor uses kills harmful bacteria and viruses without causing hazardous effects to the environment or people.
     
  6. Encourage frequent and proper hand washing (with soap and water or a 70% to 90% alcohol-based hand sanitizer) among staff, volunteers and children.
     
  7. Encourage proper cough and sneeze etiquette among staff, volunteers and children (e.g., coughing into a tissue or the crook of your arm, rather than into the palm of your hand).

In response to COVID-19, we are

  1. Restricting access of staff, volunteers, families and/or visitors, who have within the last 14 days travelled to, or through, any of the countries or regions with a risk rating of 3 or 4 on the Government of Canada list of countries with COVID-19 active travel health notices. Medical clearance will be required before returning to work or participating in one of our programs.                                                                                                                                               
  2. Requiring staff and volunteers to regularly wipe down high-touch areas in their office (e.g., keyboard, mouse, telephone) and especially in areas that on-treatment children and youth frequent (e.g., PEER exercise room, Shaw Education Centre and any shared spaces).
     
  3. Implementing additional cleaning and disinfectant measures by our professional cleaning contractor, especially in high-touch areas frequented by on-treatment children and youth. Should there be a confirmed or presumptive case of COVID-19, or any other communicable diseases at one of our facilities, we are ready to implement our established protocol, which includes employing our professional cleaning contractor to conduct a deep and thorough, four-stage cleaning and disinfectant process.

You can help by

  1. Notifying Health Link 811 if you develop symptoms such as fever, cough and/or difficulty breathing or have concerns about the possibility of recent travel exposure or close contact with individuals who may have been exposed.                                                                           
  2. Staying home if you or your family members are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing.  
     
  3. Informing our nursing manager Mackenzie Murawsky if you or a family member develops cold- or flu-like symptoms within 14 days of attending one of our programs.                             
  4. Washing your hands with soap and water or a 70% to 90% alcohol-based hand sanitizer prior to entering our facilities and repeating this practice after using equipment in the PEER exercise room and other common areas.                                                                                   
  5. Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue or with the crook of your arm and disposing of tissues immediately.                                                                                                                    
  6. Familiarizing yourself with the symptoms of COVID-19 and monitoring developments related to the coronavirus by visiting the following websites:

         Government of Alberta
         Government of Canada
         World Health Organization
         World Health Organization – Coronavirus Q & A 

Kids Cancer Care is a place where children with compromised immunity frequently gather and we strive to ensure that it is a safe, hygienic and welcoming community. At Kids Cancer Care, we are guided by the core values of respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and care. It is through this lens that we are approaching this situation. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to keep our community, and the families we serve, safe.