Camp Fantastic, Carnival Night!

In addition to all the work we do for St. Jude, Easter Seals and other wonderful organizations, the Virginia State Council of Epsilon Sigma Alpha also has 2 state projects we support:  ASK & Special Love.  Every year, the Special Love organization hosts a summer camp called Camp Fantastic.  Camp Fantastic started in 1983 and is Special Love’s hallmark program, offering a week-long adventure to children ages 7-17 who have received cancer-specific treatment within the past three years.  Camp Fantastic provides young cancer patients with an opportunity to step back from the seriousness of their disease and enjoy normal childhood activities and the bonds of friendship with other children who share similar experiences.  Camp Fantastic provides classes, recreation, themed adventures, campfires, and other exciting activities and a full staff of medical caregivers make it possible for children to attend in virtually any stage of treatment.
 
Camp Fantastic was started by Tom and Sheila Baker (of Winchester, VA), who had a child that passed away from cancer.  With the help of the 4-H director at the time (Tom Dooley), friends & organizations were approached to help with the camp. Delta Rho of Virginia was asked to participate with the Monday night activity – game night.  Christmas was the theme of game night for several years and everyone sang Christmas songs and played a few games with the children.  After several years, game night grew into "carnival' night with more games and prizes and the volunteers providing cookies and punch for the campers.  And Delta Rho continues to volunteer for this great event every year. 
 
This year, Camp Fantastic was held the week of August 17-23, 2014 at the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center in Front Royal, Virginia.  Carnival Night is always the first Monday of camp.  The theme for the night was Disney and the campers were dressed up like their favorite characters.  We saw a few Minnie Mouse’s (or is that Minnie Mice??), a couple Princesses and even a counselor dressed as