In 1984 Maureen Herrick, an
Omaha housewife, viewed a national talk show's feature on a unique
summer camp that hosted children with cancer and blood disorders.
Because of their unique medical needs, the show's host noted that
many children with cancer and blood disorders were deprived of the
opportunity for a normal summer camp experience.
Maureen
contacted Robyn Freeman, then the director of the Campfire USA
Midlands Council, to see if a similar camp existed in Nebraska.
Finding none, they contacted the head of the pediatric
hematology/oncology department at Children's Hospital, sparking the
birth of Camp CoHoLo. Camp CoHoLo held its first summer camp, a
three-day event, in 1985 for 22 children.
CoHoLo is an
acronym for Courage, Hope and Love, the guiding principles behind
the formation of Camp CoHoLo. From its humble beginnings, Camp
CoHoLo now hosts 140 to 160 children each July during an eight-day
camp.
The summer
camp is held at the Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center near Gretna. The 4-H
Center features ten two-story cabins nestled within the wilderness
and a large, air-conditioned lodge used for activities and meals.
In May 2005,
Camp CoHoLo and its volunteers were awarded the Heartland Better
Business Bureau Integrity Award for service to children in the
region. A link to the video produced for the BBB awards ceremony can
be found in the right hand column of this page.
Click the volunteers tab above to apply for a counselor
position