Saturday, April 19, the main entrance will be closed for gate repair.  To enter the campus, please use the south gate entrance (nearest to Stirling Road).  

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Sunrise South Florida Programs

Bringing Joy to Kids With Cancer

Who We Are

Sunrise South Florida programs, a David Posnack JCC Signature Program, is a proud member of the Sunrise Association, whose mission is to bring back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings worldwide. Sunrise accomplishes this through the creation and oversight of welcoming, inclusive day camps, year-round programs and in-hospital recreational activities, all offered FREE of charge. This mission is accomplished through these initiatives:

  •  Sunrise on Wheels
  •  Sunrise Day Camp

Sunrise on Wheels, our in-hospital year-round program at two partner hospitals, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital & Nicklaus Children's Hospital, began in October 2023, is a year-round initiative. Trained DPJCC personnel visit Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital three times a week and Nicklaus Children's Hospital once a week each equipped with a rainbow trunk brimming with toys, games, and activities, to transform what could be a difficult day into one full of fun and laughter. Thank you to our two current trunk sponsors: Joe DiMaggio-Beverly S. Bachrach and Nicklaus-Ronald McDonald House South Florida.

Camp Dates:
June 11-July 18, 2025

Sunrise Day Camp- South Florida offers a FREE summer day camp for children with cancer and their siblings providing a safe, fun and supportive environment. The camp offers a range of activities, from arts and crafts to sports and swimming, ensuring every child enjoys their summer to the fullest.  Sunrise accepts campers ages 3 1/2 - 16 years old, who are in active treatment for cancer or have been treated within the past five years, and the sibling(s) of a child who meets this criteria.

 Camper Registration                                      Job Application

Sunrise Day Camp-South Florida offers FREE winter and spring break camps for children with cancer and their siblings.  Sunrise accepts campers ages 5 - 16 years old, who are on active treatment for cancer or have been treated within the past five years, and the sibling(s) of a child who meets this criteria.   

 Are you interested in becoming a corporate sponsor?

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP

CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUNRISE DAY CAMP-SOUTH FLORIDA  

Sunrise programs are provided, in part,
by a grants from: 

AND

If you are interested in more information about our camps, check out our FAQs. 

 

Do you have medical staff at camp?

Each Sunrise Day Camp has a private, air-conditioned Wellness Center.  Each camp is supported by a medical director, on-site pediatric oncology nurses and physicians on call.  Most medications can be easily administered and ample indoor areas are provided for children to just "cool down." In the unlikely event of an emergency during the camp day, rapid transportation by ambulance is provided. 

 Why do you include siblings?

It has been our mission from the start to always include the sick child as well as their siblings. We understand the toll a diagnosis brings to a family, and siblings are part of it. Siblings are often not allowed to play with other children for fear of bringing home germs, nor are they allowed to be free with friends and escape the constant worry often found in a home with a chronically ill child.  There is also the financial strain and often the sibling can’t go to after-school activities because money is tight.

Are all of your programs run free of charge?

Yes, we provide all of our summer, vacation, year-round and hospital programs completely free of charge to all of our families. While the physical and mental effects of cancer are hard to ignore, we recognize the financial impact and frequent financial hardships this disease has on families. We want to ease the financial stress fighting this disease has on families. 

Where are your camps located?

The Sunrise Association currently has 12 in-person camps and one virtual camp:
Aurora Day Camp- Atlanta, GA
Horizon Day Camp-Baltimore, MD
Horizon Day Camp-Metro DC|VA|MD
Sunrise Day Camp-Chicago
Sunrise Day Camp-South Florida
Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island
Sunrise Day Camp-Pearl River
Sunrise Day Camp-Greater Philadelphia
Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island
Sunrise Israel-Be-er Sheva
Sunrise Israel-Beit Yehoshuah
Sunrise Israel-Ramot Yachanon
SunriseVX

Must my child attend camp to participate in the Wheels program?

Any children who are present at the hospital during our Wheels program may participate.

What is the camper-to-counselor ratio?

We have a 4:1 ratio.  We also offer 1:1 support as needed.

Can you tell me about your hospital program?

Our hospital program, Sunrise on Wheels is an innovative program that provides a day filled with Sunrise fun to children awaiting treatment in pediatric oncology units of participating hospitals. Volunteers wheel a rainbow trunk bursting with toys, games, and activities right into many of our affiliated hospitals and change what could have been a bleak and depressing day into a day of camp fun! Year-round programs keep the fun going throughout the year because our kids love camp so much that we just had to extend the fun beyond the summer.

Who are your camp staff?

Sunrise Day Camps are staffed by counselors, specialists, assistants, and volunteers, ages 16+ specially trained prior to the camp’s opening. Our camps’ on-site Directors have extensive experience with children and camping, and our staff-to-camper ratio often exceeds 1:4, assuring that every need of our campers are accommodated. All of our staff comes from many different backgrounds, with one common goal: to make their time with our children the happiest it can be. After their experience at our camps, many of our counselors choose a new or decide to change their career goals to health-related fields.

Do you provide transportation?

Sunrise Day Camps are within driving distance of its local communities and surrounding areas. We encourage parents to drive their children to and from camp, in order to keep them in the most comfortable environment. We do offer bus transportation should personal transport not be possible.

How long is the camp season?

Sunrise Day Camps are during school breaks from approximately 9:30AM–3:45PM. Please check with your individual camp for start and end dates as these vary by location. We have a flexible attendance policy and campers may sign up for any or all days the program is offered depending on their schedule, and special accommodations can easily be made depending on when a child is able to attend. 
At Sunrise, we recognize that children may not be able to attend camp every day, and so our program is designed to assure that no one “misses out” because of an absence. To accommodate working parents, extended hours are available from about 7:30AM to as late as 6:00PM. 

What type of food is served?

One of the great advantages of day camps is that children can bring their own yummy lunches from home, so they never have to wonder about what’s on the menu for that day (of course, we’ll refrigerate it). But that’s all they need to bring, since we provide several snacks during the day as well as juice and other drinks whenever needed. Need something special? No problem! Just let us know and we’ll get it. In our commitment to provide a safe environment for all children, our camps are nut-aware facilities, meaning that we will not knowingly serve any foods with nuts and we request that all parents do the same.

How can I get involved to help Sunrise?

There are so many different ways that you can help and give back.  We need volunteers, committee members, sponsors and so much more.  Click here for more information.

Or, contact:
JACKIE BORENSTEIN
Sunrise South Florida Programs 
Senior Coordinator
954.434.0499, ext. 1103
jborenstein@dpjcc.org

DOUG PENNINGTON
Ambassador of Fun
954.434.0499, ext. 1107
cpennington@dpjcc.org