CAMP TO BELONG CANADA

“In just one week we have changed each other’s life.”
Natasha, 16, camper

The buses rolled through the gates of Tim Horton’s Camp Kentahten, past the brand new, 50-foot-highTango Towerand through the ballfields, to the spot where the view widens out and the hill spills down,down, down to meet Green River Lake. In all, 81 campers comprising 30 sibling groups had come from many different points in Ontario to spend a week together at Camp Kentahten in Campbellsville, KY for the second Camp to Belong Canada.

It’s a long way to Kentucky from Ontario, and some campers had been traveling since 3 or 4 a.m. Many were too exhausted to do more than pose for an individual photograph and a photo with their sibling or sib group. Not everyone was too tired to enjoy the afternoon, however. “Look! Look! I caught a lizard!” called Dawn, 10, to her brother, Claude, 11. After inspecting the lizard thoroughly, he proudly told a nearby counselor, “My sister’s crazy about all kinds of animals. And she can draw them all, too. She’s a really good artist.”

But not all the campers were so immediately comfortable with their siblings. “I really don’t know what to get him,” said one17-year-old the next afternoon, as she surveyed the tables of birthday gifts and tried to choose one for her 11-year old brother. The birthday party is an important Camp To Belong ritual, in which every camper has the opportunity to choose a present and make a birthday card for their sibling. The tables were piled with stuffed animals, handheld games, balls, headphones—but none of it seemed to fit. “We haven’t lived together for a long time. I just don’t know what he likes,” she explained softly. 

That night after dinner, when the lights went out and the counselors serenaded everyone with “Happy Birthday,” as they brought out 30 flickering birthday cakes, what the gifts were seemed to take a back seat to the celebration itself. And later, when the cakes had been devoured and her brother was proudly showing off his toy to the other members of their family group, the girl confided, “I guess it doesn’t really matter. The main thing is that it was from me.”

For many siblings, the main thing was just making memories together. Brothers and sisters grew more comfortable around one another as the week progressed. Sometimes what helped most was facing new challenges together, like going speedboat tubing or horseback riding. One sister shielded her eyes from the sun as she watched her younger sister ascend the rock wall on the Tango Tower. “I can’t look!” she whispered. “She’s up so high.” But then her hand came down as she shouted encouragement to her sister. “Just keep going, Brianna! You’re doing great!”

Ryan, 12, was so determined not to lose a minute of time with his two older brothers that after failing a swimming test, he asked to take the test again immediately, even though he had been told he could retake it the next day. “Please?” he asked. “I know I can do it if I try again,” he said. With his brothers and the rest of his family group cheering him on, he again swam the circuit—and this time he passed.

Sometimes it was having the chance to be silly together that broke the ice: taking each other’s pictures wearing leis and doing the limbo on Hawaiian night; line dancing together or playing Bingo in hats and bandannas on Kentucky Western night, or racing through the inflatable obstacle course, giggling during the bungee race, and eating cotton candy on carnival night.

I had lots of fun with my brother at camp. My two favourite things with him are the swing and the tubing. I have seen him grow up in the last week.
—Ashley R, sister,13

I liked all the activities. My most favourite was the big tower to climb and swing. I was not afraid to go to the top for the swing because I was with my sister.
—Jacob M., brother, 10

The week in Kentucky started out hot and bright, but halfway through, the rain came. As the clouds rolled across Green River Lake, counselors worried that campers’ spirits would darken with the skies, but the campers were determined to make the best of their time together. One family group shared a brief, but utterly hilarious horseback ride in a total downpour, shrieking with laughter all the way. The rain became a metaphor for pressing on through the bad times. One camper put her experience this way:

It doesn’t matter when it rains or how long as long as we children and adults are able to shine. We have our ups and downs and still manage to keep on glowing.
—Natasha, 16

And glow they did! Despite a few damp days, campers gave musician Jana Stanfield a warm and sunny reception when she arrived at Camp To Belong. Internationally recognized for her music, Jana has been a staunch supporter of Camp To Belong, and campers at CTB Canada was eagerly anticipating her visit! Campers and counselors alike contributed to a special quilt for Jana, thanking her for her efforts and reminding her that she is part of the CTB Family. Jana performed a number of her songs, closing out with her number “If I Were Brave.” “What would I do if I knew that I could not fail?” ask the lyrics. “Remember,” said Jana after everyone sang along with her, “you can do anything and be anything you can imagine if you are willing to pursue it. You are brave!”

