Children ‘over the moon’ in return to camp

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/07/2022 (1433 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Despite fewer staff at Manitoba’s summer camps, facilitators, counsellors and campers are enjoying the first week of a summer that feels like a much-needed return to normalcy.

For the last two summers, most camps in the province had to drastically cut their programming down to fall in line with restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. From being unable to host any campers overnight to only being able to host small family groups, this year’s return to the way things used to be has people feeling optimistic — not just about this summer, but about the future in general.

Kim Scherger, executive director of the Manitoba Camping Association, said that while some enrolment numbers have surged, other camps haven’t fared so well.

“It’s definitely a mixed bag. It’s different for camps across the province and country. Some are really struggling with trying to find staff, and because of that, they had to minimize their numbers.”

Scherger said it’s not just important for kids and families to be able to enjoy the camping experience, but for staff to enter into that world as well, especially after a two-year-long pandemic that had many people isolated and not enjoying the outdoors as much as they used to.

“They need to get outside. They need to be in the fresh air, which does so much to one’s soul and mind … experiencing things that aren’t just online, on a screen; being able to reconnect with new and old friends, to have their sense of responsibility, of trying new things, of succeeding at new things with others.”

Camp is a place where kids are encouraged by other children and staff and are rewarded by approval from their peers, Scherger said. It’s also important for kids to have independence from their parents.

“So often in the past two and a half years, kids have been under parents’ wings 100 per cent of the time with school, with everything.”

Breaking free is important for kids, but parents need to be able to let go, too, Scherger said, adding that some parents have been fearful to let their children attend camp due to worries from the pandemic and also just letting them have their independence for the first time in a long time.

“It’s so good for you as a parent, and for that child, to be able to experience that. It goes back to … getting outdoors, getting outside in Manitoba. We have so much to offer here.”

In addition to encouraging children and parents to enter into the camp experience, Scherger also said many camps are still looking for staff. Many of the young people who usually fill those positions had to find employment elsewhere for the past two summers, which explains the lower uptake in jobs.

Kathy Weir runs Turtle Mountain Bible Camp, along with her husband, Howard. The camp, located halfway between Deloraine and Boissevain, celebrated its 75th anniversary in June. Looking back on the last two years, she couldn’t be happier that the camp is running like it used to before COVID.

“There’s just such an excitement and enthusiasm to just being together and enjoying activities together and building friendships again. It’s just like a homecoming, it really, really is. Even though it’s been two years … they’re just so thrilled to be back.”

Weir said the camp is at full capacity and has campers on a waiting list. The biggest factor in this was not being able to train any new staff for the last two years.

“We lost two years of connection with kids that would be coming in on staff.”

So far, Weir is noticing that campers are already getting back into the swing of things, and a satisfying sense of normalcy has returned. She hopes it will lead to lasting friendships and memories of using the camp’s climbing wall and zipline, overcoming fears and seizing opportunities for growth.

“The kids are just over the moon. They’re just enjoying being together.”

The Brandon Sun, as part of its Sun Fund, sent 101 kids to summer camp this year. Laura McKenzie, a supervisor at the Brandon Family Services Branch of Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba, said that’s nearly double the amount from last year. Any further donations made will go toward sending more kids to camp next year.

» mleybourne@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @miraleybourne