Ukandu Teen Retreat

Date

August 11, 2025 - August 16, 2025
(1 Week)

Location

Salmon River

Qualification

Teens who impacted by childhood or adolescent cancer, ages 14–20

General Information

Ukandu Teen Retreat

Teen Retreat is a week-long outdoor adventure for teens, 14 to 20, impacted by childhood or adolescent cancer. Like all other Ukandu programs, Teen Retreat is 100% free of charge.

Teen Retreat allows for a more deliberate exploration of the challenges and experiences facing teens impacted by childhood and adolescent cancer. Teens experience childhood and adolescent cancer in unique and different ways and this program is an opportunity for additional exploration of and contemplation of what life looks like as a teenage patient or survivor of cancer.

Community

Teen Retreat offers a unique community of teens and young adults who share similar life experiences.

Adventure

Teen Retreat offers unique and exciting outdoor experiences for our participants!

Empowerment

Teen Retreat empowers participants to work together, problem-solve, and embrace the "You Can Do!" spirit!

The Journey of Teen Retreat

Starting in the 90s, Teen Retreat was originally offered as a program within a program during Camp Ukandu, and was offered as a way to recognize the unique needs of adolescents impacted by cancer. Our teen campers have acted as role models to our younger campers from the beginning, and the Teen Retreat became a way for us to share our appreciation for their contribution to Camp Ukandu. Due to the response from those teens over the years, the Teen Retreat became its own unique program in 2009, providing a full weekend of activities and programming that catered to the specific emotional and developmental needs and wants of this age group. Reimagined again in 2017, the Teen Retreat now offers an extension of the “You Can Do!” mantra by presenting opportunities for additional exploration and contemplation of what life looks like as a teenage patient or survivor of cancer.

Get Involved

Join our community and make a difference!
There are several ways you can get involved and support our mission.

Three male volunteers with arms around each other

Become a Volunteer

Ukandu is, first and foremost, a volunteer-driven organization and relies on over 200 volunteers each year to make our year-round programs a reality.

Make a Donation

Ukandu programming is 100% free. We rely on donations from our generous community to make this happen - thank you for being a part of our impact!

Become A Sponsor

Ukandu’s partners and sponsors have a unique opportunity to make a lasting contribution to our year-round programs while gaining invaluable brand recognition for their organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to some frequently asked questions below. For any further questions please contact our Program Director, Robin Emerick.

In partnership with LEAP, Ukandu Teen Retreat takes participants white-water kayaking down the lower 55 miles of the Salmon River while camping on the river bank each night.
As long as their oncology team says it is okay for them to attend - we can make accommodations for all participants to have an amazing experience at the Teen Retreat.
LEAP, our partnering organization sets up camp each evening after we pull off the river and cooks dinner and breakfast at our camp. Lunch is “brown bag” style that we eat in the middle of the day when we pull off the river for a rest. There are a few sleeping options available: sleeping in a tent on top of a sleeping mat, or sleeping in your inflatable kayak under the open sky. The stars are an amazing bonus of sleeping in the kayak! Both options need a sleeping bag for warmth.