Care Camps Foundation is excited to launch our new Q&A blog series with Garett McKinnon, Chair of our Young Professionals Board.
Garett shares how this group of young leaders is supporting our mission, building new connections, and planning an unforgettable event called Under the Stars. The event will also include an exciting attempt to break a world record using 45,000 glow sticks, representing the children and family members served by the pediatric oncology camps we support.
Jenna: Garett, please tell us a little about yourself and your connection to Care Camps Foundation.
Garett: I am honored to serve as Chair of the Care Camps Foundation Young Professionals Board. I became involved because, like many of you reading this, I have lost someone I love to cancer. My mother was fortunate to have 63 wonderful years, and her loss gave me a deeply personal connection to this mission. I want to do my part to help ensure that every child we support has the opportunity to experience 63 years of life—and many, many more. I believe every child deserves the chance to experience adventure, friendship, and outdoor fun. Care Camps Foundation helps make those experiences possible for children with cancer at no cost to their families.
Jenna: What is the Young Professionals Board?
Garett: The Young Professionals Board is a group of emerging leaders who want to make a meaningful difference. We bring together people with different skills, experiences, and connections to support the mission of Care Camps Foundation.
Our members help raise awareness, build relationships, plan events, and create new ways for people to get involved. We are also developing the next generation of leaders who will help carry this mission forward.
Jenna: Why did you want to take a leadership role with the Young Professionals Board?
Garett: I wanted to help build something that could create a lasting impact. Serving as Chair gives me the opportunity to work with a passionate group of people who care deeply about helping children with cancer.
It is exciting to see our members bring their own ideas and talents to the table. Everyone has something valuable to contribute, and we are creating opportunities for young professionals to turn that passion into action.
Jenna: What makes this group special?
Garett: Our members are not afraid to think big. We are willing to try new ideas, reach new audiences, and invite others to become part of the mission.
We also have a strong sense of purpose. We know that our work helps make camp experiences possible for children with cancer. That shared purpose brings us together and keeps us focused.
Jenna: The Young Professionals Board is planning its first major event. What is Under the Stars?
Garett: Under the Stars is a special weekend taking place December 4 through 6, 2026, at Lazydays RV Resort in Tampa, Florida.
The event will bring people together for fun, fellowship, and support of Care Camps Foundation. It is a chance to celebrate the healing power of the outdoors while helping more children with cancer experience joy, belonging, and childhood at camp.
Jenna: We hear you are also planning something involving 45,000 glow sticks. What is that all about?
Garett: We are preparing to attempt a world record using 45,000 glow sticks. Each glow stick represents one of the children and family members served each year by the pediatric oncology camps supported by Care Camps Foundation.
When all 45,000 glow sticks shine together, they will create a powerful picture of the lives touched by these camp experiences. We hope it will raise awareness and inspire people to help bring even more light to children and families facing cancer.
Jenna: Why did the board choose glow sticks for this attempt?
Garett: Glow sticks are simple, joyful, and easy for everyone to understand. One light may seem small, but thousands of lights together can create something amazing.
That reflects what happens when people unite behind this mission. Every donation and every person who shares our story adds to something much larger.
Jenna: How can someone support the world record attempt?
Garett: People can support the effort through a suggested donation of $10 per glow stick. You do not have to attend the event to participate.
Every glow stick helps us move closer to our goal of 45,000. More importantly, each contribution helps make life-changing camp experiences possible for children with cancer.
Jenna: What do you hope people experience at Under the Stars?
Garett: I hope people leave feeling connected to the mission and inspired by what we can accomplish together.
This event is about more than a world record. It is about helping children with cancer enjoy moments of adventure and outdoor fun with other kids who understand their experiences. At camp, they can feel included without having to explain what they are going through.
Jenna: Why should other young professionals consider joining or supporting the board?
Garett: The Young Professionals Board offers a chance to build leadership skills, form meaningful relationships, and support a mission that changes lives.
You do not need decades of experience or a large network to make a difference. You simply need a willingness to help, share ideas, and use your abilities for a meaningful purpose.
Jenna: What are you most excited about as the Young Professionals Board looks ahead?
Garett: I am excited about the energy and potential of this group. Under the Stars is an important beginning, but it is only one part of what we hope to accomplish.
We want to build long-term support for Care Camps Foundation, welcome more young professionals into the mission, and create new opportunities for children with cancer to experience joy, belonging, and the healing power of the outdoors.
Jenna: What would you say to someone thinking about supporting Under the Stars?
Garett: I would invite them to join us. Attend the event, sponsor a glow stick, share the story, or introduce someone else to the mission.
Every action matters. Together, we can create a bright and meaningful night while helping children with cancer experience the joy of simply being kids.
Learn about the Young Professionals Board Learn about the Under the Stars Event
