On Thursday, April 4th, Camp Happy Days supporters came to The Alley to kick-off the 4th Annual Charleston Bed Race with a pre-party and bowl-a-thon hosted by a group of College of Charleston students. Patrons of the event enjoyed libations and food at The Alley,participated in the bowl-a-thon and took part in the raffle with prizes from local businesses such as Charleston Culinary Tours, Triangle Char and Bar, Yobe Yogurt and more. We had a great time at this fun event, and raised over $1,000.00 for the 4th Annual Charleston Bed Race to support CHD’s year-round programs. A big thank you to The Alley, the College of Charleston students and everyone who came out to the fun event!

Hop in bed and roll down to Mary Murray Boulevardin HamptonParkon Sunday, April 14^th and enjoy a bit of bedlam at the 4^th Annual Charleston Bed.  At approximately 1:00 pm the race will commence with each team of 5 presenting their decorated beds in a grand parade before the judges and spectators.  The winning races are determined by the teams’ race time and will be judged in heats of two beds completing a distance of approximately two city blocks.  The fun continues until we have a Bed Race Champion, who will rein for a year.

The entry fee is $125.00 per bed and beds will be judged on the Fastest, Slowest, Best Decorated, Most Outrageously Decorated, and the “What Were you Thinking?” awards.  The Peoples Choice award is everyone’s all time favorite.  For $1.00 a vote you can help your team win The People’s Choice award. We will have a leader board with weekly updates on Facebook, Twitter and website of who is the top seller! Last year the Baker Motor team rose over $1,500 to win the People’s Choice award.

The Beer garden will open at 12:30 with an assortment of food by Iron Chef Catering. Food, beer and wine will be available for purchase throughout the day and all proceeds will benefit Camp Happy Days.

Last year 1,100 plus people attended and the organization raised over $16,000. We estimate over 1500 attendees this year and from the sponsorships and registrations to date we hope to raise over $25,000, says Eleanor Smythe, Executive Director of Camp Happy Days.  All programs are cost free to the 587 children we serve and we are challenged to raise 100% of these funds.

For more information visit charlestonbedrace.com, eventbrite.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter!

The Alphabet Society consists of our top benefactors, supporters and volunteers. We want to recognize these donors annually for their time, talent, and gifts and for helping us continue our mission.

For over 30 years Camp Happy Days has offered support and encouragement to over 350 children diagnosed with cancer and their families through out South Carolina. Our creative programs bring hope, joy, laughter and a bit of fun to a child who is going through a painful and difficult time.

We met at Ripley Light Marina around 9:30 where the boats and members of the SCSSA were ready and waiting to take us out to sea! After a short morning cruise, we headed to the St. James Yacht Club where everyone had a great time playing in the pool and taking turns going tubing. Good thing Jamie and his great staff were there with a delicious lunch, because our Camp Happy Days families and volunteers worked up quite an appetite! Around 1:30 we re-boarded the boats and took off for a harbor cruise around Charleston, what a beautiful day we had!

(Had to include a few shots of Charleston!)

Once we arrived back at Ripley Light Marina we had a new friend waiting on us…a manatee! A few of the children were able to pet him and gave him a cool drink of fresh water, his favorite activity according to some of the guys at the marina!

Special thanks to our friends at the Ripley Light Marina, the South Carolina Saltwater Sportfishing Association and of course our families and volunteers! Can’t wait until next year

Boy did we have fun on the Derby & Donuts themed day! While most of the counselors and campers enjoyed sleeping in a bit this morning, some were able to make it up for the 6:30 am activities planned!

After a filling breakfast in the dining hall, everyone put on their Camp 2012 t-shirts and came together on the Team Building Field for the Camp Picture and the Balloon Cermony. What an amazing sight this was! Each camper, counselor and volunteer at camp was given a red, yellow or blue balloon, and everyone was encouraged to write a personal message on their balloon to reflect what they were feeling during this special time. A few words were spoken by the Camp Happy Days’ Programs Director, Teresa Bishop, followed by a moment of silence to remember those who were no longer with us and then the balloons were released in celebration of all who contine to fight this disease. The balloons symbolize hope for finding a cure for cancer, courage to battle this illness and the spirit to overcome it. This was a truely amazing time at camp.

After releasing balloons, the campers and counselors enjoyed a surprise…4 sky divers! Campers enjoyed having their pictures taken, trying on the sky divers gear and just visiting with them after the balloon cermony.

Camp Happy Days also held a Renaissance Remberance Cermony, an optional event open to anyone who has lost a sibling, parent, relative or friend to cancer.

This morning was also the last chance to enjoy the program areas before they closed! Many campers could be found at the Waterfront in the canoes and kayaks or in line to be “blobbed” one last time.

After lunch and happy nappy it was time for the Happy Days 500 Derby Car Championship! Campers had been working on their derby cars all week in the Woodworking area and were ready to race!  As everyone settled into the RF Building, the Krispy Kreme team finished setting up and the donuts were ready to serve! The race began in heats that were arragned by age group, and boy was it exciting! While cheering on the races, people lined up to get their delicious donut, complete with the chocolate glaze and red, white and blue sprinkles…YUM!

