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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER
Bethlehem Catasauqua East Penn Northampton Northwestern Parkland Salisbury Whitehall-Coplay

PCFLV Campers ‘Round Up’ Summer Fun

Published August 08. 2023 01:09PM
by Ed Courrier Special to the Bethlehem Press

Camp Smile gave happy campers plenty to smile about at the annual event hosted by the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley at Muhlenberg College’s Moyer Hall. Held the week of June 19-23, the day camps provided local kids battling cancer and their siblings, along with children who have lost a sibling to cancer a chance to play games, work on arts and crafts, swim, and participate in theater. Attendees were aged 4 to 15.

“We have 30 campers. We have 24 counselors, and we have two camp nurses,” says PCFLV Program Coordinator and Camp Director Kris Buss. She mentions that several of the counselors are former campers.

While not a former camper, Riley Petronio has served as a Camp Smile counselor since 2018. The 2023 Parkland HS graduate is headed for West Virginia University to major in criminology.

“This year’s theme is the ‘Wild West,’” remarks Buss, with some of the daily activities reflecting the ‘Wild West’ theme. The children painted ceramic cactuses, created bandanna wreaths, and were visited by miniature horses and cows from the Mini Moos Petting Zoo, as well as having “Woody and Jessie” characters from “Toy Story” dropping by.

“It is a week where our PCFLV kids get to be just kids. They get to form bonds, have fun and make memories,” says PCFLV Marketing, Community Relations and Development Coordinator Tracy Stauffer. “And our staff is so proud of the fact that we are able to provide Camp Smile to our families for free.”

Funding for Camp Smile is provided by corporate sponsors, grants and donations.

The Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley provides free programming and services to local children with cancer and their families.

PCFLV is located at 2132 S. 12th St., Suite 401, Allentown. Information: 484-221-9294; pcflv.org.

Press photos by Ed Courrier PCFLV Program Coordinator and Camp Director Kris Buss stands with camper Annie by Camp Smile's craft tent June 22. Annie is a fourth grader at Parkway Manor ES.
Above: Flanked by campers in the theater class held inside Egner Memorial Chapel, is counselor Riley Petronio. From left are 13-year-olds Corbin and Kadyn, students at Eyer Middle School; Petronio, 15-year-old Parkland HS student Amina, and 12-year-old Julia from Lower Macungie MS. They and fellow theater campers are rehearsing “The Wild Western Treasure” an original play they wrote together.
McCoy has fun at the cornhole station. She is a second grader at Parkway Manor ES.
Lexi, soon a student at Springhouse MS, and her camp buddy Leslie, from Eyer MS, enjoy the balanced bean bag toss station at Camp Smile inside Moyer Hall.
Josie shows off the bandanna wreath she created as a “Wild West” craft project. Josie is a sixth grader at Eyer MS.