The Girl who Made my Summer

"My name is Tina. I was a camper at Moorelands for six yearsbut last year was my first one as a staff member. I remember wanting to go to camp but my mom was reluctant to let me go. When I turned 10 she agreed and through my school and my aunt I got the opportunity to go to Moorelands. I loved it! And I loved when I would return year after year and the counselors came back.

My plan to work here and give back to Moorelands went through just as I had hoped. I completed the leadership programs over two summers and this spring I applied and was hired for a counselor position.

Last summer was amazing. I have learned so much about working with children. There is so much going on in the city; so much bad stuff, the gun violence, harassment, bullying, the labels that come when you live in a certain area, these kids are afraid. They are afraid that someone will hurt them and they bring those fears to camp. It can be so hard.

I love it when I could give campers the "the firsts"- the first time hiking, the first time in a tent, even the first time roasting a marshmallow. I want to give them those first times, and the memories.

At the girls' end campfire, one of my campers said 'You are the best counselor I've had.' That really hit me because during the camp session it seemed she was pushing away from me. But I hung in with her, kept working hard. Her comment impacted me. It made my summer!

I am so appreciative that Moorelands gave me an opportunity as a camper and now continues to give me opportunity as a staff member."

Tina

What Moorelands Camp taught me: Looking Back as an Adult

ML recalls that for several summers he went to Moorelands Camp and, as he said: "I don't know how my life would have changed if I hadn't gone to Moorelands". As a youngster, ML was an avid hockey player but it was at Moorelands that he was introduced to basketball and encouraged excel. He has completed two years of university in the U.S. on basketball scholarships and cites Moorelands as a major influence in his success.

As an adult looking back, ML identifies that Moorelands helped him develop socially. From his camp experience he had a better understanding of teamwork and getting along with different personalities. ML reminisces, "As a kid, I didn't know how to do that! Didn't know how to act or behave or get along with others. Moorelands helped me open up and learn to speak up. When I returned home, my mom saw on my face what a difference camp made."

Celebrating Accomplishments at Moorelands Camp

Last year at Moorelands Camp, Randy wore a lifejacket to swim in the deep end but by the end of the season he was so buoyed up by his own accomplishments that he enrolled in Moorelands' Skills and Leadership Training Program (SALT), a program that prepares young people to become Moorelands Camp staff and gives them the opportunity to obtain their Bronze Medallion in swimming and water rescue education.

A resident of one of the under-resourced Toronto communities Moorelands serves, Randy didn't have much experience in the water. He could barely swim two lengths and expected to fail the Bronze Medallion course. But his confidence increased with his competence. With fellow SALTers cheering him on, he gave his all. The final exam was grueling: "four hours of trying to recall everything we learned in the past two weeks." But afterwards, Randy wore a well-deserved Bronze Medallion - and a huge smile!

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