Our Story

Camp Korey is named in honor of Korey Rose, a vibrant and compassionate teenager who lived with bone cancer and inspired all who knew him. Korey passed away at age eighteen, but the impact of his spirit lives on. In 2005, his father, Tim Rose, along with their family, founded Camp Korey to celebrate Korey’s legacy and create a place of joy, connection, and healing for children and families facing life-altering medical conditions.

Inspired by Paul Newman’s SeriousFun Children’s Network, which has been empowering kids with serious illnesses since 1988, Tim envisioned a space where young people in the Northwest could just be kids—laughing, exploring, and yes, even “raising a little hell.” Camp Korey began as a mobile, “on-the-road” program, traveling to reach families for its first three years. In June 2008, Camp Korey established a home in the City of Carnation, welcoming campers to its first two sessions just weeks later.

In 2016, Camp Korey expanded its mission by purchasing a 200-acre property in Mount Vernon, Washington, creating a space where more children and families could experience the transformational power of camp.