LONDON, Ont. — Campers showed off their digs to their families and members of the foodservice industry yesterday at Camp Woodeden, an expansive, 107-acre oasis for children with disabilities.
Visitors were led on tours of the grounds before settling down to a barbecue lunch with hot dogs and hamburgers. Later, after campers participated in a bear-decorating contest, a local police canine unit demonstrated how the dogs search out missing people and catch criminals.
The London, Ont.-based Easter Seals camp has been in operation since 1946, and is one of 15 camps across the country. It offers swimming, arts and crafts, music, archery, sledge hockey and a high ropes course — all accessible to children with disabilities. It’s staffed by 58 camp counsellors and program staff and operates with help from organizations such as Friends of We Care.
“As you can see these camps mean a ton to not only the kids who are here but the counsellors. My hat goes off to them and the entire team that looks after this place year after year, and allowing us to be a part of it,” said Kevin Collins, executive director of Friends of We Care, which is based in Aurora, Ont.
Friends of We Care is gearing up to host more events to raise funds for Easter Seals camps including the 2015 Devil’s Pulpit Golf Event in Caledon, Ont. on Aug. 17 and the upcoming Fall Classic at the Summerlea Golf and Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. on Aug. 31.
