Over the last two summers, I have taken on the role of Camp Counsellor and Inclusion Counsellor at an overnight camp called Fraser Lake Mennonite Camp. My goal as a Camp Counsellor was to create a positive experience in which the campers are able to enjoy the outdoors, learn cooperative skills and feel valued. As an Inclusion Counsellor, I had the privilege to work with many campers from diverse backgrounds and expressing various disabilities such as Non-Verble Autism, FASD, Trisomy-21, and ADHD. I got to assist these kids transition, function and thrive in a camp setting that is different and difficult to adjust to from their previous experiences.
I learned very quickly that in order to gain trust and repour with the campers I primarily had to be attentive and open to their needs: they are not all the same and can not be painted with the same brush stroke but rather need individual care and attention. This was exceptionally challenging when my Inclusion campers found it hard to express themselves or physically couldn’t speak their needs. In these
At Fraser Lake, I was also able to interact and create lasting friendships with the staff. The atmosphere of Fraser Lake – serene, inclusive, beautiful, peaceful and loving – is so conducive to fostering connections. In this place, I felt free to be myself and be at one with the present away from all the flurry of school and work.
The experiences I had at Fraser fostered a deeper sense of empathy and diversified communicative skills. I learned valuable lessons in patience and integrity, and found my passion for leadership.
The older dude in the picture with the red is me! 🙂 cool