Camp Life: One Big Family
Footsteps to Success at St. Timothy Catholic School was a new camp implemented last year in a priority neighborhood, 25 Rochelle Crescent. The idea of the camp was to help Syrian refugees and their families adjust to life in Canada and to gain skills essential to everyday life by working alongside campers and families from Canada. Our mission statement was, `We are One`, a safe space to grow and learn as a group knowing that we all are the same at our core and accepting our differences. We accomplished this and so much more. The camp was split into three different groups: Sports, Arts and Leadership. Campers would indicate which program they would take part in on the registration form. Campers would start their day in the program they initially chose, but would rotate throughout the day to the other programs available. We believe that this program switch is important to aid in building well-rounded child. It is important for each camper to try something new as to teach them something about themselves and their skills.
Each week was a new experience for the campers; we went on free weekly trips such as to the Science Centre, ROM, movies, Kidstown, Burd’s fishing, and Sports day at Father Henry Carr. As well, each week camp celebrated a different theme: All Are Welcome (Orientation week), Mad Science, Knights & Princesses, A Year in a Week, Water, and We are One (multicultural week). The theme, A Year in a Week in 2016, was a very important theme to us all. It was a chance for all those that had never experienced the holidays of Canada, for instance we had a birthday themed day where all the children got to blow out a candle on a piece of cake and hit a piñata. Our camp became a home for children of all cultures including Chinese exchange students and the Syrian refugees, aged 8-13, with all the staff and campers working as a family. This was all driven home on the last day of camp when all the families and campers gathered for a meal and talent show to celebrate others cultures and the talents of the entire group. The campers left proud of their accomplishments and desiring to come back to summer camp next year. As Lori Battouk, Syrian camper aged 9, said, "I only want to come back to this camp." In 2017, we had Medieval Times come in to meet the children and teach them about chivalry, they even brought along a falcon to meet!
Arts
In the art program we gave children an environment where they could express themselves creatively without judgement. This program focused on giving the kids an outlet where they could create and build and learn about themselves. The kids engaged in arts and crafts, song and dance. In 2016, a Syrian art workshop was also incorporated into the art program where once a week for four weeks a Syrian artist would come in and do an art class with the campers in Arabic and English. This was important in giving the children a sense of familiarity and comfort. As a dance and drama element we had volunteers come in from the community to teach a Hawaiian dance workshop, singing workshop, Korean pop dance, and an improv workshop.
Sports
The sport program gave the campers a fast paced, fun learning environment where they got to sharpen their agility, stamina and sports skill. The kids played a variety of different games and sports that were led by our camp counsellors. TIRF (Toronto Inner-city Rugby Foundation, 2016-2017), soccer workshops, and a Syrian basketball coach (2016) also came into to teach the campers sports and play with them.
Leadership
The Leadership group became more than a group it became a hardworking team in a defined Safe Space. It gave the older campers a chance to have mentorship, gain volunteer experience and hours, and become leaders themselves. The campers were able to gain leadership skills via workshops run by FOY staff, such as a workshop on the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens and one on how labels affect ones mental state. This group held weekly fundraisers, via freezie and juice sales, to raise money for Red Cross and the Syrian Refugee Arrival Fund – that will provide much needed help as these families integrate into Canadian society.
Numeracy and Literacy
Once a week each of the three groups would engage in an hour long workshop to work on reading, writing, and number skills. These workshops included high energy activities as well as worksheets to teach skills in a fun way. The skills they gained was immeasurable, children unable to even write their name by week six were able to write a full sentence as well as their name. Similarly, daily children worked with their FOY counsellors on their speaking skills – for instance, one camper, 6 years old, spoke barely any English and by week six was able to tell us his opinions, such as I don’t need any help, help needs me.
Syrian Experience
Out of our 157 youth signed up for camp over the summer over 35 were of Syrian descent or Syrian refugees. The youth from Syria became integrated into the Footsteps family, although it had its ups and downs, the rollercoaster made it all better. The children started off very introverted and unwilling to try new things. They only felt comfortable speaking in their own language with other Syrian children. By the end of camp, they were all friends with all the campers. They made friends outside of their once cemented Syrian group. This helped them make great progression in the social skills as well as their English skills. The Syrian campers were offered a twice a week workshop program for four weeks in order to work on their monetary skills, conflict resolution and confidence. It set them up for success for the new school year and helped them develop as individuals ready to take on the world. FOY counsellors spent extra time with individuals with poor English skills to help them develop, by the end they were able to even cheer in English and sing alongside their new found friends. To quote Karni Battouk, Syrian camper aged 13, “This camp makes me so happy and I am now better. You are all my family."
