Kamassa hosts cancer children camp

Special to Wesson News

Camp Rising Sun, a children’s oncology outdoors experience supported by Mississippi charities, including Wesson Lions Club as part of the statewide Lions organization, will be hosted by Camp Kamassa in Copiah County during the 2026 camping season.

Since 1988, the Columbus, Mississippi, based camp has provided a traditional camping experience for children diagnosed with cancer.

Children and youth ages 6 to 16, who have been or are currently being treated for cancer, will find swimming, horseback riding, arts and crafts, canoeing, riflery, archery, fishing, an arcade, camp Olympics, laser tag, dance, a talent show, giant swing, zipline and more in a setting that also recognizes their special physical needs.

Appreciating the financial challenges facing their families, campers are not changed for the Rising Sun program.  Transportation assistance is also available.

At the camp, medical personnel and equipment are on location 24 hours a day with a clinic staffed by doctors and nurses responsible for following medical orders of each camper’s physician to ensure treatments are maintained, including oral chemotherapy and other treatments.

Carefully selected volunteers undergo background checks and are trained to assure care and love for campers.  Certified water safety personnel monitor aquatic activities, and trained Timberlake staff assure adventure activities – the zipline and giant swing – are safe as well as fund.  The volunteer to camper ratio is approximately 1:1, with a 3:7 ration in cabins.

The Camp started accepting applications from returning campers in February and new campers in March through an online link available through info@CampRisingSun.com.  Siblings of the cancer-affected campers can apply at attend free on a space available basis.