Winter Camps and Experiences

Colorful snowman symbol representing inclusive camping for children with special needs.
Adventure camp for teens with outdoor activities at Camp One Step.

Winter Camp

When: December 28th – 31st, 2026*
Where: Conference Point Center - Williams Bay, WI
Who: Diagnosed campers & survivors ages 13-19
*Please note – volunteers expected to arrive a day prior to the camp start date for training and preparation.

Bundle up, grab your cozy clothes, and get ready as Winter Camp is here! Our final camp of each year is the ultimate way to celebrate the season with your Camp One Step friends. For a few unforgettable days, you’ll enjoy hot chocolate by the fire, laughter with friends, and a schedule packed with activities, from winter-themed adventures to board games, sports, and hands‑on STEAM projects. And of course, no Winter Camp would be complete without our legendary “Eve of the Eve” dance to ring in the new year together.

More than just a getaway, Winter Camp is a chance to reconnect, recharge, and celebrate all we’ve shared during the year while looking forward to another year of CAMP. Bundling traditions, creativity, and outdoor thrills is the perfect way to wrap up the year surrounded by the people who make camp your second home. Don’t miss the last campfire of the year!

Thank you to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation for their support of Winter Camp.

Dunkin-Joy-Logo-Sized

And thank you to Silent Events for their support of our annual Eve of the Eve dance at Winter Camp!

High-quality silent event headphones for immersive audio experiences.

Applications for 2026 are OPEN!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Jessica Hopper at jh*****@*********ep.org

Meet Your Leaders

Lexi first got involved with Camp One Step as a camper. After years of encouragement from her Nurse Practitioner, and now dear friend, she reluctantly went to Summer Camp. Lexi said her world changed that summer in the very best way, and she jumped at opportunities to try new camps throughout the year after that. Since 2004, Lexi has been involved with camp – first as a camper, then counselor, program leader, and program coordinator for various camps and programs throughout the year including being a counselor at Summer Camp and Dude Ranch, Program Coordinator for Winter Camp and Digital Camp, and Program Leader for Stepping Up at Summer Camp.

Click here to learn more about Lexi!
Lexi
Lexi Chopp
Program Director

Meet Your Leaders

After losing both of her parents to cancer, Katie knew she wanted to give back. Her older sister told her about Camp One Step and after her first camp she was hooked! Katie started volunteering with Camp One Step in 2007 as a counselor at Summer Camp in the Standard Program. Currently she is serving as one of the Program Leaders for Standard Camp at Summer Camp, Director for Sibling Camp, and the Program Coordinator for Winter Camp. She has also been a counselor for Family Camp, Brain Tumor Family Camp, Chicago Day Camp, Washington, D.C., Dude Ranch, and Digital Camps. Katie has even run for Team One Step in the Chicago Marathon!

Click here to learn more about Katie!
Katie
Katie Selander
Program Director

Meet Your Leaders

Amy started volunteering with Camp One Step because some of her closest friends had been volunteering at Camp for years and talked about how special it was so she had to check it out. She says she was hooked after her first camp! Amy's first camp was Milwaukee Day Camp in 2024 and since then she has been both a counselor and group leader at Day Camp and Winter Camp. She is now looking forward to taking on the role of Program Coordinator for Winter Camp. When asked what keeps her coming back to camp, Amy said 'Camp is very welcoming and everyone is always so happy to be there! It gives you time to take a step back from the real world and realize what’s really important.'

Click here to learn more about Amy!
Amy
Amy Lenz
Program Coordinator
Kids painting art at Camp One Step, summer camp for children with cancer.

Community Campfire Kickoff

When: January 9th, 2027
Where: Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark - Lake Geneva, WI
Who: New to Camp families with a child age 0-19

Kick off the New Year with Camp! Discover all the fun for the upcoming year and save the dates for your favorite camps and programs, followed by an afternoon at the waterpark.

Sign up is currently closed.  Please check back soon!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Devin Ryan-Holanda at dr***@*********ep.org

Colorful abstract landscape with mountains, trees, and a river for outdoor activity enthusiasts.
Accessible snow sports for individuals with disabilities at Camp One Step.

Utah Ski Camp

When: February 6th-13th, 2027
Where: National Ability Center - Park City, UT
Who: Diagnosed campers & survivors ages 13-19

Get ready for the ultimate winter experience! Camp One Step’s Utah Ski Camp is designed for diagnosed teens ages 13 to 19 who are ready to carve fresh tracks, build confidence, and experience the rush of skiing, snowboarding, and sliding down the breathtaking mountains of Park City, Utah. With expert instructors, world‑class terrain, and adaptive equipment through the National Ability Center, every camper can join the fun, whether they’re learning for the first time or pushing their skills to new heights. Along the way, campers will gain confidence, make lifelong memories, and conquer the snow together with new friends.

Campers fly with Camp from Chicago to Salt Lake City, with bus transportation available from Milwaukee to Chicago if needed, and stay at the National Ability Center’s campus, complete with cozy rooms and awesome amenities. More than just skiing, Utah Ski Camp is about adventure, friendship, and discovering the joy of camp in one unforgettable week. Whether you’re a first‑time skier or seasoned snowboarder, this is your chance to experience the thrill of the slopes and the magic of Camp One Step.

Applications for 2027 are OPEN!

