Where having fun is serious business
Happy campers at Scott Mission get to focus on spiritual growth and personal development
CALEDON, ONT.— It’s the first day at the Scott Mission Camp and Retreat Centre and the kids can’t wait to get into the pool to cool off.
But there’s business to take care of first, like the annual swimming test. The boys are up first and they’re eager. The sooner it’s over, the quicker they’re in the water, so patience is a virtue and everyone is co-operating.
It’s a good time for old buddies to catch up. Mackenzie Mattice and Julio Cesar Flores Martinez, both 14, haven’t seen each other for a whole year and they’ve got a lot of catching up to do.
Mackenzie is back for his fourth time at camp. It’s where he’s with “family . . . like my boy beside me,” he says of Julio. “And I get to see my old counsellors that bring back great memories of being at camp and having a lot of fun.”
One thing he’ll never forget is getting “creamed” by his cabin buddies that first summer at camp. “I got pranked,” he says, a big grin appearing on his face. “I was the youngest in the group and got creamed with my shampoo — all over my face, my pillow, my sleeping bag. It was pretty funny.”
He wears it like a badge of honour and loves to tell the story because it always gets a big laugh.
Although he enjoys all of the activities, Mackenzie has come to camp with a mission this year and that’s to hit the bull’seye in archery. This is the year it’s going to happen.
Julio is a true veteran of the Scott Mission camp. This is his seventh summer. He also likes seeing his old camp pals and meeting new ones. His friend list just keeps getting longer and that’s without social media. There are no electronic gadgets, cellphones or video games at camp. For one, there simply wouldn’t be time to use them what with all the great activities such as swimming, biking and the newly expanded and more challenging ropes course. Catching up with cabin mates before and sometimes even after lights out is always a blast, said the boys, who didn’t want to divulge too much about those late-night conversations.
“We talk about video games and girls,” Julio said smiling.
There are no shenanigans either. At Scott Mission, where spiritual growth is as important as personal development, kids learn to respect themselves and each other. “And our counsellors trust us,” adds Mackenzie. “We’re lucky to have a great group of guys in our cabin. It’s going to be fun.”
Just as it was last year. If you have benefited from the Fresh Air Fund or have a story to tell, email lferenc@thestar.ca.