Everything you need to know

Children come to Barretstown from Ireland, the UK, the USA, and throughout Europe, diagnosed with a wide range of illnesses. Currently, up to 120 children attend each summer session. Family Camps welcome up to 22 families at a time.

We have medical criteria in place and if a camper/family meets these criteria, then they are eligible to attend Barretstown.

When a child/family applies to come to Barretstown, they receive a Physical Examination form to be completed. These forms are then forwarded to our Family Liaison Department who work with our Nursing Director to ensure each child fits our referral criteria. Once the forms are approved, the child/family receive an invitation to camp and additional paperwork to complete.

All our programmes are available free of charge, including flights from agreed locations. We rely on fundraising and volunteers to help us provide the Barretstown programme

At Barretstown, the safety and emotional and physical wellbeing of the children is our primary concern. We strive to ensure that they are protected, safe and comfortable at all times. Many measures and procedures have been put in place to ensure that we achieve this to the highest of standards.

Children who come to Barretstown are diagnosed with various forms of cancer and other serious illnesses.

During the summer our well-equipped medical centre is staffed by at least two paediatric doctors and four to six paediatric nurses. We attract some of the top paediatric medical professionals in the world, many of who return to Barretstown year after year. The team is supervised by the Nursing Director, and overseen by our Medical Director.

Upon arrival at Barretstown, each child visits the medical centre and meets with a member of the medical team. Medication prescribed to the child is recorded on a prescription sheet and the medication is stored in the medical centre, to be dispensed by our nurses at the appropriate times (usually at mealtimes or bedtime).

Our medical centre is affiliated with Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Dublin, which is only 30 minutes away. We adhere to the medical policies and protocols set by the hospital. Our medical team observes the medical regime advised by the child’s doctor.

Our Therapeutic Recreation programme includes a wide range of all-inclusive activities to appeal to campers on many levels. Each activity has a range of options allowing campers to choose their own level of participation, examples of activities include horse riding, arts and crafts, creative writing, canoeing, fishing, drama, music and lots more.

During the summer camps, activity groups during the day are mixed gender. In the evenings everyone gets together for special evening programmes such as carnival and cabaret.

During family camps there is a family challenge activity and also age appropriate activity groups.

The staff at Barretstown are called Caras, the Irish word for friend – and the name could not be more appropriate. The staff team is made up of multi-lingual Caras from all over the world who are chosen for their experience, empathy and energy. All Barretstown staff are selected through a strict recruitment process involving intensive group and individual interviews, reference and police checks before being offered a position at Barretstown. Staff receive intensive training in important aspects of childcare as well as areas such as safety, cultural awareness, reflective listening and the techniques of Therapeutic Recreation. With a ratio of at least one Cara to every two campers, the children are never far from a trained, skilled and understanding friend.

Our Therapeutic Recreation programme includes a wide range of all-inclusive activities to appeal to campers on many levels.  Each activity has a range of options allowing campers to choose their own level of participation, examples of activities include horse riding, arts and crafts, creative writing, canoeing, fishing, drama, music and lots more. Activity groups during the day are mixed gender. Children of similar age and same gender stay in comfortable, homely cottages and sleep in a dorm with fully accessible bathrooms facilities.  For meals children sit in their cottage group in our spacious dining hall and we have a wide range of healthy options available at every meal.   In the evenings everyone gets together for special evening programmes such as carnival and cabaret.

Absolutely! Safety always comes first at Barretstown. The physical, emotional and medical well-being of the children at Barretstown is our primary concern. Our medical centre is staffed 24 hours a day by doctors and nurses experienced in paediatric oncology and other specialities. All activity areas are carefully designed with accessibility and safety as the prime consideration.  Activities are supervised with a ratio of at least one cara for every two children, and each cara is fully trained in all aspects of safety.

All our programmes are available free of charge. We rely on fundraising and volunteers to help us provide the Barretstown programme.

Our summer programme runs from mid-June to late August, and we welcome children from all over Europe. We also run family camps in the spring and autumn.

