Our Programmes
Barretstown adopts a holistic approach to its programme recognising the impact of serious illness on the entire family, therefore we run sessions for siblings, for the whole family and bereavement programmes.
Excellent, unobtrusive medical supervision helps children with cancer and other diseases forget illness, learn to have fun and rebuild their confidence and self-esteem. Our programmes take place at a fairytale castle in the beautiful foothills of Ireland’s Wicklow Mountains. Barretstown is much more than a holiday, our summer camps for children, and our spring and autumn weekend camps for families, are carefully-directed psychosocial support programmes of Therapeutic Recreation.
Family Camps
Family weekends offer families a supportive environment within which they can spend quality time together, supported by a medical team on site. The family weekend camps take place during Spring and Autumn. These weekends are for families that have a child or young adult aged infant to 17 suffering from one of the illnesses that we cover. Our Family Camps are open to Irish, UK and Spanish families.
Summer Children’s Camp
The Summer Children’s Camp is a specially designed programme where children with a serious illness can attend, have some fun and meet other children from all over Europe. Parents do not participate in the Summer camps, the children come to Barretstown on their own and are very well cared for by our specially trained camp staff.
The Children’s Camp is an 8 day camp for children age 7-17, who are currently or have in the past suffered from a serious illness. These camps take place in June, July and August. Places are offered to Irish, UK, German, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Italian, Swedish, Hungarian and Belarussian children.
Summer Young Adult Camp
These are 8-10 days camps for young adults aged 14-17 who are currently or have in the past suffered from a serious illness. These camps take place Between June and August and are open to Irish, UK, German, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Italian, Swedish, Hungarian, Belarussian, Danish, Cypriot and American young adults.
Summer Sibling Camps
The sibling programme is an 8 day camp for siblings (aged 7 to 14) who have a brother or sister (aged infant to 17) who are currently being treated for, or recovering from, a serious illness. The Sibling Programme take place mid Summer and is open to Irish, UK, German, Spanish and Greek children.
Brothers & Sisters Camp
The Brothers and Sisters Camp gives patient children and their siblings the opportunity to attend Barretstown together for a weekend camp. This camp takes place in Autumn and the age criteria is 7 – 14. There is no limit as to how many children within a family can attend provided they are all within the age criteria. This camp is currently available to Irish children.
Bereavement Family Camp
Bereavement weekends offer support to families when their child (aged infant to 17) dies from a serious illness. Within a sensitive and caring environment families can meet others who have suffered a similar loss, share their experiences and find ways to look to the journey ahead. The camp staff are specially trained to offer the necessary guidance and support to these families.
The Bereavement weekends take place in Spring and Autumn and are for immediate family members. A minimum of 20 families will attend each weekend and families can come to 3 weekends over the duration of 18 months. Bereavement weekends are open to Irish and UK families.
Hospital Outreach Programme
We currently run a Therapeutic Recreational Hospital Outreach Programme in Alder Hey chlidren’s Hospital, Liverpool, UK. This programme introduces the benefits of camp within the hospital to children and young adults that many not be able to attend our camp in Ireland.
