In-Hospital Programs
"When my daughter was diagnosed, Wheels was there to comfort her. She built a relationship with the Wheels volunteers, she was so comforted by you all that she forgot all her pain. I am so grateful to Wheels for caring.”
Can you imagine a child not wanting to leave a hospital because they’re having so much fun? At Horizon on Wheels, we see this often!
Horizon on Wheels is an innovative initiative that provides children with fun-filled Horizon excitement while awaiting and undergoing treatment in pediatric oncology units at participating hospitals. Siblings and parents are always welcome and encouraged to participate.
Caring and dedicated staff and volunteers happily wheel a rainbow-colored trunk bursting with toys, games, crafts and activities right into many of our affiliated hospitals, transforming what can often be a difficult and scary day into a day of magical camp-like fun!
Our Wheels program, which launched in 2009, engages more than 6,000 children – ranging from toddlers to young adults – in 40+ hospitals annually. Younger kids can be found giggling as they are creating huge towers with Legos and Magnatiles, coloring their favorite superheroes and cartoon characters, arranging action figures and making fun shapes with every child’s favorite… Play-Doh! Older children join in for a laughter-filled game of UNO with their favorite friends and volunteers or may instead choose to delve into a more intricate art project. And of course, everyone’s day may include “whipping up” some ooey, gooey slime!
The Wheels team complements hospital staff by engaging patients in one-on-one activities and fun. At the same time, they are ensuring that siblings feel recognized and important and offer a much-needed break to moms, dads and caretakers.
Horizon on Wheels is sponsored by our incredibly generous donors who support our mission to deliver endless smiles, continuous laughter and hours of fun to children undergoing treatment, as well as their siblings, parents and families.
We have also developed exciting virtual programming for patients and families to enjoy while in the hospital or at home, including Sunrise on Screens and Wheels Up!.
Horizon on Wheels is hosted at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC and Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital in Fairfax, VA.
For a list of local affiliated hospitals, click here.
If you have questions, please contact horizondaycamp@theJ.org
Sunshine from Horizon
Virtual
If your child is hospitalized for any reason, we’re here for you.
Horizon Day Camp-Metro DC and Horizon on Wheels staff and counselors are available to bring Sunshine into your child’s day with a phone call or FaceTime session!
Our team is ready to virtually play games, read stories, craft and more!!
Whenever we become aware that one of our campers is hospitalized, either camp counselors, staff or volunteers will visit with a few special surprises and a cheery smile. They will sit at bedside and play with the child, share stories of camp days, and even give mom or dad a drop of respite so he or she can go home for a few hours, change clothes and maybe have a hot meal. The continuity from camp to bedside helps our children feel connected to their counselors, friends and fun, lessening the sense of isolation and fear that a hospital admission can bring with it.
Sunshine from Horizon is just that – a burst of sunshine during the darkest times, bringing sighs of relief to parents and sounds of laughter from their children. It’s so simple to schedule a visit; all you need to do is call us!
