Camp Hobé gives it back to them. During the middle of June nearly 200 kids from throughout Utah and adjoining states, ages 4-19, attended a special camp in Tooele geared to the needs of cancer patients and their siblings.

Children ages 6 through 12 enjoyed an action-filled five days of overnight camping the first week.

The following week there were two days of day camp for kids ages 4 through 7, while a five-day overnighter was held for teenagers.

Because of medical needs, children with cancer would not usually be able to attend a camp, but Camp Hobé (which means "hope") is geared to their special needs.

An oncology trained pediatric medical staff is on site to make sure all participants are taken care of.

Siblings are included in the fun because many times parents are so overwhelmed with caring for the sick child that their brothers and sisters feel neglected.

Camp Hobé is a chance for all of them to feel normal for a while. The camp's motto is "Letting kids be kids."

Activities included swimming, arts, crafts, science and nature projects, story time, field games, drama, and music, with archery for the older kids and teens, and just for teens, rock wall climbing, mountain biking and scuba diving.

All of the activities were closely supervised by a staff of volunteers, most of whom return year after year.

According to Chris Beckwith, the executive director of Camp Hobé Incorporated, it is the only camp for cancer patients in Utah, and is accredited by the American Camp Association.

In order to receive accreditation, a camp must pass a checklist of 100 items, including risk management, safety, age appropriateness and quality programming.

Beckwith, who is affectionately known as "Wapiti Mama," and other program directors of the nonprofit board, work year-round in their spare time to make the camp happen, securing funding for expenses, coordinating the 120 to 130 member volunteer staff, planning the program and meals, and other details.

Primary Children's Medical Center refers its oncology patients to them.

The medical director for the day camp and teen camp week this summer was Stephen Lloyd, a nurse practitioner in the ER at Primary Children's.

"Camp is a great leveler," Lloyd said. "One girl came to camp wearing a wig, but before the end of the day she took it off. She and another teen were completely bald for the rest of the week and no one even seemed to notice."

Parents also got a chance to meet and talk with one another. One parent who declined to give her name, expressed a common problem.

"The cancer patient gets all of the attention and the other children feel resentful. Then they feel guilty because they think they shouldn't feel that way."

At Camp Hobé they all get a respite and just have fun.

"The biggest problem is some of the kids cry when it is time to go home," Beckwith said.