Christmas Newsletter
Message from Executive Director, Terra McKenzie
Dear Fircomites,
This year has been filled with so many beautiful moments thanks to the amazing communities that we continue to build and strengthen through our camp, retreat and rental group offerings. Watching children, youth and families engage in classic camp programming was a joy to behold, and the feeling of connection and belonging experienced during our retreats was inspiring and soul-fulfilling. It was exciting to welcome so many returning campers, guests and retreat participants to camp, and it was wonderful to share the magic of Fircom with a number of first-timers, many of whom were emphatic about their resolve to come back next season!
We have a variety of partners that we had the privilege of collaborating with this year, which served to enhance our Fircom program offerings and/or support the living of our mission (creating communities of belonging and experiences to grow on) and values (accessibility, belonging, spirituality, nature, learning, and healthy living). These partners include: Ayas Menmen Child and Family Services; Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Facilitators from the Squamish Nation; the Pacific Mountain Regional Council of The United Church of Canada; Lynn Valley United Church; David Suzuki Foundation; Sea to Sky Outdoor School; CampOUT!; SongRoots; Oceanbridge; and, Shamanic Yoga Institute. We look forward to continuing to grow our relationships with these partners, as well as our new partner, Gathering Our Medicine, in 2024.
We are so appreciative of the support we received from our Fircom community in 2023, whether it be through participating in our fundraising efforts and donations drives, or by visiting our site as volunteers, campers, guests or retreat participants. In January, we will be sending out a special e-newsletter to honour and recognize all of our 2023 donors and volunteers.
Of great importance to us is the ability to subsidize the cost of registration fees for children, youth and families who otherwise would not be able to afford to attend our camp and retreat programs. As a result of the generous donations we have received from our wider Fircom community over the past few years, as well as the incredible generosity of Gilmore Park United Church and the Union Gospel Mission, we were collectively able to subsidize approximately $51,000.00 worth of registration fees during the 2023 operating season. This is an unprecedented amount of financial support for our Fircom campers and retreat participants, and illustrates the need for us to continue to build our donor pool so that we can grow our Campership Fund and provide ongoing support for families that are struggling financially.
In closing, I have a few appreciations (it’s a camp thing!) that I would like to share! A huge, heartfelt thank you to:
My staff team, who keep me young and inspire me with their hard work, dedication, and love they have for this land (the ancestral and unceded territory of the Squamish Nation) and the important work that we do here.
Fircom’s Board of Directors, who give so much of their time and energy to our organization, and who consistently offer me support and expertise that help make the challenges of leading our organization much less burdensome.
Our campers, guests, and retreat participants, who - through the wonderful stories they share about their experiences at Fircom and the gratitude they express for these experiences - renew my sense of purpose as the leader of our organization and motivate me to hold myself and our team accountable for continuing to live our mission and values in a meaningful and authentic way.
Warm wishes for a cozy, joy-filled holiday season … and lots of visits to Fircom in 2024!
- Terra McKenzie