Care Conference Recorded Talks 2020

Family Care Conference: Keynote Presentation by Dr. Kris Kullgren

Dr. Kris Kullgren, Clinical Psychologist at Michigan Medicine C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, delivers her keynote presentation, “From Trauma to Resilience: Thriving (Not Just Surviving) with Your Child’s Illness.”

Other recorded talks, panels, breakout sessions and presentations below were delivered during North Star Reach’s 2020 Family Care Conference. Browse our library to find valuable resources for parents and caregivers of children living with serious illnesses.

Heart Warriors

Breakout Session by Courtney Strohacker, MD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Breakout Session led by Kristen Marzolf, LCSW, SEP

Depression And Anxiety

Sibling Support

Breakout Session by Mary Ann Fithian and Will Falzon

Video coming soon!

Prayer & Reflection

Breakout Session by Vicky Lovell, BA and Danielle Groth

Building Your Bunch: Friends In Crisis

Breakout Session led by Mary Ann Fithian and Jeni Sobbry

Depression & Anxiety

Breakout Session by Rebecca Patrias, MD

Yoga for Relaxation & Stress Relief

Breakout Session by Aubrey Schupbach

Cultivating Resilience Through Storytelling

Breakout Session led by Ami Walsh, MFA

Supporting Transplant & Cardiology Families

Breakout Session by Melissa Cousino, PhD and Emily Fredericks, PhD

Stress Management

Breakout Session by Pastor Vicky Lovell and Danielle Groth

The Need for Sleep

Breakout Session led by Kathy DeRue, MD, MS

Self-Care for the Caregiver

Breakout Session by Dr. Becky Patrias, MD

Challenge by Choice

Keynote Presentation by Patrick Smith

Promoting Equity For Your Child

Breakout Session led by Shavonn Burgess, LPC

Caring for the Caregiver

Panel by Dr. Kullgren, Pastor Vicky Lovell, and Kathy Prout

The Isolation of Caring For A Chronically Ill Child

Panel with Bridget Schank, Kath Prout,
Wendy Wilson and Mary Ann Fithian

Equity in Healthcare

Panel with Matthew Denenberg, MD; Erika Newman, MD;
and Shavonn Burgess, LPC

Affecting Change in Healthcare Inequality

Presentation by Patrick T. McGann, MD, MS

@northstarreach on Instagram

Dec 22

Camp is such a memorable experience! At North Star Reach all of the children get to make great memories while being an amazing kid in their own way. #findyourcampfire and support a child with serious medical needs by giving the gift of camp: https://www.northstarreach.org/support/yearend

Dec 21

Tis the Season to celebrate family! The North Star Reach family thanks you all for supporting camp. Our family camps are a great way to continue to create lasting memories. Wishing you much happiness and prosperity in the year ahead.

Dec 7

The Fire Has Been Lit! 🔥

Giving Tuesday ignited the flame and the fires are burning. The North Star Reach team invites you out for a camp visit and to learn more about the year ahead. Contact North Star Reach to schedule your visit, learn more, or to support a camper: https://www.northstarreach.org/contact/form/

Nov 29

North Star Reach is overwhelmed by the donations of time, talent, and dollars from this year's #GivingTuesday. Over $11,000 was raised, which unlocked our generous donor's match, effectively turning each dollar you gave into two!

Thank you for your continued support always.🧡

Nov 28

💙💚🧡 7 HOURS LEFT 🧡💚💙

Double your donation this #GivingTuesday by helping #NorthStarReach unlock the gift match from a generous donor: https://www.northstarreach.org/support/givingtuesday?fbclid=IwAR2vfz6QUC8MfGzdQdqwO62vDH-U3y5_Ckp7c6tlKdmvg8WDrfX4jn_LVy4

A sincerest thank you to those who have donated already; we are almost at our goal!

Nov 28

North Star Reach's Program Director, Patrick Smith, is excited that today is Giving MooseDay! Join Patrick and so many other friends as they give to match a generous $10,000 gift.

💙💚🧡 Double your donation this #GivingTuesday by helping #NorthStarReach unlock this gift: https://www.northstarreach.org/support/givingtuesday

#givingmooseday #givingtuesday2023 #seriousfuncamps #findyourcampfire

Nov 28

Today is Giving Tuesday! 🫶

This is an exciting day for North Star Reach! Here is an inspiring message from one of our volunteers and Board Members, Cristina Spurlin.

Join Cristina today and give a gift to support #NorthStarReach: https://www.northstarreach.org/support/givingtuesday

#givingtuesday #givingtuesday2023 #givingmooseday #findyourcampfire

Nov 24

Tuesday isn't just for 🌮 tacos. This Tuesday, 11/28, is for giving. It's Giving Tuesday! Help North Star Reach reach the $10k match challenge by giving your gift to support camp this summer. #givingtuesday #northstarreach #seriousfuncamps #findyourcampfire

Nov 23

Happy Thanksgiving - a message from North Star Reach

Today the North Star Reach team is so thankful for our staff, families, and friends. This year we are especially thankful for each of you who believe in the work we do and have helped us reach so many goals. It is truly an honor to serve the families of NSR and we cannot wait until next year. For now, enjoy your time together and reflect on the reasons you are thankful!

