KEEPING IN TOUCH
Stephen Orr, Camp Parent
The camp experience for my son
was excellent because there are kids
just like him there. The goal for my
son was being away from home and
to make and spend time with kids
and friends that are more like him
because kids with his special need
are typically ostracized at school.
He keeps in touch with them on
Facebook or by e-mail, and I think
he had a good time and would like
to go back. In fact, every year has
been better than the year before.
MORE THAN JUST A JOB!
Geoff Bowes, Former Camper and Current Staff Member
Camp has definitely improved my confidence in dealing with
people. As a senior staff member, I’m always dealing with
parents, always talking with parents, and the biggest thing
camp has done for me is to allow me to step out of my shell
and my comfort zone and walk right up to parents, intro-
duce myself, talk to them, and really connect with them.
For me, I enjoy doing all the activities with the kids. With
the number of games and activities we do, it’s really on the
go, all the time. The boys are between the ages of nine and 15
and they are just off the walls, so it’s great to be a part of that.
Even when we are tired, we see the excitement in their eyes,
and we get really excited too.
I learned lots of life skills at camp. Everything from CONFIDENCE BUILDING
building to repairing and cleaning to cooking. It’s been re- Kevin Harrigan, Camp Parent
ally cool to grow and develop as a person, as well as being The camp was wonderful. My son was strug-
there with and for the kids. gling in school, but he loves baseball and he is
I’ve taken a leave of absence for a year from a full-time great at sports statistics. The camp offered
job that I had. The job paid really well, allowed me to travel, him six days of doing two things he is great at
and it was great. But I really felt “called” or needed here, — playing baseball and talking baseball.
and I’ve been able to apply a ton of skills, really support It is wonderful for his confidence — ab-
everything that goes on here at camp and be very involved. solutely wonderful. His favorite camp
It’s been absolutely amazing. I absolutely love what I do. I’ve memory is definitely hanging out with the
always liked being outdoors in the wilderness, and it’s been Olympic baseball players and other successful
a really great opportunity for me to pursue that. It’s really baseball players who were at the camp. He
cool that camp offers a program that we can try all this out. talked baseball with them for hours.
Working at camp is more than just a job. Camp is a life The most important thing he learned was
learning experience, one that you never forget, one that will about race relations. He knew about Jackie
help you learn, develop and grow as a person for the better. Robinson before attending the camp, but at
Things that I have experienced here at camp are things you the camp he was exposed to issues about race
can’t experience anywhere else. and when he got home he quickly read three
books about Jackie Robinson, and this is a kid
who struggles in school and has never read
three books on his own before.
8 Canada Camps for Parents January 2010 Edition
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