Summer Camps
Bringing Fun to Kids With Special Needs
UPDATED FOR 2026!
Summer brings challenges to parents of children with medical conditions as they look for a summer camp that can safely accommodate their child. East Tennessee Children's Hospital realizes the importance of a summer camp experience for all children, so we have camps to provide fun-filled days for children with specific medical conditions.
Be sure to check our events calendar to find out when our camps will be held each summer and how you can register.
Camp Cure Donald M. Gally Summer Camp Camp Eagle's Nest
Camp Cure
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Camp Cure provides a safe and fun environment for children K-8th grade with diabetes. Campers enjoy arts and crafts, swimming and sports led by Children's Hospital specialists and camp staff.
We help them:
- Manage their diabetes.
- Deal with how they feel about their diabetes.
- Learn about their diabetes.
Campers are divided into groups based on their grade in school and overall maturity. Each group is closely supervised by adults and specially trained nursing staff.
2026 Camp Dates
Hours:
- Monday–Friday: 8:15am – 3:00pm
For more information, contact us at campcure@etch.com
Location
Kiwanis Club Fresh Air Camp
2400 Prosser Rd
Knoxville, TN 37914
Registration
Register Online beginning April 1, 2026
Donald M. Gally Summer Camp
The Donald M. Gally Summer Camp is a day camp for children with special needs ranging from 5-14 years of age. Qualifications for camp include a diagnosis that allows for 504 or IEP eligibility in their school setting. Campers enjoy activities such as circle time songs and games, arts and crafts, swimming, and outdoor recreational games directed by East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Staff, Nursing, and Volunteers.
2026 Camp Dates
- Week 1 (Ages 5-9) - June 15th - 19th, 2026
- Week 2 (Ages 10-14) - June 22nd - 26th, 2026
Hours:
- Monday–Thursday: 8:30am – 3:00pm
- Friday: 8:30am - 12:30pm
For More Information, contact us at DMGCamp@etch.com
Location
Kiwanis Club Fresh Air Camp
2400 Prosser Rd
Knoxville, TN 37914
Registration
Register Online beginning May 1, 2026
Camp Eagle's Nest
Camp Eagle's Nest is home for patients from the Children's Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic. Camp Eagle's Nest offers campers plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors. Campers also get a chance to interact with their camp counselors, who are nurses and other clinical staff from Children's Hospital. Camp Eagle's Nest is free for patients, thanks to financial and in-kind contributions to the camp and funding from Children's Hospital. For more information about Camp Eagle's Nest, call (865) 541-8519 or email Anna Taylor at ataylor@etch.com.
2026 Camp Dates
- Campers ages 6-17: July 19th - July 22nd, 2026
Location
Montvale Springs
4901 Montvale Rd.
Maryville, TN 37803
Register Online
Register Online beginning June 1, 2026
To support these camps, contact the Children's Hospital Development Department at 865-541-8162.
