History of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Camp Bluebird

Our camp is part of a national organization chartered by St. Vincent's Foundation of Alabama, Inc. for adult cancer patients.  Camps are hosted by regional hospitals across the United States.  For example, there are four camps located in Mississippi alone; one in Tupelo, sponsored by North Mississippi Medical Center, one in Jackson, sponsored by St. Dominic's Hospital, one in Hattiesburg, sponsored by Forrest General Hospital, and our camp, sponsored by Singing River Health System.

Our spring 2001 camp marked the beginning of our eleventh year of sponsorship.  Our first Camp Bluebird was held at the Methodist Seashore Assembly in Harrison County, in the spring of 1991.  It was attended by 16 Campers.  We quickly outgrew that facility and moved to the Harrison County Farm, northwest of Gulfport, a year later.  We recently moved to our current location, the Gulf Coast Research Lab, in Ocean Springs, and now host from 45 to 65 campers each camp, in a wonderful college campus environment.

Camp Bluebird is held twice a year in the spring and fall.  Camps are two and a half days in length and so, require sleeping accommodations, on the site, for the participants and volunteers.  Dormitory facilities on the campus allow us to sleep over 100 campers, counselors and support staff.  We are also fortunate to have the use of a fine kitchen and cafeteria, and are able to reduce our costs by preparing all of our own meals.  We cook and serve an average of 840 hot meals each camp, all prepared by our volunteer staff!

Our Gulf Coast Camp is the only one we are aware of which does not require participants to pay an entry fee.  Many of our campers are in treatment programs or taking medication which are both very expensive and not fully covered by their insurance plans.