City youngsters treated to fun and games in Gimli

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/07/2021 (1635 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s like a new vacation every day.

Each day of the week, a bus picks up children from different areas of Winnipeg and takes them to Gimli for their own personal vacation for a day. At least, that’s how Gimli Bible Camp director Don Roe likes to think of it.

Instead of heavily structured programs, Roe and the rest of the camp staff try to let the campers choose how they want to spend their day, whether it be swimming, doing crafts, archery or singing around a campfire.

“If you go on vacation, you’d be able to pretty much do what you want, and that’s how to try to structure it here.”

Roe plans the day to meet the campers’ needs.

“Our main goal is to build relationships with the kids,” he said.

Though the camp can only operate at 25 per cent capacity this month, Roe sees it in a positive light. Not only is the camp able to follow provincial COVID-19 regulations, but the low ratio of staff to campers allows for a more personal experience.

“That’s why we’re here. To basically give a lot of love and attention to the kids.”

Roe said that camp has stayed normal for the kids, with the exception of lower numbers and a lot more sanitizing, but they’ve managed to adapt the activities so they are outdoors and socially distanced.

Camp programs are designed to accommodate children who generally aren’t able to spend summer with their friends.

“Especially this year during COVID, a lot of the kids have been really lacking opportunities to have relationships with other kids, but camp is a level ground where everybody gets along with everybody else.”

To help the camp fulfil that goal, the Sunshine Fund sends as many kids to camp as possible.

“We are here to help those kids get that unique summer camp experience that is not readily available to them,” said program manager Dana Moroz.

The fund depends on grants and donations from the public to be able to send kids to camp, but for Moroz and so many campers, the experience is much more than that.

“They are giving children more than a week of summer camp,” she said. “They are giving them the opportunity to find the best in themselves.”

Currently, all camps in Manitoba must run as day camps, but both Roe and Moroz hope that will change in August. They want overnight camps to start up again so even more children get a break.

Until then, Roe is still excited to be able to provide a summer camp experience.

“It’s the only way to do that, but it’s something that we’re really, really thankful we’re able to do.”

gillian.brown@freepress.mb.ca