Children's Oncology Camping Association International

Dr. Amylon currently is an Emeritus Professor (active) at Stanford University School of Medicine in Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine. He has a long-standing interest in the psychosocial impact of pediatric cancer and its treatment on patients and their families. He has been actively involved with Camp Okizu, a program of peer support, respite, mentoring, and recreation for children with cancer and their families, centered on a residential camping experience. He has conducted collaborative research into the impact of camping and peer support programs on pediatric cancer patients and their well siblings, with Okizu and also the Children’s Oncology Camping Association (COCA). At Okizu, he has facilitated peer support groups for thousands of siblings over 40+ years.

Dr. Brandon G. Briery is a licensed Clinical Child & Pediatric Psychologist, published researcher, author, international speaker, and camp professional. Brandon has worked with non-profit organizations as a volunteer, employee, manager, or strategic consultant for more than 3 decades. His educational background in psychology, coupled with years of experience in the camp setting, serve as lenses through which he envisions a better world through developing one camper and one staff member at a time. He is currently President of the COCA Board, Chair of the ACA Texoma Local Council of Leaders, and Member of the ACA National Council of Leaders. He is also a Crisis Prevention Institute Senior Level Instructor, Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor Trainer, and CampWell Facilitator.

Holly Senn is a certified child life specialist who has been in practice for 20 years, all with pediatric oncology, and currently works at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital in Falls Church, VA, on the hematology/oncology, orthopedics, and trauma unit. Holly volunteers with Special Love, Inc in northern VA where she is part of the year round programming committee for family camps throughout the year as well as the week long patient camp, Camp Fantastic. She has been involved with Special Love since 2005, has attended several COCA conferences, and was presented with the Region 2 Spirit of COCA award in 2011. Holly graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi, continues to keep up her child life certification every 5 years through the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) and is currently on the Child Life Certification Committee as an item writer for the certification exam. Holly is also the co-coordinator for the Child Life Practicum and pediatric volunteer programs at Inova Children’s Hospital. Holly has presented at several local conferences over the years regarding pediatric oncology patients transitioning back to school, effects of cancer and its treatment on the whole family, and child life services in general. Holly has also volunteered on many international medical missions with Operation Smile, providing psychosocial support services for children and families in less developed countries as they undergo surgery for cleft lip & cleft palate repairs.-------------- Laurel has been involved in camping in one form or another since 2004 including summer staff and as a director of a family retreat for families affected by disabilities. After a life plan shake up in 2018, she went back to school to get her Master’s in Social Work. She graduated in 2021 and was so excited to see the job posting at the University of New Mexico for a pediatric hematology/oncology social worker because it included being part of a summer camp! She started in this position in Summer of 2021 and loves her job and the opportunity it affords her to also be part of Camp Enchantment. She states, “it is truly magical to be able to see kids go from diagnosis to treatment to camp!” Through her role on the COCA Board, she looks forward to learning more about camping and what other camps around the country are doing.