Easter Seal Summer Camp

Camp Shawnigan is a place I can call home away from home. I get to see so many friends and spend a week just having fun, doing activities with no electronics and getting to meet new people are some of the things I love about camp. We all get to be ourselves and know that we are in a place that we all can feel accepted. We are grateful to have a place like Camp Shawnigan! ... Read More

I am so excited to be attending Camp Shawnigan again this year, I have already registered! I have been going to Easter Seals Camps since I was 6 years old and I’m now 34 ... that’s a LONG time! For me, the best part about Camp is making new friends and seeing my old ones. I love going on the big swing, doing arts and crafts (especially tie dying) and Kangaroo Court! ... Read More

“At camp, they don’t hear the word no, which is what they hear a lot of when navigating the world around them. Here they can try any activity because it’s set up to be fully accessible and the staff are trained to work with all abilities and needs. And if a camper is nervous to try something, there is such a supportive environment to make them feel safe.” ... Read More

Easter Seals Summer camp is Lydia’s most anticipated activity of the year. From the day after one summer camp ends, she can’t wait for the next year’s camp dates announcements, registration dates, registration procedures and then the final anticipation of the drive to Camp Shawnigan. Lydia’s attendance at summer camp enables her to have a ‘regular’ summer camp experience. She has met so many lifelong friends and peers by attending, peers outside her regular day to day community. It also provides her family a week of respite, a week we feel good about because we know she is having the time of her life. She is either performing in the Talent show, out in a sailboat, swimming in the pool or lake, making crafts, swinging on the big swing or tye-dying a new shirt for her collection. It gives us time to recharge. Lydia tries to challenge herself each year by trying something new at each summer camp she attends. She has tried to step outside her comfort zone. She must be more independent and learn to speak up for herself while away at camp and not with those of us that know her needs automatically. She has been able to trust that her time away will be safe and fun. ... Read More

I don’t have enough words to describe how grateful I am for Easter Seals. Tina arrives at camp and she holds court. All the counsellors and leaders and other participants remember her. It’s just like coming home. It’s such a beautiful thing. She spends a week there and it is absolutely the highlight of her year. She talks about it for months beforehand, and months afterwards. She just gets to celebrate life and enjoy it, it’s irreplaceable. The quality of the care, the compassion and kindness of the staff is absolutely incredible. Every year they select and hire the most competent capable, dedicated, enthusiastic, creative, energetic, bubbly personalities. I mean it’s just incredible. It’s such a safe, trusted space to come into. As soon as you enter the property, the energy that they have, you feel it right away, you feel welcome. You instinctively know that everybody is going to have a wonderful time. ... Read More