Brothers return to give back to camp
Boys and Girls Club campers back as staffer and volunteer to offer opportunity to others
For Thomas Samson, summer camp is a family affair.
The 17-year-old began going to the Boys and Girls Club of West Scarborough day camp when he was in Grade 3, in 2008. For the next seven years, he was a camper.
This year, the student at the Scarborough Academy of Technological, Environmental and Computer Education will return as a staffer. He was also a staffer in 2016.
His brother Mario, 18, who also started in 2008 and is now a student at George Brown College, will be returning as a volunteer.
Their little brother, Gabriel Gino,13, who started camp in 2009, is returning to camp, too. He is a student at Regent Heights Public School in Scarborough.
Thomas and his brothers are the perfect example of how the Fresh Air Fund helps families, says Joshua Hood, divisional co-ordinator of the club.
He says everyone at the Boys and Girls Club is extremely proud of the family.
“They grow. They see the value in giving it back,” he says. “And they want to give the same opportunity to others.”
The Boys and Girls Club of West Scarborough summer camp is a place where children can hang out with their friends, and make new ones, he says.
“It’s a safe place that provides them with three of the things they need most — a sense of belonging, a sense of success and positive relationships,” he says.
“Weekly trips, Blue Jays Rookie Ball, swimming, tennis lessons, amazing activities and healthy snacks make for a summer of lasting memories.”
The Club has three day-camp sites that are supported by the Fresh Air Fund. The camp attended by the Samson brothers is one of the funded sites.
The best part about camp, Thomas says, is making new friends, learning how to interact with people, having experiences that last a lifetime and having fun.
“Camp taught me a lot,” he says. “It gave me a job. Gave me a real-life experience. Constructed my personality.”
Thomas says the best thing about the Boys and Girls Club was getting to go to a wilderness camp in 2011.
Hood says kids recommended for the wilderness camp are usually those who might not get the opportunity otherwise.
“I had never been camping before in my life,” Thomas says. “I got bit by a lot of bugs. Took part in a lot of activities. I was pretty engaged in everything.” Goal: $650,000 How to donate: With your gift, the Fresh Air Fund can help send 25,000 disadvantaged and special needs children to camp. The experience gives these children much more than relief from summer heat: it gives them a break in life and memories to last a lifetime. Our target is $650,000. > By cheque: Mail to the Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund, One Yonge St., Toronto, ON M5E 1E6 > By credit card: Visa, MasterCard, AMEX or Discover, call 416-869-4847 > Online: For instant donations, use our secure form at: thestar.com/freshairfund The Star does not authorize anyone to solicit on its behalf. Tax receipts will be issued in September.