How Summer Camp Encourages Vulnerable Children

When cabin leader, Brandon, welcomed smiling children at The Salvation Army’s Jacksons Point summer camp in Ontario, little did he realize that behind the eagerness and mischief were youth impacted by poverty―confused, frustrated and anxious.

“To watch the children go from excitement to hearing about their struggles was shocking to me,” says Brandon. “As a cabin leader I quickly realized they needed extra support, love and attention.”

“To watch the children go from excitement to hearing about their struggles was shocking to me.”

Many of the children in Brandon’s cabin, ages six to eight, came from complicated and unstable families and homes.

“Some children were neglected, others had behavioural issues, others had complex family structures,” says Brandon. “Some children were so broken, it was hard to see them go home.”

Brandon recalls children arriving with no socks, inappropriate footwear, no sleeping bags or pillows and few articles of clothing.

“One little boy came with a pair of shorts for the week that he didn’t like,” says Brandon. “Another child wore the same pair of pants every day.  When we noticed what they didn’t have, we fixed it.”

This year, Brandon looks forward to being a cabin leader again.

“Without The Salvation Army’s camp, many of these children wouldn’t have a vacation.”

“Seeing the children go from a rough time at home, lacking basic necessities or not knowing what tomorrow brings, to a week of fun learning how to canoe or searching for, catching and playing with bugs is rewarding,” says Brandon.

“Without The Salvation Army’s camp, many of these children wouldn’t have a vacation,” continues Brandon. “Then to hear a child say, ‘I can’t wait to see you next year’ is heart-warming. Having an opportunity to be a positive role model in their lives makes everything I do worthwhile.”

For more information about The Salvation Army’s camping ministries or to help send a vulnerable child to camp, visit SalvationArmy.ca/camps

Photo: Camp counsellors Brandon (left), with brother Nathan, (right)