If you have any questions, please reach out to  Lucy Burzynski at lb********@*********ep.org

Meet Your Leaders

Jon first heard about Camp One Step from Erin C. (Program Director for Utah Ski) who raved about how amazing COS is and told him he had to see it for himself. Jon volunteered for Utah Ski in 2020 and was immediately blown away by the campers and volunteers and from then on was hooked on the COS community. Since then Jon has been a volunteer counselor for Utah Ski, Summer Camp Virtual & Winter Camp Virtual and is now a Program Director along with Erin C. for Utah Ski! When asked what advice he would give to campers or volunteers he said “#1 – HAVE FUN!”.

Click here to learn more about Jon!
Jon
Jon Collazo
Program Director

Meet Your Leaders

Erin first got involved with Camp One Step through a family member of Jeff Infusino, President of Camp One Step. They were friends on Facebook and knew each other from dance when they were younger. Erin’s friend would always post about camp and raising money for them, so one day Erin searched camp on Google, and it checked all the boxes for what Erin was passionate about and her career goals. She decided to apply, and the rest is history! Erin’s first camp program was Sibling Camp in 2018 and 2026 will be her 9th summer with camp! She’s volunteered for Chicago Day Camp, Sibling Camp, Summer Camp, Adventure Camp, Dude Ranch, Family Camp, Winter Camp, and of course Utah Ski Camp!

Click here to learn more about Erin!
Erin
Erin Williams
Program Director
Colorful spotlight for kids' outdoor camping activities.
Commemorative photo of three girls at the U.S. Capitol steps, highlighting an educational and inspiring youth experience.

Washington D.C.
Experience

When: February 15th - 19th, 2027
Where: Washington, D.C.
Who: Pediatric cancer families with children ages 11 & older

The Washington D.C. Experience gives campers and their families the opportunity to advocate for childhood cancer research and funding all while experiencing the fun of camp! Campers and their immediate families will receive a day of training and then will have a day ‘on the hill’ where they will be able to speak to representatives at the Capitol. In addition, campers and families will have time for family bonding and opportunities to explore Washington D.C. as a family and with the group.

Experience dates and application links will be shared in late fall or early winter as dates are based on the congressional calendar. This opportunity is open to campers aged 11 or older (diagnosed child or siblings) and their immediate families, and airfare and hotel fees will be covered by Camp One Step. Approximately three to five families will be chosen for this experience so the application process will be very selective. There will also be a waitlist for the majority of applicant families.

Applications for 2027 are OPEN!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Jessica Hopper at jh*****@*********ep.org

Meet Your Leaders

Linsey was a camper at an oncology camp in California and always knew she wanted to give back by being a counselor someday. When she moved to Chicago she found Camp One Step and was able to fulfill that goal. She started volunteering with Camp One Step in 2010 as a counselor at Summer Camp with the Stepping Up program. Linsey currently serves as the program director for the Washington D.C. Experience and program leader for the Excel program at Summer Camp. She has previously served as program director for Winter Camp and as a counselor at Summer Camp, Winter Camp, Washington D.C. Experience, Family Camp, and Chicago Day Camp.

Click here to learn more about Linsey!
Linsey
Linsey Smith
Program Director

Meet Your Leaders

Brendan was a Camp One Step camper before becoming a volunteer. He was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 1997 and was treated at Children’s Memorial Hospital (now Lurie Children’s) in Chicago, so he always knew about camp. For some reason, Brendan didn’t want to go when he was younger, but the opportunity came back to him in 2010 and he fell in love with camp and all of its people then and there! Brendan has now volunteered as a counselor in Summer Camp, Winter Camp, and the Washington D.C. Experience, ran the Chicago Marathon with Team One Step in 2023 and is hoping to run the Berlin Marathon for camp in 2025!

Click here to learn more about Brendan!
Brendan
Brendan Hogan
Program Director

Meet Your Leaders

Chelsea first got involved with Camp One Step when she found herself going through some major life changes and was looking for a meaningful way to spend her time, give back, and connect with other service-minded people. She started volunteering with Camp One Step in the summer of 2024 with summer camp and has never looked back! She has served in a number of different roles at camp including Program Leader for Summer Camp, a counselor and then coordinator for Dude Ranch Camp, group leader at Winter Camp, Program Director for the Washington D.C. Experience, and more! Chelsea says it's the people at camp that keep her coming back!

Click here to learn more about Chelsea!
Chelsea
Chelsea Dresen
Program Director

I want to apply, what happens next?

Apply Online

3-5 Months Before Camp

  • Confirmation of application sent immediately from UltraCamp.
  • Camp communication about application status & next steps within 1-2 weeks of registration closing.
  • Start collecting materials to complete application.

Submit Materials

1-2 Months Before Camp

  • Work with your medical team to complete physical exam & obtain immunization records.
  • Send in physical, immunizations, & insurance information to Camp.
  • Explore transportation options.

Get Ready for Camp!

1-2 Weeks Before Camp

  • If on waitlist, get updates leading up to camp.
  • Receive packing list and important schedule details.
  • Learn about check in/out & drop off/pick up details & times.

A Day in the Life of a Camper

Bright summer camp schedule for kids and teens at Camp One Step.

We know no two days of camp are the same, but many of our overnight experiences offer a similar day in the life of a camper!