What stays with you after Base2Summit.

Before coming to Base2Summit, I had already experienced a few other programs, so I knew each one brings something different. Still, I felt a little nervous heading into it. I appreciated the pre-program group zoom call. It was nice to see everyone before I arrived, then seeing a familiar face at the airport made everything feel more at ease right from the very beginning.

Living with stage 4 cancer, I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop, so it meant a lot to be surrounded by others who truly “get it”. I’ve never been to a program with people who understand what it’s like to keep living while still in the middle of it all. There’s a different kind of connection in that space, one that doesn’t require explanation.

Some of my favorite moments weren’t the big, scheduled activities, but the in-between ones like the quiet conversations around the campfire and just being together. We went kayaking and I had kayaked before, so I loved being able to support others who were trying it for the first time. It felt good to both receive support and give it. If I’m being honest, its easier to give than receive!

What stood out most was the sense of camaraderie. Even after everything I’ve been through, I realized there is still so much to learn from others’ perspectives, their experiences, and how they navigate life with cancer. That exchange was incredibly meaningful to me. At B2S I could be emotionally vulnerable. I didn’t have to perform or be God’s toughest soldier, there I could just be my truly, emotionally fragile self and it felt safe. Even now, I stay in touch with the people from my week. Those connections didn’t end when the program did, they’ve continued to grow. We have a very active group chat!

There was also something special about the place itself. It never felt like there was a divide between staff and participants, we were all just one big family. And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like I had to keep my walls up. I could just be myself. I remember feeling a sense of peace the moment I enter the Base2Summit house. I never felt like I had to justify my need for accommodation—that is such an underrated show of support. 

Base2Summit helped me realize that true camaraderie through disease is possible and that kind of connection is something I’ll carry with me always. 

By Tamica, Base2Summit Alum

PS: Every time I see a butterfly, I think of Cassie.

Before Base2Summit, I had already attended a few different programs for young adults impacted by cancer. Each one offered something meaningful in its own way—but this experience felt different from the start.

If I’m honest, going somewhere new always brings a little anxiety. I think most people feel that way, but during the intake process, I felt genuinely cared for. It was clear that the team took the time to understand each of us, especially our medical needs. That kind of attention made it easier to trust the experience before it even began.

When I first arrived, I remember thinking how beautiful and peaceful everything felt. The house itself was warm and welcoming, with plenty of space to just be. I loved the flexibility, something as simple as choosing whether to eat inside or outside, depending on how I was feeling in the moment, made a big difference. It allowed me to show up exactly as I was each day.

Before cancer, I wouldn’t have described myself as adventurous. But during the week, I found myself trying new things—especially the water activities, which I ended up loving. It reminded me that growth can happen in small, unexpected ways. Since cancer I have found that I like to try new things, stretching my comfort zone with each adventure.

What stood out most, though, was the connection. There’s something powerful about being in a space where you don’t have to explain your story, where people just get it. Our conversations were honest, supportive, and even a little humorous at times. We shared “pro tips” that only someone who’s been through cancer would truly understand. In those moments, I felt a deep sense of belonging.

There were no big surprises for me, just a steady, comforting realization that I was cared for and exactly where I needed to be.

When the program ended, I didn’t want to lose that connection, so I sent postcards to everyone. Since then, I’ve stayed in touch with a couple people and have even crossed paths with others at different programs. That sense of community didn’t end when the week was over, it always stays with me.

The biggest gift I received from Base2Summit was simple, but profound: the experience of finding community.

By Sarah, Base2Summit Alum

Relearning My Limits & Finding My People

By Samantha, Base2Summit Alum

I had participated in another young adult cancer program before, so when I was accepted to Base2Summit, I was excited to meet even more people who “got it”, but as the week got closer… I got nervous. In fact, I texted my husband from the plane, “I’m so nervous.”

Even though I had done something like this before, you just never know what to expect. What helped calm some of those nerves was how thoughtful and thorough the entire application process was. Gathering paperwork, answering questions, it felt intentional. It felt like they truly cared about who was coming and what each of us needed.

Before arriving at Base2Summit, I had been in a phase of pushing myself, testing my body again after treatment, trying to see what I could handle. I thought the week might be another opportunity to push my limits. What I learned instead was something far more important; it was time to relearn my limits. It’s okay to listen to your body. It’s okay to say no. It’s okay not to push harder just because you think you should.

I’m not much of a water person, so I was especially nervous about the water activities. I always wanted a life jacket. And you know what? That was completely okay. The staff and the other young adults made me feel comfortable honoring my boundaries. There was no pressure, only encouragement and support. The freedom to show up exactly as I was, meant everything.

I was also surprised by how quickly it felt like family. The bunk room with the girls was fun and the food was good. I liked sitting in the sunporch making bracelets, it gave me time to myself if I needed it and I had some great conversations in that room. Somehow everyone made it feel like home almost instantly. 

