“I remember one night at Camp Kindle, sleeping in the tipis. I got up to go to the bathroom. There were many stars in the sky, and it was so quiet, so comforting. After all the crap you go through with cancer, you realize you’re still alive, and you get to see the stars! And you realize there is something so much bigger than you, and the whole point is to share it with others.”— Jo Pricca
And sharing is exactly what Jo is doing. She’s sharing her celestial vision with other kids battling cancer by sponsoring a treehouse in the new Shane Homes Treehouse Village through the Camp Kindle Expansion and Accessibility Project.
Jo and her family first encountered Kids Cancer Care in 2017 when she was diagnosed with very high-risk leukemia. After nearly four years of treatment, she was finally on the road to healing and recovery, just in time for the pandemic to hit, making travel with her Make a Wish trip impossible. That’s when Jo decided to turn her Make a Wish into a gift for children facing cancer.
The Make a Wish Foundation jumped at the opportunity to partner with Kids Cancer Care to realize Jo’s unique wish. In 2024, when we launched the Camp Kindle Expansion and Accessibility Project, others stepped up too, turning a treehouse into a Treehouse Village sponsored by Shane Homes. The Calgary North Hill Lions Club, Essex Lease Financial Corporation, the Young family and Optics Lighting and Control Ltd. each sponsored a treehouse. Qualico will offer support with donated materials. Working with our landscape architect the TULA Project, each donor shared their vision for their treehouse:
- The Calgary North Hill Lions Club envisioned a cozy Lion’s Lair with a fun, Lion King aesthetic.
- Essex Lease Financial Corporation imagined a construction playground with sand pits and construction equipment, such as backhoes.
- Optics Lighting and Controls Ltd. explored a nautical theme with sails, ropes, knots and seafaring instruments.
- The Young family envisioned a playful imaginarium for unstructured play, imagination and learning.
- Jo conjured up a celestial night sky of dark navy blues, golds and crystals. Adorned with kitty cats, butterflies and dragonflies, the space will feature big comfy cushions under a dome of stars and planets.
As a teenager, Jo actively participated in Kids Cancer Care programs such as tutoring, PEER exercise and the Teen Leadership Program. But it was Camp Kindle that captured her imagination and heart.
“The first time I saw camp was for Mother’s Day Brunch,” she says. “We drove up and we saw the sign, the trees, the gates, the high ropes, the pool and the archery range. I saw the expanse of camp and thought, ‘Holy crap! I get to go here this summer!’”
Jo’s parents Nadene and Omar Pricca stepped up big time for the construction project, topping up Jo’s gift, which Nadene’s employer Ovintiv later matched. The Priccas also sponsored a bench in Christine’s Conservatory, the outdoor percussion playground to be installed this spring. Nadene and Omar made the donation in honour of all Kids Cancer Care families.
“I hope future kids fall in love with Camp Kindle like I did,” says Jo. “I hope it feels like home and the treehouse is part of that home.”
