News & Events

Important dates on our 2023 calendar:

7/8 – IL Annual Founding Friends Picnic – Downtown Naperville Grand Pavilion

9/22 – 9/24 – Iowa Family Weekend Camp at the YMCA Camp Wapsie APPS ARE OPEN!

10/6- 10/8 – Illinois Family Weekend Camp at Timber Point Outdoor Center APPS ARE OPEN!

COVID19 Update

Hello Second Star Camp Campers, Friends, Families and Supporters,

I know this has been a difficult time for everyone, and hope that this message finds you all well and healthy.

During this arduous time, I have been reflecting on what camp means to me, and how that has changed over the past 17+ years I have been involved in special/medical need camp programs.

From my first-time volunteering with a Muscular Dystrophy camp, to Bangarang’s most recent program in 2019, camp has shaped my life. Camp made me who I am, it helped me cope with my own medical diagnosis, it gave me my career, helped me make lifelong friends, grow a family, and travel the world. Being able to be a part of Second Star Camp and giving some of these experiences back to children with chronic and life threatening illnesses and their families means the world to me and all those involved with Second Star Camp.

With that in mind, and with a heavy heart, we are writing to let you know that I, along with the support and guidance of our amazing Board of Directors, have made the difficult decision to cancel Second Star Camp’s Family Weekend Camps for 2020 due to the ongoing challenges of the Coronavirus.

We understand that things have begun opening back up in certain areas, and while that may be what is needed for the economy, as a nonprofit serving children with a wide range of serious medical needs, we cannot responsibly operate knowing the heightened risk of infection and other complications. We are additionally blessed to work with volunteers from all over the country, some of whom fly in to work at our camps. Many of our volunteers are the nurses and first responders already dedicating extensive time to caring for so many. Even with safety measures, reduced camper numbers, temperature checks, and masks, we would not be able to guarantee everyone’s safety, and the safety of our campers and volunteers is paramount.

Over the next few weeks and months we will be working to support our partner organizations and to bring some camp magic to the lives of our camper families from a safe distance. We are working on several things including a virtual campfire, activities and care packages for kids, and ongoing fundraising.

We know many of our campers wait all year for camp, and now that wait is extended. We know that today’s message is sad, but also that many of Camp’s best days are ahead of us. We are working hard to ensure that we can continue to grow our programs and be able to provide camp magic for years to come.

Please reach out to us with any questions and stay tuned for updates. Thank you all for being a part of the Second Star Camp Family!

Sincerely,

Mark – Camp Director & Camp’s Board of Directors

2020 Family Weekend Camps!

We have 3 Family weekend camps this Fall! Because of our amazing support, each year we have grown. 2020 is no exception, we are ready to serve more families then ever, and of course all of our programs are 100% free of charge. If you know of a family who has a child/children dealing with a serious illness, send them our way! Camper and volunteer apps are up right here on camp’s website.

Welcome to 2020!

We are working on some new fundraising events, and new programs so that we can serve even more campers! Follow us here, and on social media to keep up on everything!

Camp Weekends

We are so excited to have over 100 campers signed up between our two Family Weekend Camps! Our first camp is less then a month away.

Block Party

Our 3rd Annual Founding Friends Picnic will be happening July 27th from noon-3:00pm in Naperville, IL! Join us at the riverwalk Grand Pavilion for fun, food, and a silent auction.

Block Party

We will at the Iowa City Downtown Block Party June 22nd! Come check us out and get a S’more or cotton candy!

Please Join US!

Support Second Star Camp at our 2nd Annual Guest bartender Night at Iowa Brewing Co. in Cedar Rapids, Thursday March 28th from 5:00 – 8:00 PM. All tips and raffle ticket sales will go towards providing our camp programs 100% free of charge!

2019 Family Camps are up AND dates are a bit different!!!

We will be hosting two separate family camps this year, one in IA and one in IL! Our IA camp will be at the YMCA Camp Wapsie in Coggon IA September 6th – 8th. Our first ever IL camp will be at Easter Seals Timber Point Outdoor Center in Hudson, IL from October 18th – 20th. Campers can choose the location and date that works best for their family, volunteers, we would love to see you at both!
These completely free programs were made possible by the hundreds of individuals and companies that donated throughout the year!!!

What a great first family camp!!!

Second Star Camp’s first family weekend camp went off without a hitch! Although it was a bit chilly and rainy, that didn’t stop our campers and volunteers one bit. We want to thank everyone who made camp possible- folks who donated, came to events, spread the word, volunteered AND especially the wonderful families that trusted us with their weekend. THANK YOU for making this camp dream a reality! Because of people like you, we will have many more camps to come!!! We also wanted to say a BIG thank you, to YMCA Camp Wapsie for hosting us- they did a great job, and we will be back!

Our Fall Family Weekend is just days away!!!

Taking place at YMCA Camp Wapsie, Oct 5th – 7th families will be able to have fun outdoors together, laugh together, get messy together, relax together and grow together! This is our first major program and we plan to follow it up with tons more for years to come! THNAK YOU to everyone that helped make this dream come true!

Our mailing address changed!

Camp’s new office location/mailing address is:

649 Valley Brook Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52403

Currently accepting Families for our Fall Family Weekend!

This is open to all families with a child (or children) with a chronic or life threatening illness. Start the process by clicking the RED APPLY button on the WHO WE SERVE page!

July 15th Stone City General Store event!

This is a live music indoor/outdoor event with raffle and silent auction prizes. Please join us for food, drinks, music and FUN! 4:00 – 8:00 in Stone City, IA. Check out more on our Facebook Page (link below)

Check out our 2nd Annual Founding Friends Picnic in Downtown Naperville’s Grand Riverwalk Pavilion!

Saturday Aug 25th from noon – 3:00 – We will be serving food/drinks and all are welcome! This is a free event with silent auction and raffle prizes available. To RSVP or get more information email us at info@campbangarang.org

Second Star Camp was chosen by the Downers Grove (IL) Area Newcomers as their 2017/2018 charity of the year!

We are so happy to be working with such a generous and dedicated group!

 

Please Join Us!!! 1/10/2018 at the Iowa Brewing Company in Cedar Rapids, IA

From 5:00 – 8:00 Iowa Brewing will be hosting a Second Star Camp Fundraiser with raffle prizes, live music, and guest bartenders! 100% of the tips and money from the raffle tickets will go towards Second Star Camp. The event takes place @ 708 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

 

We officially got our Federal non-profit approval!!

This means that any and all donations made from April 2017 on are 100% tax deductible.

This also enables us to apply for various financial grants. It is a huge step forward towards our goals.