Activities Make Activists at Take Action Summer Camp

By: Sarah Sobanski

Choosing a summer camp can be a hard decision. On one hand kids don’t want to give up an entire week of their summers, on the other parents find it hard to give up an entire paycheque, or in some cases two, for a short-lived worry-free week as their children are stimulated and entertained.

Take Action campers fly freshly painted team flags which will represent them as they compete for points in camp games over the week.  Photo: Sarah Sobanski

Take Action campers fly freshly painted team flags which will represent them as they compete for points in camp games over the week. Photo: Sarah Sobanski

Me to We Take Action Camp offers a summer adventure that keeps giving even after the seasons change – they turn a week of fun in the sun into an investment.

“It’s a space where young people come together that’s inclusive to all different kids, focusing on helping kids take action on a local or global scale,” says Camp Staff Director Courtney Shipman. Like the rest of the staff at the camp, Shipman worksyear round with the Me to We organization on projects that focus on empowering people to be agents of change. It sets them apart from other camps. Their dedication and training means this camp provides unique and vibrant experiences for the groups of 80 to 90 campers they will see each week for the next seven weeks.

Last year campers participated in a blind dinner based off on Toronto’s O.Noir, a restaurant where customers eat their meals in pitch black. The experience mimics what it is like for a blind person to eat a meal. The goal is that campers will become more aware of social issues while experiencing something really cool. This year there will be a food bank meal, where campers will experience what it is like to access a food bank.

During the day campers are encouraged to share and grow in their experiences with other campers. Shipman says the bonds she’s seen the campersdevelop are deep, creating a space where like-minded youth can connect and build lasting friendships. They also participate in teams during Mingagames, an Ecuadorian term roughly translates into ‘coming together’ according to Shipman– for that more traditional camp fun.

Each week includes a “Take Action Day” where campers travel with staff to volunteer both locally and in Toronto. This year campers will get the chance to work with Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Circle Organics, the Boys and Girls Club of Kawartha Lakes, Kawartha Lakes Turtle Trauma Centre and the Brock Mission. Activities with these community organizations will range from beautification projects to serving meals.

As a final tip of their hats, Me to We donates half of what it earns over the year to Free the Children, a charity which works globally to foster social change, to keep costs low and fund growth of the organization. That means a portion of proceeds from the camp bill for each camper helps to fund Free the Children.

At the end of each week, campers sit down with camp leaders to make a “Take Action” plan for when they return home – from making sure to turn the tap off after learning about the global water crisis to forming a club at school to support a cause close to them.

Campers range from ages 9 to 18. There is still room available for campers to sign up for this year. For more information visit http://www.metowe.com/motivation-leadership/.

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