Camp Bluebird
Camp Bluebird is a mid-week (Tuesday morning-Thursday afternoon) 2½-day retreat designed specifically for adults 21+ who have been diagnosed with cancer at any point during life.
Camp Bluebird offers a peaceful mountain setting where participants can step away from daily responsibilities and focus on rest and renewal. It is a place where individuals can connect with others who understand the journey, share stories, and find encouragement in a caring and uplifting environment.
CAMP BLUEBIRD IS HELD AT BONCLARKEN CONFERENCE CENTER IN BEAUTIFUL FLAT ROCK, NC
What can I look forward to at Camp Bluebird?
Camp Bluebird offers a thoughtful blend of learning, creativity, restoration, and connection — all in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Healthy Living & Wellness
Workshops and activities designed to support your overall well-being, including gentle exercise, nature walks, dancing, and nutrition guidance.
Creative Outlets
Hands-on opportunities to express yourself through building and designing bluebird houses, friendship jewelry, quilting, and art projects inspired by the camp theme.
Restorative Therapies
Time to nurture your body and spirit with healing touch, massage, music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and individual or group sessions with a counselor or chaplain.
Resources & Education
Helpful information and expert guidance, including community resource education, “Ask the Doctor” sessions, and lymphedema screenings.
Rest & Renewal
Moments to slow down and simply be — whether enjoying the peaceful, comfortable setting, rocking in a chair at Bonclarken, or taking in the beauty of the surrounding mountains.
Community & Friendship
Most importantly, Camp Bluebird is a place to build meaningful connections, share stories, and form lasting friendships with others who truly understand the journey.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Adults 21+
Current cancer patients as well as survivors from cancer at anytime during your life
There is no geographic restriction — adults from anywhere are welcome to attend Camp Bluebird.
Mobility & Activity Level - Camp Bluebird is not physically strenuous, but participants should be able to manage their personal care and move around the conference center campus. Nurses are on site for minor health concerns, and golf carts and volunteers are available to assist with mobility when needed. If you have specific questions about your abilities, we’re happy to talk with you.
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No, you do not have to be on active treatment. You may attend as a current patient or a survivor at any point in your life.
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This is not a medical camp - it is a quality-of-life camp. We do have nurses are on site and available for minor incidents. We do not have doctors on site.
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No. Camp Bluebird can only accommodate campers who have had a cancer diagnosis.
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Camp Bluebird is not physically strenuous, but participants should be able to manage their personal care and move around the conference center campus. Bonclarken Conference Center is ADA accessible, with ramps and elevators to accommodate mobility needs. Friendly volunteers are available to assist throughout the week, and golf carts are ready to help transport campers around campus as needed. If you have specific questions or concerns about mobility, we’re happy to talk with you.
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The registration fee for Camp Bluebird is $85. This modest fee helps confirm each camper’s commitment to attend, as space is limited and there is strong interest each year.
Thanks to generous donors and supporters, the true cost of the retreat is much higher than the registration fee. Camp Bluebird is heavily subsidized to ensure the experience remains accessible while still allowing us to provide high-quality programming, meals, lodging, and activities.
If the registration fee presents a financial hardship, we encourage you to reach out — we never want cost to be a barrier to attending.
Lori Fleming
Executive Director
Lori Fleming brings both personal experience and heartfelt dedication to her role as Executive Director of Bluebird Programs of the Carolinas and Director of Camp Bluebird. Her connection to the cancer community began at a young age when her brother was diagnosed with leukemia — a life-changing experience that sparked her lifelong passion for supporting families impacted by cancer.
As a child, Lori attended Camp Kemo in Columbia, South Carolina, where she spent five years as a camper. The sense of belonging and joy she found there stayed with her, inspiring her to return as a counselor for the next fifteen years. Camp Kemo also became part of her own love story — it’s where she met her husband, Andy. Now married for 22 years, they are the proud parents of two wonderful children and share a deep belief in the power of camp communities to change lives.
For more than a decade, Lori and Andy have volunteered with Camp Bluebird, helping create meaningful, hope-filled experiences for cancer survivors. Stepping into the role as Executive Director of this amazing non-profit is a full-circle moment for Lori, and she feels honored to lead a program that offers connection, encouragement, and renewal to those navigating the cancer journey.
When she’s not planning camp, Lori enjoys spending time with her family, hiking in the mountains, traveling, and cooking for the people she loves.
Under Lori’s leadership, Bluebird Programs is poised for continued growth, with plans to expand into new programs that further serve and support the cancer survivor community. Lori is excited to facilitate Camp Bluebird to continue to be a place where hearts connect, strength grows, and spirits soar.
MEET YOUR DIRECTOR:
HISTORY OF CAMP BLUEBIRD
Camp Bluebird began in 1985 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a retreat created specifically for adult cancer survivors. As its impact grew, the Camp Bluebird model expanded across the country, with more than 36 cancer retreats established under the Camp Bluebird name.
Camp Bluebird of Western North Carolina was founded in 1993, when an oncology nurse from Mission Hospital and a representative from BellSouth (the local telephone company at the time) traveled to Birmingham to bring the Camp Bluebird program to our region.
For many years, Camp Bluebird of Western North Carolina was generously supported by the Mission Healthcare Foundation. In 2018, the program transitioned to Pisgah Health Foundation, where it continued to thrive until August 2025. That same year marked an exciting new chapter: Bluebird Programs of the Carolinas, Inc. was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, becoming the new home for Camp Bluebird. Through this organization, Bluebird Programs will continue to grow and expand cancer support opportunities and programs throughout our region.
For more than 20 years, the annual Camp Bluebird retreat has been held at the Bonclarken Conference Center in historic Flat Rock, North Carolina. Nestled in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina and just minutes from downtown Hendersonville, Bonclarken provides a peaceful setting where campers can connect with one another while enjoying crafts, music, shared activities, and meaningful community.
Camp Bluebird is designed to support cancer survivors at any point in their journey. Whether someone has been in remission for any amount of time, is newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, finishing treatment, experiencing a recurrence, or navigating advanced stages of disease, Camp Bluebird offers connection, encouragement, and support. No matter where a survivor is on their path, there is a place for them at Camp Bluebird.
