A special report from Ryan Wilson.
My name is Ryan Wilson. I am sixteen years old and I live in Burns Lake, BC with my Mom, Dad, younger twin brothers, and younger sister. I think that camp is one of the best places on earth: you are able to meet many amazing people, make amazing friends and be yourself. Camp is also a great opportunity to learn something about yourself.
This past spring I applied for the Lois Young- son Grant Award and was honoured to be awarded the chance to go to Camp Oochigeas’ programs, Upstream and 7scape, in Rosseau, Toronto.
During Upstream our group trekked 80 km on the French River over nine days. This experience gave me the chance to make many wonderful friends and to learn about leadership. My favorite learning experience was when I was Leader of the Day with my friend Kory: we were responsible for making all of the decisions that day. At the end of the day we received feedback from the trip leaders on how we had done.
The 7scape program was seven days packed with fun activities and team building activities, including high and low ropes courses, from which I learned a lot. Before Upstream and 7scape I stayed with Krupesh Patel and his family who welcomed me into their home. The staff and volunteers at Camp Oochigeas, along with Krupesh and his family, made my time in Toronto an amazing learning opportunity.
This summer I also participated in the Leaders in Training program at Camp Goodtimes. I had been a camper at Camp Goodtimes for eight years, and I first wanted to be a Leader in Train- ing when Chuckles was the LIT in my cabin four years ago. The first two days of camp we spent doing leadership training. Then on the third day we were placed into our cabins. I was with a great group of guys, and Chuckles was one of their skips. During that week I learned a lot from Jace and Cynthia (the LIT coordinators), the other LIT’s and Chuckles.
Camp has helped me to grow as a person because the skills that I have learned at camp I use in my every day life. Camp has also given me the skills to volunteer as a goalie trainer for Burns Lake Minor Hockey Association’s Bantam and Atom teams.
I would like to thank all of the staff, volunteers, and donors of Camp Goodtimes for making camp such a wonderful place to go in the sum mertime. I would also like to thank
the Young- son family for giving me the opportunity to go to Camp Oochigeas.
Thank You.
