Summer Camps 2024 Wrap up!
2024 SUMMER CAMP TEAM
As our summer season begins to wrap up, we have been reflecting on all of the camp magic that we have seen on site this year. We started with a week of staff training, where new and returning counsellors and coordinators came together from across the country. There were lots of familiar faces in new roles this year, two being Hawk & Eagle, our new Summer Camp and Program Directors. Throughout our training week, there were many opportunities for our staff to connect with each other and the land we are lucky enough to work on, all while sharing our site with our new partnership Gathering Our Medicine, a program created by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh scholar-practitioner Denise Findlay to support parents, caregivers and other adults caring for Indigenous children and youth. Staff training flew by and soon our counsellors were ready to go with shiny new staff shirts (with our new 2024 design) and seemingly endless energy. We had a Weekender Crew of out-of-towners stay on site to explore, rest and get everything ready for our first group of campers.
Kids Camp 1 came quickly and we felt prepared, excited, and just a little bit nervous. We continued our mixed gender cabins that we implemented from last year with great success, and had the pleasure of hosting over 120 campers from ages 7-16. Our week was full of the Raddest Riser dance parties ever, new and old campfire songs, and some thrilling new camp pranks (how many times did Condor get Paddle Shacked this summer?) We had our Sr CITs step into cabin groups and learn from our counsellors, all while having opportunities to experience professional development and have some fun themselves. We ended our week with an Upside Down day where our schedule got completely flipped (oops), and our campers went home wondering why they couldn't have dessert at 7:30AM every day.
PADDLE SHACKED CONDOR!
We started our first Mom & Kids week with lots of energy, and saw many familiar faces returning to camp. The Mom & Kids community continues to grow every year and this year was stronger than ever, largely in part to Terra and Neerava cultivating such a welcoming environment. There were many dock jumps, fashion shows, and soccer games enjoyed by all. Throughout both weeks of Mom & Kids we had lots of programming opportunities from old classics (archery, anyone?) to new favourites, including Nature Art where some beautiful watercolour paintings were created. Our Junior CIT program also proved to be a huge success, hopefully inspiring future CITs to return to camp in a different capacity. Throughout these weeks, our teen out-tripping groups set off on their own adventures. Polaris 1 travelled to Douglas Bay in Voyageur Canoes. While there, explored Gambier Lake and returned to camp with endless stories, beaded bracelets, and new friendships. Polaris 2 had a chance to canoe to Halkett Bay for two nights, and hike to Brigade Bay. It is thrilling for us to see our young people explore even more of this beautiful island, and we can’t wait for future Polaris expeditions.
Halfway through the summer we hosted Camp Chá7elkwnech, and welcomed our partners from Ayes Men Men and the David Suzuki Foundation for another week of learning and fun. Our campers participated in classic camp activities as well as cultural programming such as drum making, wool weaving, beading, and song & dance led by Skwxwú7mesh elders and knowledge keepers. This week is always so beautiful, and despite some grey weather, our campers and facilitators still left with warm smiles.
Our last week of Kids Camp was full of raft building, song writing, and possibly the best talent show ever. Our camp pranks even reached other departments, and the Site Team learned that even they are not safe from being Summer Camped. We had many Paint Wars, and our Teen Campers led the entire camp in a spontaneous dance party to end our week together. Waving goodbye to the last boat of campers was bittersweet for our counsellors, but they did not have too long to lament – we hosted a Camp Prom for our staff to celebrate a successful season together, followed by a site-wide game of Firefly (congrats to Hawk & Lamb for taking home the win).
Overall this summer felt like no other! As we move into our Fall season we can’t help but reminisce on just how special it was. There really is no place like summer camp, and being able to offer so many people a chance to experience that is the greatest privilege. We wish this summer would never end, but we are so excited to see what next year holds for the Fircom community.
L-R: Hawk, Eagle, Condor, Iris, Dirt & Sage (Summer Camp Directors & Coordinators)
