Summer Camp

Eight-year-old Austin attended our camp last summer. His mom shared that he struggles with anxiety and was so anxious the night before that he had a stomach ache.

When Austin first arrived, he was quiet and barely made eye contact, feeling anxious and nervous. His mom said he spent the entire week leading up to the first day of camp crying, expressing he was scared to go.

During his first week, he met a boy named Joseph. They quickly bonded and the two hung out like best buddies. This was when Austin changed, becoming the most confident and sociable kid there. In fact, when a new group of kids showed up, he was the first to chat with them and introduce himself. We asked him to help with games and bible activities, and he became a role model for the other kids. Every morning after that he came in with a big smile, happy to see us and help where he could.

The camp staff quickly bonded with him because they all had similar backgrounds of attending a Salvation Army camp when they were young.

It is okay to be scared of doing something new or to go out of your own comfort zone. It can be scary to show up to a brand-new place with brand-new people, but we all learned that camp is a safe and fun place to be. There is a place for everyone, you don’t have to be the most confident or outgoing, have the coolest clothes, or be the funniest kid in the room. You can just be yourself!

The Salvation Army hosts two summer camps in British Columbia. Camp Sunrise on the Sunshine Coast, and Camp Mountainview in Northern BC. Both camps offer safe spaces where children, youth and adults can experience a transformation and renewal of spirit while adventuring in the wonder of nature.

Learn more at salvationarmy.ca/britishcolumbia/camps