There鈥檚 something rather special about Easter Seals Camp Squamish in Brackendale. Perhaps it鈥檚 the wheelchair-accessible treehouse 鈥撀爐he only one in Canada 鈥� or the huge outdoor barbecues, or the fact that hundreds of children each year have the opportunity to forget their disabilities for a short while and, instead, discover their abilities. Abilities such as ascending a climbing wall, negotiating a low rope course in a wheelchair, playing basketball, going canoeing or catapulting high in the air on a giant swing.
They鈥檙e the sort of activities any kid would love to do all summer. That鈥檚 why Stephen Miller, president and CEO of the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities and Easter Seals BC/Yukon, says, 鈥淥ne of the stories I hear all the time is from parents telling me when they first brought their child to camp, their child was crying when they said goodbye, and when they came back a week later, their child was crying because they didn鈥檛 want to leave.鈥�
It鈥檚 also the reason Lorraine Gamba鈥檚 10-year-old son, Carter Van de Wetering, talks about camp almost every day, asking if today might be the day he gets to return. 鈥淭here are 365 days in a year and I would say for 300 days he probably talks about camp. And I鈥檓 not exaggerating. He loves it that much,鈥� she says, explaining that this will be his fourth year attending.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the opportunity for him to be able to go somewhere and get away from the family. He鈥檚 doing his own thing with other people who understand him. It鈥檚 really good for him. And for me, to have five days of knowing how happy he is and not having to worry about where he is or what he鈥檚 doing is huge.鈥�
At this point, Carter overhears and asks, 鈥淐an I go to camp yet?鈥�
鈥淵ou have to wait until when?鈥� asks his mom.
鈥淪ummer,鈥� he replies, disappointed.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not summer yet,鈥� says Gamba. 鈥淲e鈥檙e talking about camp, but it鈥檚 not time to go to yet.鈥�
Carter isn鈥檛 alone in his eager anticipation for Easter Seals Camp Squamish. Miller says parents have told him stories of their children having packed their suitcases in February ready for camp in June.
Beyond being a ton of fun, the camp also has a deep impact on the children, says Miller. Many make lifelong friends during their stay.
But occasionally, among the joy, there is sadness, and he recalls with great feeling Natasha and Damien Kaweski, both of whom were born with Morquio syndrome. 鈥淢any of our kids have pretty severe medical conditions and challenges, and occasionally we lose a child and they end up passing away from their illness,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his wonderful brother and sister, Natasha and Damien, came to our camp for eight years鈥� They went through a lot of challenges, and Damien passed away six months before his 18th birthday.鈥�
His funeral was packed with friends from camp, two of whom read his eulogy, and because camp had such a great impact on his life, his family felt it would be a fitting place to scatter his ashes, Miller says. A memorial garden has also been planted and offers a place of peace and reflection in a setting that, more often than not, is high spirited and adventurous.
That energy is never higher than during summer camps, which run from June to August 鈥� although, outside of this, the camp is often rented by organizations such as Canuck Place. Applications for summer spots opened on April 1 and experienced parents like Gamba waste no time applying. 鈥淚鈥檓 a total advocate,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 think Easter Seals Camp is fantastic.鈥�
For first-time parents, Miller recommends the new camper weekend in June. 鈥淎 parent can come with their child and take a look at the place and stay for a couple of days, and, if they like it, they can send their child to camp during the summer鈥� because you can understand from a parent鈥檚 point of view that you鈥檙e always nervous about leaving your kids in the care of other people, so you really want to make sure it鈥檚 safe.鈥�
During the summer, Miller explains, they will take between 300 and 350 children and have been doing so since 1978. Many, like Carter, return year after year. The camp has a large support staff, including nurses, one-on-one caregivers and group leaders.
All this costs money, though, explains Miller, who says Easter Seals special events are critical in raising funds. 鈥淭he cost to send a child to camp is $2,400, but we charge families only $500. The other $1,900 we subsidize ourselves. And if a family has trouble affording the $500, then we help them with that through a subsidy program.鈥�
Their big fundraising event in the past was the 24 Hour Relay for The Kids, which ran its 35th year in Vancouver last summer. 鈥淎t one point, many, many years ago it was one of the only special fundraising events for charity in B.C. and it was definitely the biggest of any sort of running event. But in the past 15 to 20 years, there have been so many more events coming out that there鈥檚 so much greater competition and everything鈥檚 been quite diluted. So we needed to transition into a new event. Something different,鈥� he says.
鈥淪o we thought long and hard and came up with the concept of doing an event at our camp instead of in the city. We鈥檙e calling it the 24 Hour Camp Challenge.鈥�
The 24 Hour Camp Challenge is a team event that takes place at Camp Squamish on June 13 and 14 and promises fun, challenges and adventure. Teams can include anyone from friends and family to co-workers, and Miller also welcomes anyone to join his own team.
People of all ages and abilities can join in, with the only criteria being that each team must raise in donations the equivalent of $100 per person. 鈥淪o if they have five people on the team we expect them to raise $500 minimum in donations,鈥� says Miller.
Many of the teams raise much more, he explains, noting it often comes down to your connections.
鈥淏ut a simple email out to friends and family usually raises quite a bit.鈥�
Teams will face challenges ranging from archery to games in the indoor pool, scavenger hunts and a master chef showdown with a big surprise at the end for the finalist, Miller says.
鈥淭he Nordic Association is even coming to set up a whole biathlon course,鈥� he says. There will also be a Texas hold鈥檈m tournament in the evening, a campfire and a beer garden with live music, plus a prize-giving ceremony on the Saturday evening. Participants are then invited to camp overnight, although there鈥檚 always the option to head home in the evening, if preferred.
It will be a memorable, fun-filled, fundraising event, explains Miller, who stresses how vital local support is to its success. 鈥淭he best way people can support us is by going online and registering a team and just participating. Whether there are two, 10 or 30 people on a team that鈥檚 good. It鈥檚 easy and it鈥檚 fun. They also get to know the camp and they get to play on all the things here.鈥�
To take part and raise money to send kids to camp, register online at .
