Candlelighters of El Paso

 Camp Bravo is a week long camp program restricted to children who are a sibling of a child with cancer. This camp provides much of the same curriculum as Camp Courageous, however, the primary target is to focus on the needs of these often times, forgotten children. Social workers are mingled in with staff to help get to the root of the anger and fear of these troubled siblings. Friendships and bonds are also created at this camp and help carry them during their time of feeling isolated and cut off from their parents. http://www.candlelighterselp.org/en/camp/

Camp Courageous is a week long summer camp restricted to children who have cancer. This camp provides these children with opportunity to have a normal camping experience. It provides a secluded week with children the same age who are experiencing the same dilemmas. It allows the children a chance to bond. These bonds will turn into friendships that help carry them through the depression of long hospital stays, painful surgeries, treatments, the feeling of isolation, inadequacy, the embarrassment of having no hair. They also have an opportunity to provide some of the basic care for themselves during this special week that has been taken away during their illness by over concerned and frightened parents. This small amount of independence can be very empowering. http://www.candlelighterselp.org/en/camp/

Camp Little One is a one-day mini camp for children who do not meet the minimum age requirement of six (6) for either Camp Bravo or Camp Courageous. This fun day camp is combined of both children with cancer and their siblings. Our goal is to provide a special day that makes them feel they have the same privileges as the older children.

Camp United/Parent Retreat is a local weekend getaway for Candlelighters' parents.  Through this mini retreat, we offer structured programming in the morning and early afternoon.  We have guest speakers that provide sessions on communication skills, anger management, coping, stress relief and relaxation techniques.  Our parents have the opportunity to enjoy themselves in their surroundings.  Sunday morning, we close the retreat with a session on maintaining relations.  We encourage our parents to reestablish their commitment to each other and fight the battle of childhood cancer together and not against one another.  Childcare is provided so parents can have a worry free weekend.

Computer Center  this room has been a bridge builder for a variety of Candlelighters' children parents.  We are proud to see skills improving and independence growing.  We have added some exciting software, CD burners and the internet.

Family Nights are held the first Tuesday of each month at the Candlelighters facility. This is an interactive program for the entire family. Guest speakers are invited to address the parents/caregivers on current issues, treatments, developments and advances with childhood cancer. Children are separated from the parents and spend the time performing arts and crafts, playing games, and socializing with other Candlelighters' children. Dinner is provided at no cost for the entire group. Candlelighters' family members receive valuable information and have an opportunity to ask questions and visit with other parents.

Fish Bowl is a center established in Candlelighers' office for our younger population to socialize and play. This fun environment affords them the opportunity to play games, socialize and play in a non-threatening environment.

Media Center we try and capture all of our children and their family members in photos and video and create a permanent file for the families. Often times families have been too busy fighting the illness to capture and retain precious memories of their loved ones. Our goal is to make certain we help them preserve their memories. Unfortunately when a child dies many of our children have lost a friend. It is important for us to retain their precious memories also.

Parenting Classes are provided to our families by the Child Crisis Center. Valuable information is passed on to our parents to help them cope and manage this stressful situation. Special techniques are taught to help keep the communication lines open and help reduce or eliminate the resentment that builds between siblings and the child with cancer.

Parent Teacher Conference is designed to answer the many questions parents have about the newest research. This conference is also an informative resource of the latest treatments for specific affliction. The opportunity to hear health professionals from leading medical facilities helps empower our families with tools for dealing with issues that are faced by childhood cancer patients and their loved ones. The conference brings help, hope and healing to those in need.

Prize Box is a program through which we provide small toys, stuffed animals etc. for clinical or traumatic procedures. Through the prize box we also provide toys and games to children who are hospitalized for extended periods of time.

Remember Always is a one-day seminar to provide information to individuals who have lost a child to a catastrophic illness such as cancer. For many parents, life after the child’s death is unbearable; thus we explore techniques and activities that help living with the loss of a loved one. It is also an open platform to discuss ones own individual coping mechanisms with a group who have gone through the same thing, promoting many different effective ways of living beyond the death of their child.

School Re-Entry Conference informs teachers, school nurses, principals, counselors, and the community at large about the difficulties that may arise from misunderstanding the physical, academic and emotional repercussions or side effects of childhood cancer. Many of our children must pursue education on their own and when the joyous occasion rises to be readmitted into the public school system, not everyone is prepared to deal with it. Our focus is to reunite and effectively integrate the child back into the system through an educational opportunity of understanding for the institution.

Sibling Day is a special day in which the siblings of the ill children are taken on a field trip to the hospital where they are given the unique opportunity to witness first-hand the experience, daily routines, and environment of a child afflicted with cancer. The purpose of sibling day is to create a better sense of empathy and closeness between the afflicted and unafflicted sibling by relieving the jealousy and fear commonly felt by the other child as well as facilitate greater overall harmony in the family.

Teen Center established in the Candlighters' facility for our teen population to have a space to get away from the emotional upheaval brought on by childhood cancer. This fun environment affords them the opportunity to play games, socialize, and enjoy normal teen activities in a non-threatening environment.