Every child deserves a camp experience.
That was the premise behind the formation of the Richmond-based Eureka Camp Society back in the 1970s when a group of parents from across the Lower Mainland banded together to provide the opportunity for children with "invisible disabilities" to spend part of the summer canoeing, hiking and spending time around the campfire.
Today, the mostly volunteer-run society continues to offer a unique experience for children who come from as far away as Inuvik and Yellowknife.
"We're not able to find one (camp experience) quite like it anywhere else in B.C.," said Liz Keres, executive director of the society.
The camp serves youngsters from age eight to 18 who have conditions ranging from ADHD to autism and Tourettes Syndrome to obsessive compulsive disorders.
"They are all the types of disorders where what we like to say that input doesn't match output," Keres said. "In other words, the child sees the world around them, but sometimes interprets it incorrectly and has tremendous difficulty in social situations."
Back before the society was formed, those children were usually identified in the school system having learning disabilities.
"And these parents got together because it was so challenging getting these kids to participate in the usual social activities," Keres said.
Tailoring camp programming to address that includes having staff who are specially trained in working with children with these conditions, plus significantly lowering the ratio of camp counsellors to children to one staff member for two children.
Regular camps are normally in the range of five to 10 children for each camp staffer.
"We offer the same experience that they would have at a mainstream camp," Keres said.
"I think the difference is our staff already come with the experience of working with invisible disabilities, so they understand the mindset of the children more closely."
As for the range of activities at Eureka Camps, the only difference from the mainstream is the exclusion of competitive sports.
"We don't put that kind of pressure on the kids," Keres said. "It's what we like to call 'challenge by choice.' So, the kids get to experience pretty much everything a mainstream camp offers.
"But it may be tailored slightly differently. There may be some kids who choose not to participate. But we do our best to make sure that every child who comes enjoys that experience within the context of what they find enjoyable."
Camps run six days for eight-to 10-year-olds, and 13-days for 11-to 14-year-olds.
Each camp uses YMCA facilities with space for up to 28 campers for each session in places such as Camp Elphinstone near Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast, and Camp Deka in the Interlakes district of the Cariboo Plateau.
Traditionally, there is a 50 per cent return rate of campers, which speaks to the program's popularity.
"And the older they get, the higher the return rate," Keres said.
For more information about the Eureka Camp Society, visit eurekacamp.ca.
