Facts & FAQs

Retreats are open to women of all ages (21+), who have either completed treatment or are currently in treatment for cancer. The Ovarian Cancer Retreats are open to women diagnosed with ovarian cancer specifically (any stage). The Women’s Cancer Retreat is open to women with any type of cancer diagnosis.

The adult cancer retreats are cost free, however transportation costs to and from Missoula are the responsibility of each participant. Retreat activities, workshops, accommodations, meals and transportation between the Missoula airport and the camp facility are included. Travel assistance may be available for first-time participants; please see Getting Here, above. The Ovarian Cancer Retreats are underwritten in part by the Ovarian Cancer Survivors Foundation of Montana. While the adult retreats are cost-free, donations are welcomed and appreciated.

There will be medical staff onsite and/or available during the retreats. Our Health Center is a modern facility where we administer cancer treatments and can even isolate patients when medically necessary. Prior to each session, our medical staff reviews medical information about each camper so that they are able to provide the best possible care. The presence of the medical staff is nonintrusive to the daily activities at Camp but available 24 hours a day to address the needs of the campers. For emergencies, we have a helicopter pad and access to the regional cancer center in Missoula.
We do ask that participants bring any supplies they may need with them, including medications and special dietary items. Although medical staff is available, adult retreat participants are expected to function independently.

Camp Mak-A-Dream is located outside a small ranching community at the foot of the Flint Mountains. Although the Main Lodge is nestled in the hills amid incredible Montana scenery, it is not a rustic camp. We have beautiful modern cabins, an art studio, health center and lodge. In addition, there is a swimming pool (seasonal), archery range, climbing wall, sports fields and a zip line. Camp Mak-A-Dream is a smoke-free facility.
Participants sleep in one of four large cabins, each of which sleeps 14-20 people comfortably, in two community sleeping rooms. Each cabin has a common area with a fireplace and kitchenette, and each sleeping room has a handicap-accessible bathroom (with two stalls and two showers). Like all of our facilities, the cabins are fully accessible and convenient for campers of all abilities.

Meals are provided in the Main Lodge at large, round tables in a community atmosphere. Food is abundant, nutritious and served family-style during Adult Camps. Snacks are also available in the cabins. For those who require vegetarian or other dietary alternatives, we ask you to outline those needs on your registration form and we will do our best to accommodate.

All adult retreats combine education, recreation and relaxation through a variety of workshops and presentations, outdoor activities, art projects, entertainment and free time. Participants are encouraged to take part in as many of the activities offered throughout the retreat as they like — but everything offered at camp is optional. It is important to us that participants get what they need during their stays. During most retreats we take a half-day excursion off campus to a nearby attraction or local historical site. Any costs of off-campus activities are covered by Camp Mak-A-Dream.

Camp Mak-A-Dream’s adult retreats are designed to meet the needs of individuals diagnosed with cancer — people facing similar situations and going through similar experiences in their lives. It’s a close-knit community setting meant to provide a safe, comfortable and confidential environment for all of our participants. For this reason, we do not accommodate friends, caregivers or spouses at these retreats.

Along with the Gold Creek facility, Camp Mak-A Dream has a main office located in Missoula, Montana. In addition to a board of directors, 13 year-round staff work in our foundation office and camp facility fundraising, bookkeeping, planning programs, managing rental groups and recruiting campers and staff for the season. During the off-season, the cook, facilities team and housekeeping staff maintain and work from the Gold Creek facility, while the rest of the staff works out of the Missoula office. Foundation staff members oversee the summer sessions and adult retreats and work closely with the volunteer staff that join us each session.

If you are planning to fly to Camp, you will want to arrive at the airport in Missoula, Montana (MSO). Flights can be expensive, so we suggest researching your options as soon as possible. Please do not book a ticket before you have been confirmed to attend the retreat as there is specific information you will need in order to make your final arrangements. Upon your arrival in Missoula, camp staff will meet you at the airport and transport you the 65 miles to our facility in Gold Creek.
If you are driving, directions and information about when to arrive on campus is included in your confirmation packet. The camp facility is located 65 miles east of Missoula and about the same distance west of Butte and southwest of Helena. From Interstate 90 take exit #166 and head south for less than one mile. Take a right at the first dirt road and follow the signs to our facility. Parking is available in the lot toward the top of the hill on the left.

We understand that plans and medical situations may change, so we ask that you notify us as soon as possible if you have registered but are unable to attend the retreat. This will allow us to adjust our needs for the retreat and make your spot available to someone else hoping to attend. We also recommend you look into travel insurance for your airline ticket, should you think you might need to cancel.

While the program and overall organization of the adult cancer retreats is handled by the Camp Mak-A-Dream foundation staff, we utilize several volunteers, in a variety of capacities, at all camp sessions. If you know someone who is interested in volunteering, please have them contact us for more information or direct them here.

Camp Mak-A-Dream offers cost-free programs year-round for children, young adults and families affected by cancer. In addition to our adult retreats, we currently offer programs for kids, teens, young adults, children with a parent or sibling diagnosed with cancer, and two brain-tumor-specific programs (one for teens and one for young adults).

You may apply online. Applications are accepted once the upcoming season schedule is posted. All applications are reviewed by our selection committee to determine the applicant’s eligibility. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis with consideration given to the applicant’s current stage of therapy and whether or not the applicant has previously attended Camp. Applicants who have attended Camp Mak-A-Dream three or more times will be put on a waiting list. Anyone selected from the waiting list will be notified at least 30 days prior to the Camp session. If you are requesting travel assistance please download a Travel Scholarship application or call our office at 406.549.5987, and submit it with your application to attend the session.