CTB Canada heard from many counselors with brave and inspiring stories of their own throughout the week. Camp To Belong Founder Lynn “Ripple” Price and her sister Andi “Curly” Andree shared the story of how they found each other and how they eventually became close, and the history of CTB. But there were others as well: two counselors were brothers who like Lynn and Andi, had grown up separately in the foster care system and had only recently been reunited. Another counselor had attended the very first Camp To Belong, ten years before, as a camper. He shared how much it meant to him at that time, not just to spend time with his brother, whom he had missed terribly, but just to know that he wasn’t the only kid in foster care. “Camp To Belong was the first time that I felt ‘normal,’ and that meant so much to me,” he said.

On Inspiration Night, campers share their thoughts and experiences. One talked about a foster mom who was always there for her, and another talked about what it meant to be able get together with all four of her sisters, even though she was “technically” too old for camp. But the inspiration stretched far beyond that night. Many brothers and sisters wrote heartfelt messages to one another on the sibling pillows or blankets they exchanged. At the closing campfire, campers and counselors alike shared what their experience at Camp To Belong had meant to them. Some campers said they felt spurred to ask their caseworkers for more visits with their siblings, or to be able to live with them.

I always bug [my sister] because I love her so much. She makes me feel safe.
—Jacob M, 11

I don’t want to leave. Me and my brother and sister hardly get to see each other. It feels like a long time in between. I mean, yeah, we fight sometimes when we are together, but when we don’t get to see each other I really, really miss them a lot.
—Dominique, 10,

CTB has changed my relationship with my big brother! Because I could never live without him, without his thoughts going through my head, him saying to me "Don't worry, I'm here and I'll always love you and be by your side." I just love him and love spending as much possible time with him...spending time with my big brother is the best thing a little sister could ever ask for.
—Jessica, 11

One camper wrote her brother a letter and a poem letting him know that she really did love him, even though she couldn’t always show it. She asked a counselor to pass it on to her brother. The next morning at breakfast, her brother ran up to her, and without saying a word, threw his arms around her. She hugged him back, and nothing else really needed to be said.

Just think:
When you are down, lay your head
on the pillow your brothers or sisters made you
Remember that through all the hard times.
—Natasha, 16

A Special Thank You to Tim Horton’s Camp Kentahten!

For the second year in a row, Camp To Belong Canada was made possible by the generosity of Tim Horton  Children's Foundation, store owners and customers.  Your caring is adding to the ripple that will continue to have a positive impact on the lives of these children long after they leave camp. You are making a difference!

In just one week we have changed each other’s life.

Camp to Belong has given us an opportunity of a life time. I would like to thank one special lady who is my idol. I respect her for her courage, her thoughts, and the inspiration that she has given us. Not just us, all of the foster and adopted children. Thanks for not giving up on us. Because without you there is no us. You give us memories. You have touched our hearts and I hope we will do the same too. Thank you, Ripple for making my dreams come true, you are my merical.

I would also like to thank the camp councelors for having so much faith, hope, and kind hearts. I would also say it doesn’t matter when it rains or how long as long as we children   and adults are able to shine. We have our ups and downs and still manage to keep on glowing.

Thank you to our sponcers, and thank you to everyone who came to camp! Just think:

When you are down, lay your head
on the pillow your brothers or sisters made you
Remember that through all the hard times.

-Natasha,16, camper