Adventures that will last a lifetime at Winkler Bible Camp

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This article was published 02/08/2025 (237 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For Courtney Hlady, an annual trip to the Winkler Bible Camp is one of her fondest memories growing up.

It offered her social experiences to last a lifetime and opened a gateway to learn more about her religion — two things she remains grateful for today.

“Being around kids who were going through the same thing definitely helped strengthen my faith,” Hlady said. “And even as I got older, even when I’d fall away, being raised in that, when I have hardships, it makes it easier to have something to turn to. I always fall back on my faith.”

It was important to Hlady that her children be given the same opportunity.

Her sons, nine-year-old Austin and eight-year-old Noah, attended the Winkler Bible Camp earlier this summer, and her daughter, five-year-old Isabella, is set to attend on Monday.

“I think that it’s good to go to camps and do Christian-based activities to explore religion, but I mainly send my kids to camp because of the friend aspect and all the fun that they’ll have, and then the learning on top of it,” Hlady said. “It just gives them the chance to explore if they want to believe that there is a God, too, because I think everyone should have that chance.”

While some kids can get homesick at summer camps, Hlady said her children can’t get enough and have always asked to go back. This year was Austin’s third trip and Noah’s second, while Isabella will experience it for the first time.

The camp is packed with activities, including bouldering, archery, swimming and bike riding, while devotional breaks are a daily occurrence.

“I think it gives them the chance to explore the idea of their faith without having an adult telling them what they need,” Hlady added. “If there’s no parent there, they get to make the choice for themselves.”

Sending her kids to camp each year would be difficult for Hlady without the help of the Sunshine Fund.

As a single mother, she leans on the organization each year. Camp would normally run her over $1,000, but the assistance from the Sunshine Fund slashed those costs to $280 for all three children.

It also helps her save on childcare for a week and work more to provide for her family.

“When my kids were in camp for the week, then I could work pretty much full time and have child care for only one child, whereas all summer long and paying for child care for three. So that also is helpful,” Hlady said.

This summer marks the 45th year of the Sunshine Fund helping send Manitoba children to summer camp.

Last year, the Sunshine Fund helped 603 children go to 30 camps across Manitoba and Ontario. So far this year, 671 children have signed up, with more applications being processed. This year, there are 31 camps to choose from.

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca