Youth Camp 2023
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- photo courtesy Lisa Gausman, senior editor Ostomy Canada Magazine
OSTOMY YOUTH CAMP 2023!!
Youth Camp Coordinator Sandra Morris This past summer was the first ‘normal’ camp week since 2019. Due to Covid 19, camp was cancelled in 2020 and 2021. It went ahead last year, but with several provisos, so it wasn’t quite the same. The kids were thrilled to be back on track this past summer. Where is the Ostomy Youth Camp?: The Ostomy Youth Camp is operated by Easter Seals Camp Horizon, and Ostomy Canada contracts with this organization to provide a 6-day camp experience. Camp Horizon is located in Bragg Creek, Alberta, a short distance southwest of Calgary. It’s the only camp in Canada specifically for kids with ostomies, so the campers come from across the country. Nine Campers Sponsored: The Vancouver Chapter sponsored 9 campers this past summer. Several of our campers ‘graduated from camp’ this year, that is, they have aged-out. The camp is for children from age 9 to 18, and a few age 19 who have not completed high school. (Some kids spend months at a time in the hospital, and therefore may take an extra year to get their high school leaving). There are usually fewer younger children, age 9 through 11; most of our campers are teenagers. I connect with potential new campers through the NSWOCs at BC Children’s Hospital. They communicate with parents, telling them about the camp, and get permission for me to contact them. This method has worked well, and in October I’ll start to recruit new campers, to replace those that are now too old and won’t be returning next summer. Sponsorship by the Vancouver Chapter: The Vancouver Chapter fully sponsors all kids from BC. We are able to do this because of the generous donations we receive from our membership, their friends and families, community groups, and other donors. Thank you! Without your support, we would not be able to provide many children with this life-enhancing experience. Please Donate to Camp! Going to camp is a life-changing experience for the kids – building confidence by demonstrating that they’re able to do many things they thought were impossible. And, most importantly, enabling them to meet other kids with similar health issues, learning from each other about how they cope, and just having fun in an environment where they feel safe, both physically and emotionally. . |
WHERE: Camp Horizon, Bragg Creek, Alberta (southwest of Calgary)
WHO: Children between the ages 9 - 18 who have had or who will have bowel or bladder diversionary surgery or who have related special needs ( i.e. self catheterization, bowel and bladder incontinence), due to birth defects, trauma or disease (i.e. Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Cancer, Spina Bifida.) COST: Camp costs are fully subsidized by the Vancouver Chapter REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 1 2024 Want to help sponsor a child to attend camp in 2024? Now two ways to donate -- by cheque or online (see below) A donation cheque can be made out to: UOA Vancouver Chapter PLEASE NOTE ON THE MEMO LINE THAT YOUR DONATION IS FOR THE WENDY IRVINE YOUTH FUND AND INCLUDE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS TO RECEIVE A TAX RECEIPT FOR DONATIONS OF $20 OR MORE Mail to: UOAC Vancouver Chapter Box 74570 Postal Station G Vancouver, BC V6K 4P4 APPLICATION FORMS: Available upon request from Lisa Gausman, Camp Administrator, at [email protected] or from Sandra Morris (see below) SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION: Contact Sandra Morris, Youth Camp Coordinator, Vancouver Chapter, at [email protected] 
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