above: (left) Counselor Grace and a camper share a colorful moment of joy during a themed activity. (right) Siblings make a splash enjoying free swim at Camp AmeriKids.
While parents across the country are busy labeling water bottles and tucking flashlights into duffel bags, hoping their kids come back with lifelong memories (and not too many mosquito bites), a quieter kind of preparation is happening at 88 Hamilton Avenue in Stamford. Inside the modest headquarters of The ELM Project (@theelmproject), a team is gearing up for a different kind of summer camp—one that doesn’t just promise adventure and bunk bed friendships, but a rare and necessary sanctuary for children living with chronic illness.
Each summer, The ELM Project welcomes more than a hundred children affected by sickle cell disease and their siblings to Camp AmeriKids, in the green hills of Monticello, New York. It’s a free, week-long program, but what it offers can’t be measured in days or dollars. At Camp AmeriKids, children who spend much of the year in hospitals or managing complex medical needs get the rare opportunity to simply be kids. They hike, swim, sing around campfires and laugh until their stomachs hurt—not because someone made them take medicine, but because someone made a great joke during talent show night.
“For the kids, camp gives them the opportunity to get away from their normal lives for one full week and enjoy all the benefits that summer camp has to offer—swim, boating, arts and crafts, music, dance, spoken word poetry, drama, archery and more,” says Executive Director Chloe Ettari. “All the while, under supervision of 15 or more medical professionals dedicated to ensuring the overall health and well-being of everyone on-site. Guardians can rest assured knowing that their children are well taken care of during their time with The ELM Project.”
Ettari’s connection to camp began in 2009, when she first volunteered as a college student. “That first summer completely changed my life,” she says. “I personally began volunteering in 2009 and stepped into the role of Executive Director in 2018. This summer will be my 15th year working at Camp AmeriKids!” That first summer turned into a calling, and today she leads the organization, which has evolved far beyond its original scope.
The ELM Project began in 1995 as a camp focused on youth living with HIV/AIDS. When its parent organization, Americares, discontinued the program in 2009, a core group of volunteers and donors wouldn’t let it close. They founded The ELM Project as an independent nonprofit and expanded the mission in 2011 to serve children living with or impacted by sickle cell disease.
“Honestly, I just wish more people even knew what sickle cell disease (SCD) was,” Ettari says. “Fortunately, it is gaining a lot more media coverage due to the incredible medical advances toward finding a cure…but we still have a long way to go. These cures are a big step in the right direction, but they are not yet widely accessible.”
She continues, “Our campers with sickle cell disease are absolute warriors. Many people living with SCD experience what is called a pain crisis, which results in pain and other complications. These pain crises are awful, and many people with SCD end up in the hospital because of this, sometimes for days or weeks at a time. This is extremely disruptive for attending school and other extracurricular activities, as well as for going to work and taking care of your own family.”
But at Camp AmeriKids, these children and teens aren’t defined by their diagnosis—they’re known as brave, hilarious, creative, loud, kind and strong. They’re known by name.
“There are so many moments like this, and they happen every day at Camp AmeriKids,” says Ettari. “Whether it be a camper passing their swim test or facing a fear by climbing up the wall to zipline across the lake, or even reading their poem aloud during mealtime for all of camp to hear. Our campers are constantly being challenged and encouraged each day to try new things, step outside their comfort zones a little, and support their peers. Camp AmeriKids is more than just a community of people—we are a family.”
That sense of belonging doesn’t disappear once the buses head home. Through ELM’s year-round Encourage, Lead and Mentor (ELM) programming, teens and young adults stay connected via monthly workshops and leadership training. A standout is the Leaders-In-Training program, where older campers begin stepping into counselor roles, practicing public speaking, job readiness and creative self-expression—from resume writing to spoken word poetry slams.
The city of Stamford plays an unsung role in all of this. “Stamford has been our home since (almost) our founding in 1995!” says Ettari. “It is a great location, as it allows us to avoid the chaos of New York City, while being close to most of our key hospital partners. We have a great office space here, with Connecticut-based staff, and we look forward to keeping this home for many years to come.”
As parents across the country wave goodbye to buses this summer, hoping their kids come home sun-kissed and smiling, The ELM Project is sending off a different kind of camper—one who leaves with far more than just memories.
Confidence. Belonging. Joy. A moment to feel whole.
To learn more, donate or get involved, visit elm-project.org.