The day wasn’t over yet, after dinner it was time for the campers to take Center Stage for the Talent Show! The Doodlebugs kicked off the show with a reading of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and after all the Doodlebugs finished the reading, one of their counselors surprised us all by cutting her hair on stage to donate for Locks for Love! After that campers were ready to show off their talents! We had everything from magic tricks, campers telling jokes, singing, dancing and some campers even showed off their awesome art work…it was a fun time for all!

While some of camp hit the hay, our teen campers met in the RF Center for the Teen Lock-In! What a night with pizza, candy, movies, games, music and even a trust walk into the woods…we know our teens had a wonderful last night at camp!

A HUGE thank you to all of our sponsors, vendors and especially our amazing volunteers who made this week so special for our Camp Happy Days campers…we could not have done any of this without your time, energy and love for these awesome kids! Can’t wait for next year!

And be sure to keep checking in with the blog to stay caught up with all of the Camp Happy Days’ programs, events and exciting news we have going on!

We started the day early with yoga and fishing followed by breakfast and then the program areas opened! Today was the last day that the front side of the Climbing Wall would be open, so many of our campers could be found giving the 35ft wall one last go! The Doodlebugs did a great job conquering the wall, and even Camp Happy Days’ Executive Director, Eleanor Smythe, took a turn climbing!

In addition to the regular program areas, we also Sporting Clay Shooting! Skilled marksmen who are certified in teaching youth firearms were available throughout the day for our campers to learn how to shoot targets laid out on a course. Everyone had a great time!

After lunch and happy nappy many of our campers could be found near the Waterfront, staying cool on this warm July day. As usual there was swimming, tubing and the blob open, and we also had kayaking and canoes by Canoes for Kids available.

But, let’s not forget what the theme of the afternoon was “It’s a Bling Thing”…most of our female campers could be found in Rast Hall enjoy the Glitz-N-Glamour Day Spa! Professional stylists and professional make-up artists came to pamper and primp our girls (and some of the guys) to get them looking even better for the “Diamonds are Forever” Prom later that night! They got their hair and make-up and even their nails done in the day spa…and everything looked amazing at Prom!

Special thanks to our Glitz-N-Glamour Day Spa Sponsors!

Arriving in style to prom in limos, everyone had a blast dancing the night away to the Tiffany’s themed dance, complete with those signature baby blue boxes and white ribbons…it was quite a sight!

With the final day of camp in it’s full swing…stay turned for updates about “Derby & Donuts”…lot’s going on with the Balloon Celebration, Happy Days 500 Derby Car Championship, Talent Show and Teen Lock-In!

With all of the usual program areas closed for the morning, all of camp came together for the “Rodeo Round-Up” on the Team Building Field. There were so many different activities for campers and counselors to take part in, everything from a Jump Castle to a country music concert! Under the big tent we had a mechanical bull, because what is a rodeo without some bull riding? That wasn’t all of the “country” activities we had planned, the Manchester Trail Riders brought horses where campers could enjoy a nice ride around the field with some real cowboys! Our friends from the Lake Marion Archery Club joined us to teach about the history of the bow and arrow, demonstrate how to properly shoot a bow, and even set up a target area for campers to test their skills! When the campers needed a break from all the activities, they enjoyed some yummy boiled peanuts from the one and only SCE&G “Peanut Gang!”

After a much needed Happy Nappy, the program areas re-opened, and campers could take a ride on a boat, make something in Glaze-N-Blaze or work on their Derby Cars for the Pinewood Derby 500 Championship on Friday. The 14-16 year-olds could be found giving the Ropes Course a try!

The Doodlebugs enjoy S’mores after dinner, and then it was time for Team Building “Patriot Games!” This was a great time for all of the teams take part in some friendly competition! There were four different stations where teams raced against one another doing anything from a slip-n-slide to searching for a ball in a haystack! Everyone had a great time!

What would the 4th of July be without Fireworks? Camp Happy Days’ does not disappoint when it comes to firework show…it was amazing! Campers settled in with ice cream provided by Carvel and some popcorn from Tofts Original Kettle Korn to watch the awesome firework show on the field.

You don’t want to miss the post about Day 5…Sugar & Spice Sweet Shop in the morning and then…It’s a Bling Thing Jewelry Shop for PROM!!!

Many of the CHD campers choose to channel their inner artist and create Tie-Dye master pieces in the picnic table area. What better way to remember Camp 2012 than with a funky t-shirt or pillow case!

Our Doodlebug’s had a special lunch planned to go along with the music theme…a Rock Star Luncheon! Our youngest campers created their own “Hollywood Walk of Fame” by painting their hands to make their celebrity stars. They also had karaoke complete with blow-up guitars, microphones and of course lots of dancing.

The 12-13 year olds could be found on the Ropes Course, taking on the different obstacles the low and high courses have to offer!

