Summer camps help build independence

As she waved goodbye to little Zoe, Lisa Crocker knew her 3-year-old was in for a real treat at WoodGreen Riverdale Action Centre (RAC) summer camp.

After all, Crocker had been a camp co-ordinator and counsellor at a city day camp years ago and was confidant her daughter would have an amazing time meeting new kids, playing games and learning new skills.

“It’s a fantastic camp where children from different cultures come together, get to know each other and have fun,” says the mother of two who, as a teen, loved being a counsellor and seeing what a great time city kids were having swimming, playing and discovering new things.

“Everything about camp is wonderful,” she says.

Crocker and her husband, Derek, have known about the RAC program for a long time. They heard about it at the Jimmy Simpson Recreation Centre where she has worked parttime for 25 years, and the reports were glowing. She’s looking forward to the day 8-month-old Jake will attend camp as well.

The camp for youngsters aged 3 to 5 is run through a partnership between WoodGreen Community Services, Ralph Thornton Centre and Jimmy Simpson, offering children a variety of summer experiences including swimming, cooking and sports activities. WoodGreen has been part of the Fresh Air Fund since 1936 with grants helping subsidize camp fees.

Along with the kinder camp, afterschool programs and child care, WoodGreen serves 37,000 people each year offering a wide variety of programs.

That includes helping clients find affordable housing, support for seniors who live independently, assisting internationally trained professionals entering the job market, newcomer settlement and helping homeless and marginalized people get off the streets as well as assisting youth in finding employment and training.

Camp is the focus for the Crockers every summer. Eight one-week sessions run in July and August at the camp at Morse Street School.

“It’s a great learning experience for Zoe. She had a lot of fun and just wanted to keep going back,” says Crocker adding her little girl, now 5, has made many friends at camp with children and staff alike.

“She became more independent. It’s something I work on anyway because socializing is very important.”

And like life lessons learned at home, those acquired at camp, even at a young age, go a long way toward building a positive future.

If you have benefited from the Fresh Air Fund or have a story to tell, email lferenc@thestar.ca or phone 416-869-4309.