The camp in Alberta for people with disabilities and medical conditions unveiled its second new dormitory last week.
After a campaign to raise $10 million for the re-development of Easter Seals Camp Horizon, organizers confirmed they have raised $9.2 million, which helped build the two new dormitories that will house a total of 80 campers.
“The old dorms we had were good for the time but we wanted accessibility and independence to go together, and to help give the campers their independence we had to modernize the dorms,” said Brandon MacLean, program director for Easter Seals Camp Horizon.
The new dormitories include a track system in the ceiling for harnesses and all of the doors in the new buildings, including in the bathrooms, were designed for easier access to help campers have more independence.
“All those adaptations allow for us to do everything. Anytime there is segregation or exclusivity, you exclude someone and the camp is about including everyone,” MacLean said.
Camp Horizon specializes in outdoor and adventure based programs for children, youth and adults with disabilities and medical conditions offering a variety of outdoor activities including high-ropes challenge courses, swinging on a giant swing, and rock climbs.
“If a camper wants to do any of the activities and it is in our power to make it happen then we will do our best to accommodate and include them,” MacLean said.
The camp director shared the story of one of the campers who wanted to try the giant swing last year. While their medical condition made it challenging, the staff was able to accommodate the camper.
“Typically it takes half an hour to get someone set up in the swing but with this one camper it took a couple of hours, but once they were swinging it was all worth it – they said it was the highlight of their year,” MacLean said.
One camper said he is very excited to go to camp this year.
Colby Ewasiuk, 22, was diagnosed with mild quadriparetic cerebral palsy at six-months-old and has been going to camp since 2012. Originally from Bonnyville, Ewasiuk now lives in Parkland with his parents and is the camp’s youth ambassador for 2016.
“I’m excited to see my friends. I can’t wait for camp,” Ewasiuk said.
Camp Horizon costs approximately $1,200 per child for one week of specialized camp. Camper to staff ratios are maintained at three to one ratio or lower, said Stephanie Rosch, public relations director with Easter Seals Alberta. Through generous donations, Easter Seals Alberta subsidizes the fee by 50 per cent so that all campers have the chance to attend camp.
“The camp experience is liberating and invigorating for our campers, because we focus on ability – not disability… campers leave camp each summer empowered through self-confidence and with the knowledge that for them, anything is possible,” Rosch said.
Organizers celebrated the opening of the second dormitory June 2 with a ribbon cutting ceremony, open house and tours of the facility.
The remaining $80,000 organizers are actively fundraising for will be allocated to update the water treatment system, pathways and re-purposing the old dormitories into staff housing.
The Kinsmen Club of Calgary built Easter Seals Camp Horizon in 1965, located 10 km southwest of Bragg Creek, off of Highway 66 – the camp hosts an average of 1,200 campers annually on the 62 acre lot in Kananaskis Country.
For more information on the camp and programs go to easterseals.ab.ca/camp