Cancer as a young adult is so isolating. So much of what you need should be age-specific but often it isn’t. Self-advocacy is exhausting. You spend so much time explaining yourself. At Base2Summit, I didn’t have to explain. I could just be my full self. There’s something powerful about being surrounded by other young adults living with their cancer diagnosis. Even if your diagnoses aren’t the same, there are so many crossover experiences.

The connections I made that week are still important to me today. I fully expect the people from my Base2Summit week to be part of my life forever.

If you’re on the fence about applying, I’d say this: you don’t know unless you experience it. There is great power in community. And sometimes the bravest thing you can do isn’t pushing harder, it’s allowing yourself to belong.

Base2Summit was my first “cancer camp” experience. I was excited, nervous and unsure what to expect. On the way there, I thought I was making a mistake and nearly flew back home during my layover. I’m so glad I didn’t. I didn’t realize how badly I needed to meet and talk to other young adult cancer survivors. I didn’t even realize how much fear and anxiety I still have. By having a chance to recognize and express it, I now have the chance to work through it. B2S gave me back parts of me I was missing. I played sports my entire life and have always been active and enjoyed a good challenge. Cancer took that away from me the last 4 years. I lost confidence in myself and thought my body just couldn’t do what it used to do. I stopped trying to be active and stopped trying new things.  We took a 10 mile bike ride, climbed sand dunes, went curling, kayaking and rock climbing. Rock climbing in particular showed me how much I can still push myself. Even though I never made it to the top, I didn’t stop to rest and just kept going. I realized then and there how much I craved pushing myself past what I thought was possible. That moment changed things for me in a way I can’t describe. It lit a fire inside that I’ve been missing and gave me a new hobby I desperately needed. I even joined a rock climbing gym back home the first chance I got. We also had plenty of down time and relaxing. Time spent talking around the fireplace, snacking on Karen’s delicious food, soaking up the warmth of the sauna, lots and lots of laughter and terrible Minnesotan accents, dontcha know? It was incredible to have the chance to get to know one another without the constant distractions of everyday life, phones and tv. Out of everything we did, the time spent under the stars and around the campfire were the most meaningful and impactful for me. We were raw and real with one another. We laughed, shared stories and processed our grief, anger and anxieties. We enjoyed the crackling of the fire and sound of crashing waves from the lake and watching shooting stars. I found a sense of peace in nature, in being (and sleeping) under the stars. Most of all, I found a community I didn’t know I needed and friends throughout the country who showed me things can get better. I’m so incredibly thankful for Cassie’s vision of a cancer camp in northern Michigan, and to her family for making it a reality. Base2Summit impacted me in such a deeper and more spiritual way than I even realized while there, and I know it does for others as well. So thank you, again, for everyone who made it possible. 

Peace, Love & Kayak 

~ Jasmine

Cancer always has a before and an after. Before, I had moved back from the west coast  to settle down in the suburbs, I was newly engaged, just went on my bachelorette trip to  the mountains of NC, looking forward to my wedding/honeymoon, excitedly planning on  having a family, and hoping for a promotion. After? It was such a question mark.

We all go through life with lots of plans. Plans for tomorrow or next week or next year. All of  sudden, I had no plans. None that really mattered. Except to stay alive. I was diagnosed  with an aggressive form of breast cancer at 31 years old. Nearly 4 weeks almost to the  day prior to my wedding. And those weeks were a whirlwind of medical appointments,  sharing the news with family, wedding decisions, a honeymoon cancelation, fertility  treatments and procedures before chemo began. 

I was really lucky to have a wonderful support system through those months of  treatment. But it was still lonely. Feeling like no one understood this new way of life. No  one prepares you for how to tell your boss and your siblings about your diagnosis, or  what a biopsy or breast MRI is like. No one tells you that chemo can put you into  menopause, or that the pre-meds will make you sleepy, or what an exhausting balance  it can be to avoid scaring loved ones. Being asked what revision surgery you prefer, in  the middle of chemo, feels like being asked about your dinner order from the front lines  of a war zone. And even the most well-meaning strangers can say all the wrong things. 

When I applied for the Cassie Hines - Base2Summit camp, I thought. Maybe it'll be nice  to visit Michigan with some new people. Maybe I'll find a friend or two. What I wasn't  prepared for - was another family. 

The level of warmth I experienced, the laughter and tears, love and light, the bonfires  and shared outdoorsy activities. The food!! The beautiful views - peaceful chilly fall  mornings on the lake. Board game nights. It was just, an incredible break. A break from  a crazy busy work life, a break from trying to navigate social norms, a break from trying  to connect with people that couldn't "get" it. An amazing break with amazing people that  made me feel so celebrated and comfortable and understood. Comparing scars and  battle wounds and stories. Inside jokes about the giant monuments in Michigan  (shoutout pie plate crew!). It’s the first time since I was diagnosed that I was able to feel  a semblance of freedom. A meaningful and peaceful pause from the exhaustion of  being a young cancer patient. Giving us a break from the division of before/after. A  break that everyone, in every cancer ward, at every young age - deserves.