The hot afternoon was a perfect time for playing on the Waterfront or taking a break from the heat all together in one of the inside program areas.  But not everyone wanted to beat the heat, we had a special visit on the CHD Campgrounds, the Charleston Battery Soccer players! THe players came out for a soccer clinic and a scrimmage…and made time to sign some autographs and take lots of pictures with our talented campers.

But the highlight of the day had to be the 80′s “You Break-Dance It, You Bought It” Dance! Campers and counselors did a great job dressing up in 80′s attire!. We had everything from the ever so popular parachute pants to neon colored workout gear…and don’t forget the side pony tails! Our one and only “DJ Tiny” played lots of hits from the 80′s and even mixed some current Top Hits into the playlist, some campers even rocked the runway to Madonna’s “Vogue”.

After the dance two of the CHD counselor’s hosted a “Midnight Madness” for our Red & Aqua Teams! We had so much fun putting on our glow sticks, decorating t-shirts that would glow under the black light and playing lots of games! Did we mention the glow in the dark bubbles?!

Special thanks to Zach, one of our photographers, who let us use his pictures today!

Make sure to check back tomorrow to see how we celebrated America’s Birthday…Camp Happy Days’ style!

The dining hall was decorated for breakfast, matching the theme of the “Pet Emporium” with fun circus balloons and animal center pieces…and after breakfast the campers were off to start the first full-day of camp!

We had all sorts of furry visitors on the Campgrounds! Therapy dogs could be spotted all over wagging their tails in excitement ready to greet any camper that came their way. Over by the Climbing Wall, there were some friendly ponies ready to visit when campers needed a break from the 35 ft climb. Melvin the baby giraffe, from the Eudora Farms Petting Zoo, was an exciting addition to the big tent. Boy did the campers and even the counselors have a blast feeding him carrots throughout the day.

Our campers even learned some new things about the surrounding wildlife today! Sean, from the Savannah River Ecology Lab, held an “eco-talk” presentation using live amphibians, reptiles and mammals that are native to the South Carolina area….everything from snakes and lizards to a baby coyote! Campers also were able to get to know some of the creatures living in Lake Marion from Jim, a marine biologist, who threw a 35-foot seine net into the lake (with the help of some of our brave campers) and taught the campers about the marine life they caught…and of course released.

After lunch and happy nappy, campers were given a cool treat on this hot day at Milkshake Mania at the Water – strawberry, chocolate or vanilla…how did they choose?! Some new friends joined us for the afternoon and put on a great show. Three Dock Dogs thrilled the campers with their exciting jumps and tricks on and off the dock…wow could they jump far!

During the day the girls could began preparations for prom on Thursday, with a trip to Glitz-N-Glamour to pick out a prom dress. Campers also enjoyed tubing, swimming in the lake and parasailing!

After a fun “eat with your hands dinner” our Doodlebugs got cozy for an early movie while the rest of the camp had some fun with their first Team Building activity, the Scavenger Hunt! The teams had a great time figuring out all of the clues and racing from each location to get their team picture taken…time will only tell what Team is in the lead! Once the sunset on Marion Lake, it was time for an outdoor screening of Jurassic Park, and then off to bed.

Stay tuned for updates from“Pump Up the Volume: Music, Movies & More” on Day 3…

Our campers arrived full of energy yesterday for a week of fun at the “Camp Happy Days Mall – Where Our Campers Are the Center Of It All!” After checking in and meeting their counselors, the CHD campers were all set to sign-up for different program areas including Parasailing, Arts-N-Crafts, Climbing Wall, Fishing, Stitch-N-Time and the Kickin’ Chicken…just to name a few.

Everyone at camp enjoyed a delicious picnic provided by our wonderful friends at The Shriner Club and later took trips down to the Waterfront to take their swim tests, or just cheer on their fellow campers.

After settling in, everyone came together at the Dining Hall for the “Grand Opening” Celebration to kick-off Camp with a ribbon-cutting ceremony! The CHD crew also had a surprise planned for our very own Jamie Westendorff, where he was presented with a GIANT picture from last year at camp, complete with signed messages from our Campers…and of course the honorary Key to Camp Bob Cooper! The new campers were able to learn the blessing and join in on some pre-dinner songs! Campers better be careful about having their elbows on the table while eating, otherwise they might be making a circle (or 2) around the dining room table while their fellow campers and counselors sing a friendly reminder!

After dinner there was a bit of excitement as a huge storm blew through, although the Team Scavenger Hunt had to be post-ponded to a later date, everyone enjoyed awesome the lightning show (from a save spot inside)! The weather didn’t slow us down for long though, after the lightning and rain finally came to an end, the campers came together in the RF Center for the “Happy Days 50′s Sock Hop Dance” and did they have fun! Our Special Events did an amazing job of transforming the plain space into a authentic 50′s Diner complete with a visit from the one and only…Elvis!

Stay tuned for updates from Monday’s “Fins, Feathers & Fur Pet Emporium”…we’ve already had some very special guests join us today!