Camp Fantastic
Where Kids Get to Be Kids Again
About Camp Fantastic
Camp Fantastic is Special Love's signature summer camp—a free, weeklong overnight experience for children with cancer ages 7-17 or who have received cancer treatment within the past five years. Each August, campers swim, ride horses, make friends, and discover just how much they're capable of. For one week, childhood takes back what cancer tried to take away.
Program At a Glance
Camp Fantastic is open to children with cancer ages 7-17 or who have received cancer treatment within the past five years (or within seven years of a bone marrow transplant). Teens ages 16-17 can participate in the Leaders in Training (LIT) group, with exclusive lodging and programming designed for older teens.
Held in Front Royal, Virginia, at the Northern Virginia 4-H Center, Camp Fantastic provides transportation to campers in the Greater Washington DC area.
Looking for camp resources outside of this geography? Visit the Children’s Oncology Camping Association website for information about camps in your area.
Who
Children ages 7-17, within 5 years of cancer treatment (or 7 years post-bone marrow transplant)
Format
Weeklong overnight camp
Location
Northern Virginia 4-H Center
Front Royal, Virginia
When
Camp Fantastic is typically held in early August each year.
Cost
Free for everyone
What to Expect
Every August, the Northern Virginia 4-H Center in Front Royal, Virginia transforms into something extraordinary. For one week, it becomes a place where children who have faced unthinkable challenges get to simply be kids — fully, freely, joyfully.
Days are filled with horseback riding, archery, fishing, swimming, woodworking, cooking, arts and crafts, and sports. Teens have dedicated programming and lodging that meets them where they are. Each evening, campers gather around the campfire to share stories, sing songs, and give their “nature reports,” a beloved daily tradition. The week wraps with a Friendship Circle on Saturday morning, where campers gather one last time before heading home.
Sample Daily Schedule
- 7:45 a.m.: Rise & Shine
- 8:15: Breakfast
- 9:15: Flag Raising & Morning Assembly
- 9:30: Morning Class 1
- 10:45: Morning Class 2
- 12:00 p.m.: Lunch
- 12:45: Rest Time
- 2:15: Team Meetings
- 2:45: Afternoon Activity (varies daily)
- 4:00: Pool & Free Time
- 5:45: Dinner
- 6:45: Flag Lowering & Vespers
- 7:00: Evening Adventure
- 8:30: Campfire
- 10:00: Lights Out
Safety & Care
For parents, the biggest question about our camp is almost always the same: Is my child going to be safe? At Camp Fantastic, that question shapes everything we do.
Individualized intake with each camper’s family.
Before any child attends Camp Fantastic, our lead medical coordinator conducts a one-on-one screening call with the family. This is how we learn about each child's medical needs, physical considerations, dietary restrictions, and anything else that helps us tailor their week. It's also how we determine support needs. Children with the most complex needs are paired with one-on-one counselors throughout the week.
Medical care on-site, all week long.
About a quarter of our staff are medical professionals, including oncology doctors, nurses, and other clinical experts coordinated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health. Because of this partnership, campers continue receiving the medical care they need throughout the week, including ongoing monitoring and adjustments based on each child's daily status. If a camper's counts are up, they can swim; if they're not, our team adjusts the day's plan around them. The camp experience is customized for every child so they can participate as fully as their health allows.
A supportive community of experienced counselors.
Roughly 80% of our Camp Fantastic counselors are former campers themselves, who came through Special Love programs and chose to come back. Most are in their 20s through 40s; many bring outside camp or youth group experience as well. Every counselor is briefed on every camper before the week begins, with particular attention to children with higher medical or support needs.
Parent communication during the week.
Camp Fantastic is intentionally a phone-free experience for campers to help them fully engage with all that camp has to offer. Parents have direct access to our medical and program staff throughout the week and can relay messages or get information any time. Photos from the week are shared regularly through our private Facebook page so families can see their kids in the middle of the action.
Hear From Campers And Their Families
Cost & How It's Made Possible
Camp Fantastic is completely free to attend. There’s no registration fee, no tuition, no hidden costs. Transportation is also provided, with buses departing from multiple pickup locations across the region.
The week is made possible by an extraordinary community of donors, sponsors, and partners. Each year, organizations contribute hands-on activities, meals, and resources that bring camp to life. Special Love's flagship medical partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ensures every child can attend safely, no matter what their treatment looks like.
