To provide youth who are battling medical conditions an outdoor camp experience they would not otherwise be able to enjoy.
By empowering children with medical conditions to embrace their individuality and fostering a sense of belonging through meaningful connections and joyful activities, our summer camp cultivates the magic of being a kid.
Our History & Our Future
Camp River Run was created because of a dream by founder Shawna Van Beek. It was her dream that started it all.
“My dream of starting a camp for kids affected by life-threatening illnesses began with a 17-year-old young lady who was in and out of remission with her battle with cancer. Despite multiple hospital visits and uncertain prognosis, she always remained so positive and optimistic about the future. One summer’s afternoon over ice cream I asked her what made her tick; what she said impacted me for the rest of my life.
She told me that what kept her going was knowing that she would have the opportunity to serve as a junior camp counselor later that year at a camp for kids with cancer. She went on to say that going to that camp every summer as a child made her and all the other kids feel “normal” for one week out of the year. That hit me like a ton of bricks—that these kids just want to feel normal—and going to camp is how they achieve that feeling.
It was that day that sparked my life’s dream, and I am so happy to say that with the help of six other wonderful members on the Camp River Run Board of Directors, that dream came true and the first week of camp in Cascade was held in July 2008!”
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CAMP RIVER RUN, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US TODAY!
Visit our Amazon Wishlist to purchase items we need for Camp.
Click HERE to view the Wishlist
Select Camp River Run as Your Charity on your Fred Meyer Account
Click HERE for Simple Steps
DONATE! —Each and every gift—large or small—goes 100% to funding and supporting the campers’ activities and experiences at Camp River Run.
We Love Our Volunteers
Interested in volunteering?
Check out our Volunteer page for more details.
“Camp is like a
second family…”
“Camp is the best thing ever! Just the fact of meeting everybody and then connecting with the kids, it’s the best feeling ever. I couldn’t have asked for a better camp to volunteer with, I love this camp soo much!”
- Christopher, Counselor Director; Volunteer 2019 - Present
Whether you put your skills to work distributing flyers, serving on a fund-raising committee, making a financial contribution, participating in an event, or working as a counselor at our Summer Camp or Day Camps, you will be part of our most valuable resource, our volunteer network.
Make the decision to volunteer your time for Camp River Run and it may just be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
To be a volunteer please complete our online volunteer application. You must be at least 17 to attend our Summer Camp as a counselor. We would love your help!
This information is covered before summer camp in a training class. A glance at camp looks like this:
Transportation & Arrival
Transportation to and from camp is provided. Once you arrive at camp, you can expect a warm and excited welcome for you and your camper. We’ll review camp rules and expectations (a quick refresher of counselor training and meet-and-greet information), followed by lunch.
Cabins & Schedules
Activity schedules are provided for each volunteer in your cabin. You’ll have time to unpack and decorate your cabin before activities begin.
Activities
Once settled, the fun starts! Each year, activities vary based on the camp theme. For example, in 2022 we hosted a Sports Day featuring archery, a low ropes course, water balloon fights followed by a color cabin war, dress-up for dinnertime, and more. All activities are carefully planned to ensure every camper can participate.
What’s Included
Meals, lodging, downtime with your camper and cabin, and counselor breaks are all included in your volunteer time at summer camp.
Share In The Dream - March 21, 2026
Summer Camp - July TBA, 2026
Day Camps - Quarterly (dates to be decided)
Board member, events team, and fundraising team opportunities are ongoing.
Please fill out the online application and we will contact you.
To serve as a camp counselor, volunteers must be 17 years of age or older and complete a background check.
All counselors and volunteers participating in camp are required to attend the full scheduled training session held prior to camp. Volunteers must be trained and certified in CPR and first aid through the Red Cross or another certified provider; this training is paid for by CRR. Training also includes a handbook review and camper-specific medical training provided by our internal medical staff. Because our goal is to pair specific counselors with individual campers, understanding your camper’s medical condition and care needs is an essential requirement.
