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Camp fantastic: a fun boost for kids battling cancer?

NCT ID NCT00001186

Symptom relief Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 28, 2026 · Updated 13 times

Summary

This study explores whether a normal week-long camping experience can improve the psychological well-being of children with cancer. Researchers will interview children and families before, during, and after camp to measure changes in self-esteem and social interactions. Up to 5,000 children aged 7-17 and young adult counselors aged 18-25 will participate.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
camping experience
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that a normal camping experience improves self-esteem and social well-being for children with cancer.
What could go wrong
This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. Benefits may be temporary or vary by child, and results may not apply to all children with cancer.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

About 5,000 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Feb 1983

Lead sponsor

A government research agency

The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

Children 7-17 years of age who are currently being treated for cancer or are up to 5 years post therapy, OR, Young Adults with Cancer (YACers) 18-25 years of age who are acting as counselors at Camp Fantastic and are enrolled in another NIH protocol.

Ages

7 to 25 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: * Children 7-17 years of age who are currently being treated for cancer or are up to 5 years post therapy. OR Young adults with cancer (YACers) 18-25 years of age who are acting as counselors at Camp Fantastic. * Children/young adults will be selected for camp after careful screening by a multidisciplinary committee consisting of medical and program directors. While the state of the child s health will certainly be considered there will be no exclusions for: * Patients who are receiving intramuscular, intrathecal, oral or intravenous medications or blood products. * Patients who have had amputations or have other physical defects. * Patients who become febrile and neutropenic at the onset or during the week of camp will stay at camp on antibiotic therapy providing their condition remains stable. * At the discretion of the multidisciplinary committee consisting of medical and program directors, special exceptions may be made for patients with extenuating circumstances. * All children will be officially enrolled and will have an NIH Clinical Center Patient Care Number. The enrollment of a child, signing of protocol consent, and completion of admission paperwork is done in person but under extenuating circumstances it may be done over the phone after the paperwork has been mailed to the parent/guardian. Extenuating circumstances would include a last minute application to camp after the trip for camp screenings in Norfolk or Richmond has been completed. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: -Children with a medical diagnosis other than cancer or their related disorders.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cancer childhood malignant neoplasm neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Pediatric cancer

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    RECRUITING

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

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