About Us
Okizu (oak-eye-zoo) comes from the Sioux language and means unity, to come together, to heal from a hurt, to make whole.
Okizu provides children and families affected by childhood cancer with peer support, respite, and community through transformative camp experiences and programs, all offered free of charge.
For more than 40 years, Okizu has been committed to the continuing support of the Oncology, Siblings, Family, Bereavement, and Teens-N-Twenties programs. These programs are the result of a collaborative effort between Okizu and the pediatric oncology treatment centers in Northern California. The specific purpose of Okizu is to operate peer support programs for children and families affected by childhood cancer based on the community-forming nature of a residential camp experience.
We understand that the financial burden associated with a pediatric cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and devastating for a family. For that reason, all of Okizu’s programs are offered free of charge to the families we serve. This provides all families, including those in the low to moderate-income community, with the same opportunity to attend any of our programs that they are eligible for. We are dedicated to serving every child and family in Northern California affected by childhood cancer who wishes to attend, regardless of physical condition, geographic location, economic background, age, ethnicity, race, nation of origin, languages spoken, culture, religion, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran status, opinions, and beliefs.
Our Vision
No child or family member walks the childhood cancer journey alone.
Our Core Values
Community
We create a welcoming, inclusive community where children and families affected by childhood cancer feel connected, supported, and understood.
Compassion
We approach every child, family, volunteer, and partner with empathy, kindness, and genuine care.
Fun
We bring joy, laughter, and moments of lightness into the lives of families facing childhood cancer, creating experiences that uplift and energize.
Integrity
We act with honesty, reliability, and follow-through, ensuring Okizu can be trusted as a steady, dependable presence.
Empowerment
We foster environments and experiences that help children and families build strength, resilience, and confidence – on their own terms and in their own time.
Hope
We create experiences that nurture hope – offering comfort and renewed optimism for children and families navigating childhood cancer.
Philosophy
Children who are diagnosed with cancer miss a normal childhood. Their illness, treatment, and complications can keep them from enjoying activities that often are taken for granted. And yet these children, like all children, need the opportunity to grow, experiment, and discover independence. Okizu began with the belief that a residential camp can be an ideal setting for children struggling with cancer to explore and enjoy a normal life experience while interacting with others who truly understand their illness.
We quickly learned that all family members, including the ill child, parents, and siblings, are all impacted in unique and powerful ways by childhood cancer. The opportunity for interactions with genuine peers and the strong sense of community fostered by a residential camp environment provide valuable emotional and practical support for continuing the cancer journey, while also allowing everyone to take a break from their routine and have a great time.
Okizu is more than a summer camp. We work with all of our partners, from volunteers to national medical institutions, to reach and support those we serve, year-round, and whenever we are needed.
Slideshows and Videos
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Transparency in Coverage:
These links lead to the machine-readable files that are made available in response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule and include negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and health care providers. The machine-readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators and application developers to more easily access and analyze data.