The staff at Barretstown are called Cara’s’, the Irish word for friend, and the name could not be more appropriate. The staff team is made up of multi-lingual Caras from all over the world who are chosen for their experience, empathy and energy.  All Barretstown staff are selected through a strict recruitment process involving intensive group and individual interviews, reference and police checks before being offered a position at Barretstown.  Staff receive intensive training in important aspects of childcare as well as areas such as safety, cultural awareness, reflective listening and the techniques of Therapeutic Recreation. With a ratio of at least one Cara to every two campers, the children are never far from a trained, skilled and understanding friend.

Each child stays in a cottage with approximately seven other children / teens of their own age and gender. Usually two different nationalities will share a cottage.  There is a minimum of four staff members living in the cottage with the children, at least two of whom will be able to help with translation. Bed linen and towels are also provided, and we have complete laundry facilities available.   While there may be two families to a cottage the only communal area is the living area, families do not share sleeping areas or bathrooms.

Direct contact between children and parents is strongly discouraged while children are at camp, except in cases of emergency. This is in order to allow the child to settle and to adjust to the new environment. However, parents may contact Barretstown any time to speak with the Family Liaison team who will answer any questions and let a parent know how a child is progressing.

Therapeutic Recreation at Barretstown always revolves around FUN.  Children take part in activities with various levels of challenges and are encouraged to choose a challenge that fosters growth and development for them.   The focus is on cooperation, encouragement and peer support rather than competition.  Staff facilitate reflective opportunities during the day to help children realise their successes and make discoveries about their true potential for confidence, self-esteem, independence and friendship.Every step in the process is designed to be fun, and when children and families fully engage in each challenge they get the most from the experience.

We provide nutritious and child-friendly meals and snacks for the children, families and staff. Everybody eats together in the dining hall, and there is always a wide range of hot and cold food available. Please be sure to indicate specific dietary requirements on the application form. Families will eat together at meal times on family weekends.

As the programmes at Barretstown are residential, there is no need to bring money to camp.

During family camps only we will open our Barretstown merchandise shop where parents can purchase a Barretstown hoodie or other clothing items if they wish.

We have skilled and trained interpreters and chaperones from each country that we serve that speak fluent English and translate between staff and children throughout their stay.

After being accepted to Barretstown, each child/family is sent an invitation and an application form. This application form provides the information that we need to make your stay at camp as safe and as fun as possible. If your child has any special needs including mobility or other problems, please state this clearly on the application form, and we will make the necessary arrangements.

Our European Family Liaison Team works with our Barretstown contacts in each country to organise travel and other arrangements. In Summer each child travels to camp completely free of charge. Our policy requires that a minimum of two chaperones accompany every five children while travelling to summer camps.

If your child is travelling to camp from outside Ireland, a chaperone or our Liaison Co-ordinator will be in touch with you approximately 10 days before departure day. They will arrange to meet you at the airport about two hours before the flight departs. The chaperone will have the airline tickets and will take care of your child’s passport, if necessary, when travelling and while at camp.

On arrival at Dublin Airport, a Barretstown staff member will meet the children and their chaperones in the arrivals hall and will escort them to camp where a warm welcome awaits. It takes about an hour to reach Barretstown from Dublin Airport.

If your child is travelling to camp from within Ireland, we have pick-up points at the main children’s hospitals in Dublin. All details are enclosed with the application form, including a map, if you choose to drive your child to camp. Barretstown is not responsible for children that travel on public transport alone to a pick-up point.

The following is a check list of clothes and items necessary for our summer sessions. We recommend marking clothing and personal items with your name (this will make it easier to return any lost items).

• Your own medication
• Underwear
• Socks
• Nightwear
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Soap and shampoo
• Feminine hygiene products
• T-shirts
• Shorts
• Jeans/tracksuit/long pants
• 2 pairs of trainers/shoes
• Wellington boots/strong boots
• 1 raincoat and rain hat
• 1 warm jacket/coat
• Jumper/sweatshirt
• Hair dryer

For family weekends with younger children

• Baby food/formula
• Nappies

Barretstown will supply the following:

• Sheets, towels, pillows, all meals, snacks, night lights, cots, high chairs,
• There is a laundry facility if required.

