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Showcase your leadership and celebrate your team’s extraordinary talent with a prestigious Best of COCA Award. Whether it’s innovative fundraising, standout programming, dynamic social media, or other creative initiatives, there’s a category to spotlight your camp’s unique impact. These awards honor the most inspiring, inventive, and impactful efforts that elevate the camper experience.

We invite all current COCA member camps to participate in the Best of COCA Awards!
With 11 different contest categories, there’s plenty of opportunity to showcase your camp’s creativity and heart. Whether it’s the coolest t-shirt design, a moving video, or that one unforgettable photo that brings a smile, or a tear, we want to see it! Share your magic with the COCA community. This year we have also added two new categories, Specialty Logo and Summer Theme! All entries must be events, posts, videos, t-shirts, publications, logos, themes, programs and services from 2025.  To learn more about entry requirements, click on each entry below.

Submission Instructions:

1. Click on contest below to submit an entry.

2. Click “Submit Entry” at bottom of entry instructions and information.

3. Complete the field boxes and upload requirements for the entry.

4. At bottom, click “I Accept” to give COCA permission to use your Camps materials for promotion of pediatric oncology camping.

5. Click “Submit”. You should receive an email confirmation once entry is submitted.

How Are Winning Entries Selected?

How do you determine who wins? Great question. The contests are voted on one of two ways: 1) Professional’s Choice Award and 2) Member’s Choice Award.

Professional’s Choice Award

The winning entry of the Professional’s Choice Award is selected by a team of judges with particular expertise in the contest subject/area.  For instance, the Social Media contest might be judged by a Social Media Specialist from a non-profit or profit organization.

Member’s Choice Award – Camp Photo and Camp Video

Member’s Choice Awards this year will be chosen from the entries of Camp Photo and Camp Video. The winning entry of the Member’s Choice Award is selected by a popular vote in which anyone can vote on this website. Voting Restriction: One vote per unique email address.  COCA Member Camps: this is a great way for you to share your entries for Camp Photo and Camp Video with your families, volunteers, donors and supportive community! It’s COCA’s way of promoting your amazing Camp to the public!

Member’s Choice Award voting will open October 15th and close at Noon EST on Saturday, November 15th. Winners will be announced at COCAcon in Orlando! Winners do not have to be present, but it sure would be nice if you are there to receive your Camp’s Award! 

Member’s Choice Voting Instructions:

1. To vote for an entry in a particular contest, click the contest name below. Next to “Submit Entry”, Click “Gallery” to view all the entries for this particular contest. Under each entry, is a blue box that says “Vote Now”.  Decide which entry you want to vote on then click the “Vote Now” box.

2. Enter your email address and first name.  Click yellow box that says “Send Code”.

3. A numerical code will be emailed to you. Check your email, find the code, type it or cut and paste it into the box on your screen that says “Enter Email Voting Code”. Click “Verify Code”.

4. Once code is verified, you should see a message on the screen and receive a confirmation email saying your vote has been successful!

Suggestions for Professional’s Choice Award Categories

These award categories require more description and narration, and the entry process is slightly different than Camp Photo and Camp Video.

Here are a few tips to consider when you select your particular contest:

  • Be Descriptive
  • Name your entry something catchy and memorable to make an impression on voters.
  • Each entry includes these input boxes: 
    • What Should Voters Know? 
    • Why Should You Vote for Me?

Take advantage of these areas to fully describe your program, event, etc. Include as much information as possible. Consider addressing subjects like:

  • What You Did

  • Why It Worked

  • Description

  • Budget

  • Effectiveness

  • Testimonials

Entry Deadline For All Contests Below: October 1st 12:00 pm ET

Submit a camp photo(s) from the 2025 season to “Best of COCA”.  This award entry will be voted on as a Member’s Choice Award. Why share your camp photos?

Recognition and Prestige: Showcase your camp’s photography skills and gain recognition within the camp community.

Celebrate Camp Memories: Capture and celebrate the unique moments, experiences, and memories created during the camp.

Showcase Camp Spirit and Identity: Display your camp’s spirit, values, and identity through photography.

Collaboration and Community Engagement: Foster a sense of community and collaboration among campers and staff. It encourages them to share their photos, appreciate each other’s work, and engage in discussions about the camp experience.

Also, it’s fun!

  • The maximum image file size is 20 MB
  • Up to 3 Best Photo entries per Camp. Please only submit one photo per entry.
  • Allowed image file formats are .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, or .png

Please consider submitting your 2025 Video for “Best of COCA”. This award entry will be voted on as a Member’s Choice Award. Showcase your camp’s spirit and impact by submitting a captivating camp video. Highlight the unique experiences, inspiring moments, and incredible work your camp does for children with cancer. Share your camp’s story, connect with a wider audience, and potentially win recognition for your exceptional contributions. Don’t miss out on this chance to shine and inspire others. Submit your camp video today and let your camp’s magic unfold on the grand stage of the Best of COCA competition!

  • Camp promotional video or commercial published in 2025. (This does not include Camp week “yearbook” style videos.)
  • By submitting a video you are providing implied permission to post the video on COCA-I’s Youtube channel.
  • Your video submission will be by URL. Your video must be hosted on Youtube.

The camp t-shirt competition for “Best of COCA” is an exciting event where you can showcase your camp’s creativity and design skills to create unique and eye-catching tee shirts that capture the essence of your camp.  This entry will be voted on by Industry Professionals and will receive the Professional’s Choice Award.

