When the opportunity came up to fish on the bank of the Red River in Selkirk, eight amateur anglers jumped on it. Seventeen-year-old Zach is one of the youth who benefit tremendously.
“Summer Camp is a life saver,” says Zach’s mom, Karen. “Zach has been going for several years and he looks forward to it all year long.”
Finding recreation opportunities can be challenging for parents of children with disabilities. Summer Camp helps fills that void.
“We caught a plastic bag and a stick, but no fish,” laughs Hailey Perchotte, Recreation Therapist at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children. “Everyone was still so excited.”
Every participant is paired one-on-one with a recreation support worker, or as they’re called at camp, buddies. Carol Kehler, a physiotherapist with the Rehabilitation Centre for Children, says this model allows campers to build authentic relationships, creating confidence and trust.
“We meet everybody where they’re at. Everybody’s participation is at their own level,” she says. “We talk a lot about edge and comfort zone, which means we acknowledge the edge of their comfort zone and we work on how can we provide an opportunity that challenges them a little bit, but not too much. It goes beyond the kids, too. Summer Camp enriches the lives of the entire family.”
Eighty-six youth attended camp over six weeks this summer. With your continued support, more campers will make memories for years to come.
“Zach marks it in his calendar and it gives him something to look forward to,” Karen says.
“When he arrives, everyone welcomes him with ‘Hey! Zach’s here!’ and it truly feels like he’s part of a group.”