Camp put spring in dancer’s step
Fund made return visit to Arnes possible
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/08/2013 (4641 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Paige Ortiz makes friends wherever she goes. Paige’s mom describes her as a social butterfly. This past winter, Paige has been rehearsing for her traditional Filipino dance performance for Folklorama next week and hasn’t had much time for a social life.
But last week, Paige danced around the campfire at Camp Arnes instead. This was Paige’s second summer at camp.
“Every night, the counsellors sang songs and then told us stories around the campfire,” said Paige. “It was a lot of fun.”
Before her arrival, Paige woke up early to get ready for the bus ride to camp on Monday morning.
The 10-year-old was looking forward to seeing her old friends she danced around the campfire with last summer.
But this summer was different.
“I didn’t see any of my friends from last time, but that was OK, I made new friends,” said the soon-to-be fifth-grader.
“I can’t wait to go back next year.”
When Paige isn’t dancing with bamboo sticks on stage, she spends a lot of time in the kitchen baking desserts with her mom. As a result, one of the first things she noticed at camp was the food.
“The food was one of my favourite parts; we had burritos, chicken salad and something that tasted like steak,” she said. “At night, we even got snacks.”
Paige also enjoyed camp activities such as wall climbing, horseback riding and swimming in the lake. But most importantly, she loved the people.
“I liked the counsellors, they were nice,” she said.
“I liked my cabin, too. At night, my friends and I would write each other notes in our bunk beds. It was awesome.”
Next summer, Paige hopes to do Ranch Camp, a program at Camp Arnes designed specifically for horse lovers. She is also determined to get her turn at the top bunk.
With the help of the Sunshine Fund, Paige’s mom, Nicole Abbott, will continue sending her daughter to camp.
‘Every night, the counsellors sang songs and then told us stories around the campfire. It was a lot of fun’
— Paige Ortiz
“I grew up in a small town in Saskatchewan. We didn’t have any camps nearby,” said Abbott.
“It’s great for her, though. She loves it.”
Abbott is a single parent with three kids and a full-time job. She is grateful for an organization such as the Sunshine Fund.
“There’s no way I could send Paige to camp without it,” she said. “It’s just not possible.”
If you’d like to help, send cheques to the Winnipeg Free Press Sunshine Fund at 302-960 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3G 0R4
Charitable tax receipts will be issued for donations.
For more information on the Sunshine Fund, call 1-204-784-1130 or email sunshinefund@mbcamping.ca.
elizabeth.fraser@freepress.mb.ca