  • The t-shirt you are submitting should have been created for your 2025 camp season.
  • Upload an image representative of your t-shirt where the form requests “Upload Your Image”. (This photo will serve as the thumbnail for your entry. You can also upload up to 2 additional images.)
  • Recommendation– Create a Supporting Document pdf file to promote your entry. (See suggestions below).
    • Content Suggestions
      • Brief description
      • Photos – front and back
      • Design Considerations
      • Cost of Production

The Newsletter submitted must be from 2025. This entry will be voted on by Industry Professionals and will receive the Professional’s Choice Award. Newsletters sent to parents, donors, families, volunteers, and other constituents are important for several key reasons:

Communication and Engagement: A newsletter serves as a vital communication tool for oncology camps to keep parents, donors, families, volunteers, and other constituents informed and engaged. A newsletter helps foster strong connections, build trust, and maintain ongoing engagement with the camp community.

Building Relationships: Newsletters build and nurture relationships with constituents. By sharing stories, updates, and personal experiences, camps create a sense of community and connection. Strong relationships with constituents can lead to increased support, advocacy, and volunteerism.

Impact and Success Stories: Show how you use your newsletter to share impactful stories, success stories, and milestones. By highlighting the camp’s achievements and the positive impact it has on the lives of pediatric oncology patients and their families, camps can inspire and motivate their constituents.

Donor and Volunteer Engagement: For any non-profit a great newsletter can play a crucial role in donor and volunteer engagement. By providing updates on how donations are being utilized, acknowledging contributions, and recognizing volunteer efforts, you demonstrate the importance of continued support and can help attract new donors and volunteers who are inspired by the camp’s work.

Did you create a special logo to fit your summer 2025 theme or for one of your 2025 programs? We know you worked hard to create it, so submit your specialty logo to the Best of COCA competition. This entry will be voted on by Industry Professionals and will receive the Professional’s Choice Award. This is your chance to showcase the unique theme,  clever design, and exceptional creativity you have displayed to market your camp! By participating in this competition, you can share your camp’s logo, inspire others, and potentially earn recognition for your outstanding design abilities. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stand out and make a lasting impression. Submit your camp’s specialty logo today and let it shine in the spotlight of the Best of COCA competition!

Specialty Logo Examples

Please consider submitting your 2025 Impact/Annual Report for “Best of COCA”. This entry will be voted on by Industry Professionals and will receive the Professional’s Choice Award. The best Impact Report or Annual Report of a non-profit pediatric oncology camp is significant for several reasons:

Transparency and Accountability: An Impact Report or Annual Report provides a comprehensive overview of the non-profit pediatric oncology camp’s activities, achievements, and impact.

Effective Communication: Non-profit organizations need to effectively communicate their mission, goals, and outcomes to stakeholders. A competition for the best report encourages organizations to present their information in a compelling and engaging manner. It drives them to refine their storytelling abilities, use data and visuals effectively, and convey their impact in a way that resonates with the audience.

Best Practices Sharing: Learn from each other and share best practices. Gain insights into innovative approaches, effective impact measurement strategies, and successful communication techniques. The exchange of knowledge and ideas contribute to the overall advancement of all COCA camps.

Submit your entry for the best Impact or Annual Report and play a vital role in promoting transparency, accountability, effective communication, learning, best practices sharing, and recognition. 

COCA camps, share your social media campaigns from 2025. This entry will be voted on by Industry Professionals and will receive the Professional’s Choice Award. Social media is an essential part of any communications strategy because it provides non-profits with a broad reach to engage and interact with a large audience. It is cost-effective compared to traditional advertising methods. Non-profits can deliver targeted messages to specific demographics or interest groups, increasing engagement and conversion. Social media facilitates community building by allowing real-time connections with supporters, fostering a sense of belonging. It also enables the sharing of impactful stories and visuals that resonate with the audience. Through social media, non-profits can interact directly with supporters, strengthening relationships and trust. They can drive specific actions like donations or volunteering and measure the effectiveness of their campaigns through analytics and insights. Overall, social media campaigns are crucial for non-profits to effectively communicate their mission, engage their audience, and achieve their goals.

Include platforms used by your campaign (e.g. Website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), Metrics (hits, likes, etc.), pictures, and samples of support materials.

COCA Members, share your 2025 Fundraisers for “Best of COCA”. This entry will be voted on by Industry Professionals and will receive the Professional’s Choice Award.  By sharing your successful strategies, innovative campaigns, and effective tactics, you actively contribute to the strength and sustainability of the entire COCA network. Your submission will inspire and guide other camps in their fundraising efforts, amplifying the collective impact we can make for children with cancer. By sharing your expertise, you support the growth and success of other camps, enhance donor relationships, and increase visibility for your own camp. Join us in building a stronger COCA community by submitting your fundraising program today.

This contest is for the 2025 Camp Activities that you offer during the course of a program. This entry will be voted on by Industry Professionals and will receive the Professional’s Choice Award. Activities may include horseback riding, talent show, casino night, circus, carnival, etc. Specialty Programs are for broader programs such as Family Camp, Sibling Camp, etc.

This contest is for the 2025 Specialty Programs such as Family Camp, Sibling Camp, Bereavement programs, etc. This entry will be voted on by Industry Professionals and will receive the Professional’s Choice Award.

Please note: this is different from Camp Activity, which are individual activities that you run over the course of a program.

If your summer was filled with themed fun, then submit your summer theme from the 2025 camp season! This entry will be voted on by Industry Professionals and will receive the Professional’s Choice Award. For us camp people, summer themes can be one of the most important aspects of running our programs (of course after safety, wellbeing, and all that good stuff). Themes are usually picked months in advance, and a lot of our programming plans revolve around them! For this category, please let us know what your theme was, include any pictures or stories you’d like to share to accompany it, and let us know why your theme was so awesome!