Each week was a new experience for the campers; we went on free weekly trips such as to the Science Centre, ROM, movies, Kidstown, Burd’s fishing, and Sports day at Father Henry Carr. As well, each week camp celebrated a different theme: All Are Welcome (Orientation week), Mad Science, Knights & Princesses, A Year in a Week, Water, and We are One (multicultural week). The theme, A Year in a Week in 2016, was a very important theme to us all. It was a chance for all those that had never experienced the holidays of Canada, for instance we had a birthday themed day where all the children got to blow out a candle on a piece of cake and hit a piñata. Our camp became a home for children of all cultures including Chinese exchange students and the Syrian refugees, aged 8-13, with all the staff and campers working as a family. This was all driven home on the last day of camp when all the families and campers gathered for a meal and talent show to celebrate others cultures and the talents of the entire group. The campers left proud of their accomplishments and desiring to come back to summer camp next year. As Lori Battouk, Syrian camper aged 9, said, "I only want to come back to this camp." In 2017, we had Medieval Times come in to meet the children and teach them about chivalry, they even brought along a falcon to meet!
Arts
In the art program we gave children an environment where they could express themselves creatively without judgement. This program focused on giving the kids an outlet where they could create and build and learn about themselves. The kids engaged in arts and crafts, song and dance. In 2016, a Syrian art workshop was also incorporated into the art program where once a week for four weeks a Syrian artist would come in and do an art class with the campers in Arabic and English. This was important in giving the children a sense of familiarity and comfort. As a dance and drama element we had volunteers come in from the community to teach a Hawaiian dance workshop, singing workshop, Korean pop dance, and an improv workshop.
Sports
The sport program gave the campers a fast paced, fun learning environment where they got to sharpen their agility, stamina and sports skill. The kids played a variety of different games and sports that were led by our camp counsellors. TIRF (Toronto Inner-city Rugby Foundation, 2016-2017), soccer workshops, and a Syrian basketball coach (2016) also came into to teach the campers sports and play with them.
Leadership
The Leadership group became more than a group it became a hardworking team in a defined Safe Space. It gave the older campers a chance to have mentorship, gain volunteer experience and hours, and become leaders themselves. The campers were able to gain leadership skills via workshops run by FOY staff, such as a workshop on the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens and one on how labels affect ones mental state. This group held weekly fundraisers, via freezie and juice sales, to raise money for Red Cross and the Syrian Refugee Arrival Fund – that will provide much needed help as these families integrate into Canadian society.
Numeracy and Literacy
Once a week each of the three groups would engage in an hour long workshop to work on reading, writing, and number skills. These workshops included high energy activities as well as worksheets to teach skills in a fun way. The skills they gained was immeasurable, children unable to even write their name by week six were able to write a full sentence as well as their name. Similarly, daily children worked with their FOY counsellors on their speaking skills – for instance, one camper, 6 years old, spoke barely any English and by week six was able to tell us his opinions, such as I don’t need any help, help needs me.
Syrian Experience
Out of our 157 youth signed up for camp over the summer over 35 were of Syrian descent or Syrian refugees. The youth from Syria became integrated into the Footsteps family, although it had its ups and downs, the rollercoaster made it all better. The children started off very introverted and unwilling to try new things. They only felt comfortable speaking in their own language with other Syrian children. By the end of camp, they were all friends with all the campers. They made friends outside of their once cemented Syrian group. This helped them make great progression in the social skills as well as their English skills. The Syrian campers were offered a twice a week workshop program for four weeks in order to work on their monetary skills, conflict resolution and confidence. It set them up for success for the new school year and helped them develop as individuals ready to take on the world. FOY counsellors spent extra time with individuals with poor English skills to help them develop, by the end they were able to even cheer in English and sing alongside their new found friends. To quote Karni Battouk, Syrian camper aged 13, “This camp makes me so happy and I am now better. You are all my family."
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