Barretstown discourages campers from bringing low cut tops, short skirts, high heels or very loose fitting jeans as these are unsuitable for camp activities.

As the weather can be very varied we recommend that you bring appropriate clothing for cold and rainy weather.

Please adhere to weight restrictions on luggage as Barretstown is not responsible for any payment required with overweight luggage.

Money: As the programmes at Barretstown are residential, there is no need to bring money to camp.

During family camps only we will open our Barretstown merchandise shop where parents can purchase a Barretstown hoodie or other clothing items if they wish.

Valuables: We recommend children and families do not bring valuables to camp. Radios and I-pods are available at camp if children or families require music.

Swimwear: Swimwear is not required as there is no swimming facility.

Examples of items not permitted at camp

• Electronic Games
• Laptops
• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs
• Cigarettes (during family camps we have a designated smoking area for adults)
• Knives/sharp tools or weapons of any type
• Pets

Mobile phones will be collected upon arrival at summer camp and placed in a holding place until departure day. This is to ensure the privacy of all campers is respected. Barretstown Does Not Accept Responsibility for Items Lost or Stolen at Camp.

From time to time some camper belongings may get left behind after a visit to camp. We will try to the best of our ability to ensure that each camper returns home with the same items of clothing and personal property they arrived with. In the event of belongings being left behind the following steps are taken;

If a valuable item has been left behind eg a wallet/purse, mobile phone, camera, glasses, keys medication etc. all efforts will be made to contact the family immediately and arrange postage or collection of the item/items in question

Other miscellaneous items such as jumpers, scarfs, runners, coats, water bottles, books/notebooks etc. will be identified, tagged and stored onsite. If your child has forgotten something please contact us at familyliaisondepartment@barretstsown.org and we can arrange delivery however for items of the variety listed above Barretstown will not cover the postage/delivery costs.

All items of lost property will be stored until the end of the camp season. If the items have not been claimed by then, we will look to donate them to a worthy cause or have them removed off site.

Barretstown does not take responsibility for loss or damage to any items if brought to camp.

Childhood Cancer

Haematology related disease

Immunodeficiency related disease

(Ireland only)

• Nephrology
• Rheumatology
• Dermatology
• Gastroenterology
• Neurology
• Endocrinology

There is a fully equipped medical facility on site staffed by paediatric specialists.

Our medical team observes the medical regime advised by the child’s doctor.. Our medical centre is affiliated with Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Dublin, which is only 40 minutes away. We adhere to all medical polices and protocols in place on their haematology/oncology ward.

Upon arrival at Barretstown each child visits the medical centre and meets with a member of the medical team. The nursing staff will check- in the children who are not receiving any treatment. Children requiring treatment while on site are seen by one of the volunteer doctors along with a nurse. The camper’s medication are transcribed onto the Barretstown Medication Administration Record and signed by the doctor.

The medication is stored in the medical centre, to be dispensed by our nurses at the appropriate times (usually at mealtimes or bedtime). Children on treatment are required to bring their own medication in the original container and any equipment required for special medical care.

The Barretstown’s medical centre, the “Med Shed”, is under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager, Senior Nurse and Medical Director. Volunteer doctors and nurses from Spain, England, Hungary and many other countries join the Clinical Nurse Manager and Senior Nurse for each session during the summer. The sessions are staffed with two doctors (one of whom is always a Paediatric Oncologist) and three to four paediatric nurses.

It is imperative the information we receive on the medical form is accurate and legible as this is the information our medical team works from. The more information we receive the better prepared we are to ensure the children have a safe and enjoyable experience at camp.

The Medical Centre contains many of the necessary medical supplies required for your care. However you are responsible for providing your own medication.

If there have been changes in medication or treatment please fill in the ‘Arrival Day Update’ sheet which you will have received with your application form, and bring it with you to camp. When the children are checked-in through the medical centre all medical forms including the arrival update sheet will be reviewed.