Noogieland

Noogieland is the Gilda’s Club program for children and teens who have been affected by a diagnosis of cancer.

It is a play space where kids can meet other kids who share a similar experience and where they can find the support they need. Noogieland is open to children who:

• have been diagnosed with cancer
• have a parent or loved one who is living with cancer
• are grieving the death of a loved one from cancer

Noogie Nights – The Program

Noogie Nights, held every week, offers fun activities including arts and crafts, drama, games and more. Supervised by a licensed social worker with the help of many dedicated volunteers, Noogieland provides a safe environment for kids to share their feelings and build support. Noogie Nights are scheduled at the same time as many of Gilda’s Club’s activities for adults, including support groups, lectures and workshops, so that support is available for the whole family.

In addition to Noogie Nights, GCQC offers many special events for kids and their families throughout the year, including our annual Halloween party, Noogiefest, and our week long summer camp, Camp Genesis.

Kid Support at Gilda’s Club

Kid Support is a peer support group for children who have a parent, grandparent, other family member, or friend with cancer (either in treatment or post-treatment), or who have cancer themselves. This group offers children an opportunity to make friends and learn skills to help them when cancer is in their lives.

Kid Support was developed in 1999 by Dr. Ann Speltz, who is the author of The Year My Mother Was Bald (Magination Press, 2003). She is an educator, breast cancer survivor and parent.

For Teens

Gilda’s Club Quad Cities provides a warm and supportive environment for teens to socialize and discuss the impact of cancer on their lives. Teen Time and other workshop activities are geared to address teen-specific issues.