When Wanganui's Brooke Pearce attended her first Camp Quality summer camp as a 5-year-old she was scared to go in the helicopter, "but now I can't get off it", she said.
Brooke, 10, has taken part in six camps and says her favourite part is having a look at the place she will be staying at, seeing friends and dressing up for dinner.
Camp Quality is a not-for-profit organisation that helps to bring fun, hope and happiness to children living with cancer.
There are five Camp Quality regions in New Zealand, which provide five-days of summer camps for youngsters aged 5-16.
Each youngster is partnered with a 24/7 companion, who joins them on activities and shares an experience of a lifetime.
Sarah Wilson from Feilding is Brooke's companion this year. She says attending camp is a rewarding experience and "you get the most out of it, while forgetting what is going on in the background".
Camp media liaison Trish Fryer said it was a fun experience and something that gave youngsters an "alternate goal".
This year's theme is "Island Paradise", with the camp being held at Nga Tawa in Marton.
"The kids all got welcomed with a Hawaiian lei, monkeys and jungle island type stuff," she said.
Seventy children and their companions, 31 staff, nurses and three bus drivers attended this year.
All staff and companions are volunteers.
The activities for this year range from a display from the K9 search and rescue dogs, kayaking, clay bird shooting, helicopter rides, petting zoo, a trip to Duddings Lake and a sports day. They also hold a disco and a banquet dinner, with a chance for everyone to dress up in clothes based on their camp theme.