Five-star review of Winkler Bible Camp

Nile Fehr’s voice reaches another level of excitement when he talks about one particular aspect of Winkler Bible Camp: the pizza.

“The pizza? Chef’s kiss,” explained the nine-year-old.

“The pepperoni pizza was so good. It was so cheesy, there was so much pepperoni on there. You know when you go to a restaurant and they have pizza on the menu and you have it and it’s like the best pizza? Pizza is usually better when it’s made at restaurants, like, there’s a method.

“But I think (this camp) found the method that makes it taste better.”

With help from Free Press readers and the Sunshine Fund, Nile had his first camp experience back in July.

“I loved it. Best experience. Five stars,” said Nile.

“(The Sunshine Fund is important) because it lets kids have a good experience in their life, make friends, and be in a community.”

Nile and his mom Isabela moved to Winkler from Lethbridge, Alta., less than a year ago.

The Sunshine Fund, now in its 46th summer, works with 31 accredited camps across Manitoba and northwestern Ontario and helped send 681 children to camp in 2025.

When Isabela found out about this avenue for financial assistance, it was music to her ears.

“Coming from a city to a smaller town area, there hasn’t been as many resources for childcare in general. So, this camp was a really great option for us during summer break,” said Isabela.

“And unfortunately, being a single mom and lower income, the opportunity to have the Sunshine Fund really made a big difference on childcare and making sure that my son had a great summer experience.

“I was blown away, because really, the camp was out of my budget. I knew it would be a great experience for my son, and I didn’t want him to miss out on it. I’m really grateful,” she added.

Nile experienced a whole lot more than just delicious pizza.

The rock-climbing wall was another highlight. They also went kayaking, paddleboarding, and had a water trampoline to jump on.

“It was a giant rock-climbing wall. Like, so big,” said Nile, who starts Grade 4 in September.

“OK, so, imagine a hotel. Now imagine four or five floors of a hotel lobby — that’s how high the rock-climbing wall would go.”

While Nile kept busy at camp, it gave Isabela a chance to take a bit of a breather for the week — a rare luxury for her.

“It was great. I got to focus more on self-care which is something I can’t do as often as I would like being a full-time mom,” said Isabela.

“It was nice to have some time to myself and know that he was having great experiences and was taken care of and I could focus on me for a while.”

Nile is more than eager to return next year.

“I liked all the activities. I can’t really choose a favourite,” he said.

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