This group is the heartbeat of everything teen related at the Dempsey Center. It’s fun, casual and you can even bring a friend!
Take a break from the stressors at home while adventuring in the great outdoors, forging powerful friendships and sharing your experiences with others who really get it. You’ll grow and be challenged in new and exciting ways while making memories that will last a lifetime.
Space to Breathe is a five-day adventure-based program designed for teenagers ages 12-18 who have a parent or a sibling living with cancer or who have lost a parent or sibling to cancer. This program involves a three-day wilderness expedition and a day of challenge-by-choice high-ropes experiences. Space to Breathe has 18 spaces for new and returning campers and typically operates in late July or early August.
Each wilderness trip varies and is operated out of Camp Kieve in Nobleboro, Maine. Each program is coordinated and run by the Youth and Family Services Manager with safety in mind. Expeditions are led by a co-ed team of adults including one licensed mental health counselor and an experienced and credentialed trip leader.
Day-long group outings for teens impacted by cancer are planned twice a year by the Teen Group. The goal of each adventure is to build stronger friendships and provide opportunities for fun with people who understand what cancer is all about.