About Wapiyapi

Wapiyapi is a Colorado based nonprofit organization that offers a community of hope and support to families affected by childhood cancer. Wapiyapi hosts free summer camps and year-round family retreats to provide a respite for children with cancer and their families.

Wapiyapi was established in 1998 by University of Colorado medical students in order to help children with cancer. As of 2011, our annual summer camps and retreats have served over 1,100 children in a safe and nurturing environment that allows these patients and their families to understand that they do not face their challenges alone.

Besides filling both of our summer camp sessions to capacity of 160 campers, Wapiyapi conducts retreats for families and now offers Spanish-speaking programs. Wapiyapi applies its resources as effectively as possible to meet the many needs of the pediatric oncology community in Colorado.

The most striking aspect of the time I spent at Wapiyapi was my inability to tell which campers were patients and which were siblings. Besides the kids I knew personally from Children’s, all of the others were just kids – not “oncology patients”, not “siblings of oncology patients”, not “survivors of childhood cancer.” When our patients are diagnosed with cancer, I feel that they often lose their identities as normal kids, either by how they are treated at school, in the hospital, or at home with their families. However, Wapiyapi functions as such a regular childhood summertime activity, that there is no chance not to feel normal again.

One of my own patients attended Wapiyapi this summer and particularly benefited from her experience. Being a teenage only child in a military family with a parent currently stationed overseas had obviously become a significant stressor in her life. The time she was able to spend away from home proved invaluable. Initially, she was concerned that she wouldn’t enjoy her camp experience, having never attended overnight camp in the past. However, after her week at Wapiyapi, her mother could not get her to stop talking about it. The fact she was asked to come back next year as a junior counselor afforded her a sense of confidence that she had not had since her diagnosis.

Jeff Knipstein, MD
Instructor, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT
The Children's Hospital/University of Colorado-Denver

Notes from Parents of 2010 Campers

My kids talk about an experience or memory about camp WAPIYAPI every week!!! They tell family, friends, teachers everyone they meet!! THANK YOU!!!!!

Both of my kids- the survivor, but more importantly the sibling- look forward to camp every year and come home with a strong desire to help others and a renewed appreciation for the lives that they have. Thank you so much for all you do for our children!

This has made a huge impact in helping Amy come out of her shell a little and try things she NEVER would have tried if we were around. She gains more confidence each year she attends. Sam is hoping to become a counselor so that he can give back and help other kids like his counselors did for him.

Wapiyapi has opened up a new level of independence for our son. He is so happy to go to camp, meet other kids and hang out with his companion.

Wapiyapi has been one of the few constant positive experiences in my children's lives and I will be forever grateful! Thank you!

My three little ones love camp wapiyapi!!!!! My two older ones were companions this year and it helped them grow!!!!!! Thank you so much camp wapiyapi!!!! My kids talk about camp all year long!!! And I mean all year long :). This is such a great experience for all my kids!!!!

Wapiyapi's Board of Directors - 2012

Margaret Macy, M.D., President
Assistant Professor University of Colorado
Pediatric Oncologist
Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
The Children’s Hospital

Jeff Druck, M.D., Secretary
Division of Emergency Services
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

Kay Noser, Treasurer
Senior Tax Accountant
Eide Bailly

Margaret Funk (Parent of Patient)
Attorney, Assistant Regulations Counsel
Colorado Supreme Court

John Schliep
Administrative Director
Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
The Children’s Hospital

Jason Elbot
Engineer
Merrik

Linda McCaskill
Owner
Clear View Management Consulting

Kathi Dodge
Director of Strategic Workforce Planning
Newmont Mining

Doug Bowden
Retired

Mary Bowden
Community Leader

Stephanie Hearn
Executive Director
Wapiyapi