Nov 21

Nearly 70 people shared their time and talent over the October 27–29 weekend helping to complete projects all around camp for the #NorthStarReach Work Weekend. Camper families, camp staff and volunteers, donors and friends all enjoyed the work, fellowship, and no-hands spaghetti. Thanks to all who participated in this event - we are already looking forward to a spring Work Weekend!

Nov 20

Did you know that North Star Reach’s staff has trained medical professionals who love working with youth? They make camp a memorable experience for all the children. Give the gift of time, talent, or dollars this #GivingTuesday so more children have the opportunity to experience camp with our team.

Nov 17

Giving Tuesday is less than 15 days away. Our #campily thanks you for your many forms of support! #findyourcampfire #givingtuesday #NorthStarReach

Nov 16

100 Women Who Care-Chelsea Area Membership donated over $10,000 to #NorthStarReach from their October Impact Award Meeting on 10/3.

“This gift in support of our mission to provide life-changing camp experiences for children with serious health challenges and their families will help us continue to provide cost-free programs that are more than just fun."

#findyourcampfire #100womenwhocare

Nov 16

GivingTuesday is on November 28 this year. Save this date and help North Star Reach meet their Match Challenge. A generous donor has pledged up to $10,000 to #NorthStarReach so children can continue to experience camp. #givingtuesday #findyourcampfire #seriousfuncamp

Nov 14

Congratulations to Board Chair Matthew Denenberg!

Dr. Denenberg will be recognized as a 2023 Distinguished Volunteer at the 32nd Annual National Philanthropy Day Gala Dinner held by Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Detroit Chapter. Matthew is being recognized for his tireless leadership in building the transition and evolution of #NorthStarReach. ✨

Congratulations to the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Distinguished Volunteers!

Nov 6

Thank you to our campers, families, volunteers, and supporters. Without YOU this camp wouldn't be possible.

Every hour of service and dollar raised on November 28 will contribute to our efforts to chart a sustainable path forward, and for that we can’t express our gratitude enough. Thank you for being by our side as we move into the future. 💛💚💙

#givingtuesday2023 #northstarreach #seriousfun

Oct 23

We are beyond grateful to everyone helping us strive towards our vision of bringing campers back to in-person camp programming next year. Creating a place where kids with serious health challenges find belonging, experience joy, and make lasting friendships isn’t possible without an AMAZING community of volunteers and donors. Join the North Star Reach mission and show your support by donating today! ✨

https://www.northstarreach.org/support/annual-fund/

Oct 11

In August, Epic Races hosted its 14th Swim to the Moon event at Half Moon State Park and North Star Reach. It’s an extraordinary open-water swimming adventure through the picturesque Hiland Chain of Lakes near Hell, Michigan. Participants choose their distance — half mile, 1.2 mile, 5K, or 10K — and have the time of their lives swimming through Southeast Michigan’s most sublime waterways, all the while showing support for a very worthy cause: North Star Reach, a camp for children with life-threatening, serious, and chronic medical conditions. Participants donated over $12,000 in 2023 and over the lifetime of the event, #EpicRaces has helped contribute over $120,000 to #NorthStarReach.

Reminisce about beautiful Michigan summers and take a look at these race photos! https://www.swimtothemoon.net/Race/Photos/MI/Gregory/SwimTotheMoon?raceEventDaysId=241205

Dec 20

We are excited to share a new way for North Star Reach camper families and volunteers to connect with SeriousFun in 2023, thanks to our amazing friends at @flyinghorsefarms. During our on-site programming pause in 2023, FHF--our sister @seriousfun_camps camp--would like to invite our community of campers, camper families, and program and medical volunteers to join them at their camp, just three hours away from Pinckney in Mt. Gilead, Ohio.

Applications for campers and volunteers are now open! You can learn more and apply today by visiting the FHF website (see link in bio). If you have any questions, you can also email NSR Camping Director Patrick Smith (patrick@northstareach.org).

While we are deeply disappointed to miss out on seeing our campily at NSR in 2023, you will be in excellent care at FHF. We are so grateful to the donors and staff at FHF for this moose wonderful opportunity. 💛 💚 💙

#weareseriousfun #campfriends #seriousfun #flyinghorsefarms #northstarreach

Dec 2

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity on #GivingTuesday. Your donations of volunteer time and dollars are greatly appreciated. 💛 💚 💙

#grateful #givingtuesday

Get in touch!

EMAIL

info@northstarreach.org

PHONE

FAX

North Star Reach Camp

1200 University Camp Drive
Pinckney, MI 48169

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

North Star Reach is an independent nonprofit medical speciality camp based in Pinckney, Michigan. We provide life-changing camp experiences for children living with serious illnesses and their families, at no charge to them. You can support us today by making a donation.

Click Here & Donate

Stay Connected

PHONE

North Star Reach Camp

1200 University Camp Drive
Pinckney, MI 48169

Stay Connected

FAX

EMAIL

info@northstarreach.org

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

North Star Reach is an independent nonprofit medical speciality camp based in Pinckney, Michigan. We provide life-changing camp experiences for children living with serious illnesses and their families, at no charge to them. You can support us today by making a donation.

Click Here & Donate

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GuideStar participant

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Association Accredited

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Photo Credit: Leisa Thompson Photography