Meet the team: Erin “Sparkles” Stern
Erin is Camp Casco’s co-founder and President/CEO. Her vision, passion, and guidance inspire us to make Camp Casco a safe and magical place for all our campers.
I was a college student in San Diego when I first learned about a pediatric oncology camp called Camp Reach For The Sky. While working as a research assistant in a cancer center, I saw a flyer and thought it would be a really cool experience! I had also begun working in after-school programming around the same time, so it seemed to be a unique way to combine my interests in cancer research and child care (spoiler: it was!)
After volunteering in San Diego for a number of years, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, and I moved to Boston to join a PhD program in Cancer Biology at Harvard. Pediatric cancer camps are available throughout the nation, and Massachusetts is known for having some of the best cancer care in the country, so I was surprised to learn that there were no pediatric oncology camps based here in the Bay State. Having seen the inner workings of a similar camp for several years, I believed there were ample resources and interest here to create a Massachusetts-based camp. A meeting with Dr. Michael Goldberg, then an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, sealed the deal when he shared the same vision and passion for this idea. We joined forces then to co-found Camp Casco, the only pediatric oncology camp in the state.
It's impossible to choose my favorite part of camp! There are so many moments, big and small, that stick with me. I love meeting new campers and watching them open up as they settle in and feel comfortable with us. I love seeing our returners year after year and watching them transition from an excited new camper to a welcoming role model. I love seeing kids challenge themselves and surprise themselves with how capable they are-- and I love watching their friends and counselors cheer them on while they do. I love seeing kids try new activities their parents swore they'd never try at camp (and love them!). I love seeing our kids feel comfortable in their own skin and feel great about themselves. I love watching our kids laugh so hard that their stomachs hurt. I love seeing friendships blossom and watching kids trade phone numbers and friendship bracelets to stay in touch all year round.
One of my favorite camp memories is when a visually impaired camper wanted to go down a waterslide into the lake (it was his goal for that week of camp). It's intimidating for anyone to go down a slide into a lake, especially if you cannot see the lake well. We had all of the safety precautions in place: the lake was very calm and peaceful, he was wearing a life jacket, we had counselors behind him on the dock and in the water at the base of the slide ready to catch him, with lifeguards surrounding us. While we knew he was completely safe, he sat at the top of the slide, scared and second-guessing whether he should try. Usually, our camp counselors would approach and help him talk through it, but before we could, a few of the older boys came up on their own, encouraging and reassuring him. I listened nearby as they told him how safe it was, how they felt scared when they first tried it, and how they knew he could do it. It was a touching example of the thoughtful support and encouragement we see organically between our campers. He ultimately went for it and had a blast, and the entire waterfront area cheered for him. It was a really special moment of encouragement, kindness, and triumph that I will always cherish.
I'm looking forward to every camp session this summer, especially our Sibling Camp, now that it's a whole week long! I'm looking forward to all of it: dressing up, getting messy, being silly, having fun, making new friends, welcoming our returners, and making summer 2024 our best one yet.
