Imagine for a moment that your child has been diagnosed with cancer. After the initial shock subsides, life quickly spirals into a whirlwind of hospital visits, treatments, and emotional upheaval. Amid that chaos, moments of joy and connection can feel painfully out of reach. But it’s Discovery Camps’ mission to create spaces filled with hope, healing, and happiness.
At the heart of the San Antonio-based nonprofit lies Camp Discovery, a weeklong summer experience held every July for children battling cancer. Things have changed a lot since the American Cancer Society launched the camp in 1984. Joey Cavazos shaped it into what it is today, with a vision and devotion guiding its spirit for nearly 40 years, right up until his death in 2021.
"Joey was working at YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow that summer when the first Camp Discovery took place," recalls Jennifer Cavazos, now Executive Director and Joey's widow. "They didn't know how to run a camp, so he stepped in to help build the program. He fell in love with the kids and dedicated the rest of his life to them."
Jennifer started volunteering at camp in 1990, and she and Joey established Discovery Camps as an independent nonprofit in 2013. Joey, newly retired from a 25-year career as a Bexar County Juvenile Officer, was determined to make Camp Discovery thrive. Together, the couple jumped into nonprofit management, learning grant writing, fundraising, and logistics as they went. "We just figured it out together," Jennifer recalls fondly.
The camp's mission? To bring happiness to children and families navigating the overwhelming challenges of cancer. "Everything changes when a child receives that diagnosis," Jennifer says. "Our goal is to give them a taste of normal again—to let them just be kids." Since then, the organization has expanded from one program to nine, including family retreats, in-hospital experiences, and bereavement weekends. Basically, they’re taking those opportunities for normality everywhere there are kids who need them.
Camp Brave Hearts brings that mission to life in a powerful way. This in-hospital program originated after a camper named Nattalie missed Camp Discovery due to illness. When Joey visited her at the hospital, she told him, "You need to have camp in the hospital for kids like me." That single request sparked a brand-new chapter.
Today, Camp Brave Hearts operates year-round at three children's hospitals in San Antonio. Campers participate in a wide range of activities, including arts and crafts, fishing, and even spa days. Among the favorites is the “Capes and Crowns” photo shoot. Kids dress up as their favorite superhero or in royal attire and pose for a portrait. "It's a little escape," Jennifer says, "but it means the world to them."
The program also introduces moments of mindfulness and peace in an otherwise clinical setting. Kids can visit the “Zen Den,” sit in a massage chair, or create calming glitter jars—activities that help soothe anxieties and build a sense of emotional space. "It's simple but powerful," Jennifer explains. "When everything around them feels uncertain, even a small moment of calm can make a difference." Volunteers and staff often witness children who arrive shy or withdrawn emerge from their shells, smiling and talking, sometimes for the first time in days.
Out at Camp Discovery, each day begins with flagpole songs, skits, and peer-nominated awards. From there, kids rotate through five daily activities tailored to their energy and medical needs. Options range from swimming and crafts to zip-lining and adaptive ropes courses. And after lunch, everyone gets downtime during the much-loved "Happy Nappy," a two-hour rest period that offers a break from the Texas heat.
Camp Discovery welcomes children ages 7 to 16 who receive treatment at hospitals in Central and South Texas. One thing that sets this camp apart is that more than half the volunteers once attended as campers. "That's part of the magic," Jennifer says. "You have an eight-year-old camper whose counselor once stood in their shoes. It gives them real, tangible hope."
Jennifer points to Shannon as one shining example. Diagnosed as a child, Shannon attended camp for over a decade and now volunteers every summer. "She was in my cabin back in 1990," Jennifer says. "She wouldn't dream of missing it. Camp was her lifeline."
In addition to Camp Discovery and Camp Brave Hearts, Discovery Camps also offers Camp Ohana, a weekend retreat for entire families, and Camp Firefly, a bereavement camp for those who have lost a child to cancer. The latter began after a grieving mother asked for a space where families could connect through shared sorrow and healing. "At Camp Firefly, no one walks through the pain alone," Jennifer says. "They find strength in each other."
The environment at Camp Firefly is notable for its vulnerability, honesty, and deep emotional connection. Many families arrive just after experiencing a loss. Others return annually to help guide newer families as they navigate their grief. "It's a sacred space," Jennifer says. "There's laughter and tears, and above all, understanding."
Running nine year-round programs with just three full-time staff and one part-time employee comes with challenges. The nonprofit leans heavily on more than 150 volunteers and community support. Thanks to grants and donations, every program remains free for participating families. "We never want money to be a barrier," Jennifer says. "But this year's been tough. Foundations are stretched and need to keep growing."
Looking ahead, Jennifer hopes to launch a sibling-specific camp for brothers and sisters of children with cancer. "Siblings often feel overlooked," she says. "They have their own emotional journey, and we want to create a space just for them."
For now, Discovery Camps remains a place where kids rediscover joy, families find community, and resilience takes root. It's a living legacy—born from Joey's vision and nurtured by Jennifer's leadership—that proves joy and healing can exist even in the face of childhood cancer. Discovery Camps provides a lifeline, a place where joy lives alongside sorrow, where hope feels possible, and where no one has to walk alone.
When asked what keeps her going, Jennifer reflects quietly. "It gets heavy sometimes," she admits. "But then I hear a parent say, 'My child came back from camp a different person. They're smiling again.' That's what fills my cup."
“We can’t fix what they’re facing—but for a week, we can give them joy, courage, and a chance to just be kids again. That kind of healing stays with them forever.”
Want to Get Involved?
Discovery Camps runs entirely on the power of community support through donations, volunteers, and heartfelt partnerships. All programs are offered free of charge to families, thanks to the generosity of donors and dedicated volunteers who believe in the magic of camp.
Discovery Camps welcomes help in many forms, including donations, volunteer hours, corporate partnerships, and in-kind gifts such as art supplies or equipment. Camp Brave Hearts, in particular, offers flexible shifts for volunteers.
To learn more, donate, or explore volunteer opportunities, visit discoverycamps.org.
You can also contact Executive Director Jennifer Cavazos at 210-365-3554 or jennifer@discoverycamps.org.