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The first Camp Goodtimes was held on the shores of Vashon Island at Camp Sealth in August 1984. Ninety-three children, cancer patients and siblings attended and twenty-five American Cancer Society volunteers staffed the camp along with the summer staff at Camp Sealth.
Charlotte Ellis, Camp Director, was given the task of organizing the first camp by the Service and Rehabilitation Committee of the American Cancer Society. As she put together staff, she relied on the friends she had made during the three years her daughter was undergoing treatment for leukemia.
Irene Tenneson, a retired pediatric oncology nurse from Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, was the camp registrar. She personally called patients and their families to encourage them to sign up for camp. Grampa Fred Curtis, a long time volunteer at the hospital and Ronald McDonald House, visited prospective campers. Irene recruited the Camp doctor, Dan Niebrugge, MD, who had just finished his training and was in private practice in Tacoma at Mary Bridge. The Camp nurse was Cindy Crum, RN, also from Mary Bridge Hospital, who became known as “Cruiser”. Recovered cancer patients, Laura Myers and Terry Whalen, were cabin counselors as was Judy Cornell, RN an active American Cancer Society volunteer. Camp traditions starting during the first several years included : The All Camp Dance, Free Camp T-Shirts, Dreamboat Ceremony, and Media Day. At Camp Sealth, the children enjoyed traveling to and from camp on Goodtimes II, a boat owned by Seattle Harbor Tours. The camp program offered horse back rides, beach walks and an overnight in the woods.
Camp Goodtimes was held for five years at Camp Sealth. Highlights include Dr. Dan’s appearance as Dr. Demento in a Gorilla suit, Arts and Crafts and the CIT (Counselor-In-Training) program directed by Patra Grevstad, RN. Every year a ceremony called “Memory Circle” was held to remember those campers and staff who had died in the past year.
In 1989, the camp moved to Camp Burton on the south end of Vashon Island. Betsy Nowlis, RN, PhD, recruited an all volunteer staff. Each year the committee came up with new themes and ideas. The large outdoor amphitheater was perfect for the lip synch program and the parents program on the last day. Each year new and returning volunteers come together for that one special week in the summer ... Camp Goodtimes.
 Mooselips sharing a song with campers during "Memory Circle". This start to camp allows campers and staff who want to come and remmember friends lost to cancer, allowing no one to wonder why their friend isn't at camp.
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