When a child is diagnosed with cancer, they are not the only ones whose entire lives are changed, but that's where the 23rd Annual Camp Hozhoni comes in.

The three day getaway provides a fun environment for young cancer patients and their families to learn new ways to cope with the disease.

The kids take part in everything from arts and crafts to team building exercises, but over the course of the weekend, the kids are also getting a chance to be with other children who are going through the same situations they are.

For many newcomers to Camp Hozhoni, this is the first time they've been able to connect with other people battling cancer, and get the sense that they're not alone.

The kids who have the disease aren't the only ones who need this reassurance either, as their siblings and parents are often just as confused by the disease.

And as the parent of a daughter with leukemia, John Olson says his experiences at Hozhoni gave him a light at the end of the tunnel.

"For me, it really let me see that there's hope, no matter what the outcome, that other people have gone through it," says Olson.

While the kids are in activities, sessions are also held for the parents, so they can share their experiences and strategies for dealing with cancer.

The camp is open to kids up to the age of eighteen, and welcomes kids battling the disease as well as survivors, as volunteers say meeting with people who have beaten the disease is one of the most uplifting things for campers.

Volunteers say anyone who is or knows someone battling cancer and would like to be involved in next September's Hozhani Weekend should call the American Cancer Society, and they will be able to help.