Swing for StepStones 2008, Camper Profiles

Posted 06-May-2008 20:46 by Tai Toh

 

We're off to a wonderful start.  Teams are raising money as we speak and we've even gotten corporate sponsors helping send kids to camp as well.

Find out more about who we plan to send.    

Chloe

 
Chloe came to StepStones' summer camp from a neighbourhood in the heart of downtown Toronto.  She's in the seventh grade and is in a specialized school program for youth with challenging behaviour.  When she first got to camp she was reluctant to participate in our book club.  She talked about hating reading and anything related to school.  She was told that she would need to be a part of our literacy program at camp but that she would not need to read aloud if she did not want to.  Throughout the week, Chloe experienced many successes at camp.  She got along with her cabin mates and those in her activity and swimming groups as well.  This was a huge accomplishment given that she struggled with her behaviour and social skills at school.  She stuck with the book club too.  At the end of the week she was full of pride when she commented to camp staff that completing the novel her group read at camp was the first chapter book she had ever read finished in her life!  
 

Brenda

 
Brenda and her family were new to Canada when an organization in the west end of Toronto referred her to our program.  Her family was struggling to fit in to the Canadian culture and had very few possessions to fill their small apartment.  Brenda experienced a lot of stress at home because she had to learn a new language, understand Canadian culture, navigate school, make new friends, and manage on-going changes at home as her family struggled to re-establish themselves in a new country.  Brenda's experience at camp was full of many more firsts!  She swam in a lake for the first time in her life, paddled a canoe, built a campfire and roasted marshmallows, hiked along the Bruce Trail, and witnessed the beauty of the northern sky, full of stars each night.  Brenda didn't talk much at camp but she definitely smiled!  It was amazing to watch this child relax, forget some of her stress of re-adjusting to life in Canada, and enjoy being a kid at camp each day.
 

Crystal

 
Crystal travelled five hours by car to get to camp!  From the moment she arrived to the moment she left she was full of energy!  At home Crystal had a lot of difficulty making friends.  She is very hyperactive and extremely sensitive.  Many children her age find her personality to be overwhelming so she doesn't have many friends.  At camp, Crystal met other girls who experience similar challenges with their peers.  She was accepted and supported by the staff and she won a place in everyone's heart with her ability to accept others without judgement.  Crystal was the first to say hello to each and every person at camp every morning and good night to each person every night!  Crystal found a place where she felt accepted without condition.  This was a huge success for her because in her community she has moved frequently to a number of foster and group homes.  She cried on the last day of camp, which was difficult for the staff to see, but through her tears she smiled and reassured everyone she's see us all again next summer!
 

Alyssa

 
Alyssa's mother moved out of her house only months before she came to camp.  She cried a lot the first few nights she was with us, talking about her stress at home and how much she missed her mom.  Alyssa built up trust with staff at camp and felt comfortable expressing her feelings.  Although the pain of having her mom move away was not absolved by coming to camp, the time away gave her a chance to relax and be a kid.  She spent her days playing outdoors and being re-energized by positive support, warm sunshine, and the beauty of Georgian Bay!