How to Enroll
Annual Timeline
- Registration opens: March 1
- Standard application deadline: June 15
- Camp: One week in August
Most kids are registered well ahead of the deadline, but the team typically has room through about July 1 each year, so if you're close to the timeline, reach out.
Upcoming Events
Stay tuned for announcements about next year's dates for Camp Fantastic. Be sure to create a CampSite account to receive notifications and announcements about this and other Special Love programs.
Enrollment Steps
- Create your CampSite account, or log in if you already have one.
- Complete your application online. You can save your progress and come back if you're missing anything.
- After your application is reviewed, you'll be invited to a medical screening call with Nurse Tammy (our lead medical coordinator from the NIH) to discuss your child's medical needs, dietary considerations, and any special accommodations.
- Once you're set, we'll confirm transportation and bus pickup locations.
Frequent Questions
Parent/Caregiver FAQs
Where do campers come from? Is there a geographic restriction?
Camp Fantastic primarily serves families from the broader DC, Maryland, and Virginia region, with bus pickup at multiple locations across the area. We also welcome campers who are treated at hospitals within the DMV but live in surrounding states like Delaware, West Virginia, southern Pennsylvania, or North Carolina. If you're outside our service area, we're connected with other camps across North America through the Children’s Oncology Camping Association and would be glad to point you toward a program closer to home.
Where is Camp Fantastic held, and how will my child get there?
The Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center is approx. 75 miles outside of Washington, DC in Front Royal, Virginia. Special Love provides busing to and from camp at no cost from multiple regional locations including Norfolk, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Bethesda, Baltimore, Staunton, and Front Royal.
How will I know my child is having a good time — and is okay?
Parents wonder this every year, and it's one of the things we've built the camp experience to address.
Camp Fantastic is intentionally an immersive, phone-free week for campers. Research and decades of practice show that kids settle into camp faster and have a better experience when they're not splitting their attention between camp and home. But that doesn't mean you're cut off. Parents have direct, ongoing access to our medical and program staff throughout the week, and we share photos regularly on our private Facebook page so you can see your child in the middle of everything.
If your child is struggling with homesickness, our counselors are trained to support them, and we'll let you know if there's something you need to be aware of.
All of this helps ensure that you're never out of touch while your child is enjoying their own adventure.
My child has significant physical or medical needs. Can they still attend?
In most cases, yes. We rate camper support needs from 1 to 5, with the most medically complex children paired with one-on-one counselors throughout the week. Our nurse's pre-camp screening call is where we figure out exactly what your child needs to have the best possible week.
What happens if my child has a medical event during camp?
Oncology doctors, nurses, and other clinical staff from the National Institutes of Health are on-site for the entire week. Your child continues receiving the medical care they need, with the same level of clinical oversight you'd expect from their home hospital (and often more day-to-day medical attention.)
Camper FAQs
What will I do all day?
A lot! Daily activities include camp classes like crafts, canoeing, and games, as well as recreational options like sports, swimming, and fishing. Evenings bring team competitions, scavenger hunts, and more. Almost every night ends with a campfire where campers and counselors gather for singing, laughing, and sharing the best moments of the day.
What should I bring?
We'll send a full packing list before camp arrives, covering the clothing you'll need, personal items, and a few handy extras you might not think of on your own.
Where will I sleep?
You'll stay in one of our lodges, in a room with other campers your age. Each room has bunkbeds, a private bathroom, and a sink, plus air conditioning and heat, so you're comfortable whatever the weather.
Can I bring my phone or other electronics?
We ask campers to keep phones and devices safely put away during the week (you're welcome to use your phone on the bus ride to and from camp). This keeps things from getting lost, and more importantly, it keeps you fully present for the friendships and adventures ahead. Trust us: the days are too full to miss.
What's the food like?
Camp Fantastic meals cover all the classics: hot dogs, hamburgers, pasta, chicken, French fries, and more. We even have ice cream! If you have dietary restrictions or food limitations, let us know when you register and we'll work with you to make sure you have plenty to eat.
What if I get homesick?
Missing home is completely normal, and our counselors are here for exactly that. If you're feeling homesick, just talk to your room counselor or any adult at camp. We'll help you through it.
What if I get bored?
We'd be surprised! Our days are packed, but if you need a breather from the action, there are spaces at camp for quiet activities, games, or even a movie. There's always something for everyone.