Finding Magic at City Camp
Hi, I’m Bronwyn. You may have recognized me from a past blog post I wrote about volunteering with WCK and how it boosted my confidence. If you’re new, hi. This July, I had a wonderful time volunteering at City Camp for the first time, and I am jazzed to tell you about it!
Before Camp: Finding My Way to City Camp
My decision to volunteer at City Camp was out of curiosity to be part of a main pillar of WCK. I had been involved in other areas such as Hangouts and The Club, so I was eager to find out about the magic of City Camp I had been hearing about. I was a camp counsellor the previous two summers, and I really liked it, but the camps I was at were overnight, and in hindsight, I realized day camps would be a little gentler on my body! From those camp experiences, though, I knew I enjoyed spending my summers with kids in a camp-like environment, so City Camp checked those boxes.
A word that describes my feeling before the first day of City Camp is nervously-excited. We had a couple of orientation and prep days with Chez, the connections coordinator, so that helped ease my nerves as I felt equipped with the right skills that would be needed at camp. I did not feel alone, as other new volunteers were learning alongside me, and the rest of the volunteers and staff were very welcoming and open about any questions or concerns.
During the Week: New Connections and Favourite Moments
What surprised me most about my experience at City Camp was the number of student volunteers there were, as I did not expect there to be so many. Many of the students were volunteering as part of their high school’s leadership program, so because of this, they brought a lot of good energy and fun vibes to camp. I was also surprised at how long some of the campers had been coming to City Camp year after year. One camper told me they had been coming since the beginning of when the City Camp started, and now this would be their last year due to aging out.
Besides snack time, my favourite activity was the talent show at the end of the week. I loved seeing the campers' unique personalities come out when they were performing. It was a fun time, and lots of laughs were shared. A memory that will stick with me is helping a camper create a comic book during camp. I loved seeing their creativity and witnessing the story unfold over the days they were at camp. I’m looking forward to what that camper will be up to in the future with their storytelling skills!
Getting to know the campers was a highlight for me. It was great to see their enthusiasm, especially during the camp-wide scavenger hunt. I learned through one camper that they also underwent the same cancer treatment as I did, and we bonded over our shared experience.
Choosing to Step Back Into “Cancerland”
As someone who learned about WCK during my cancer treatment and later volunteered with Hangouts and The Club once in remission, volunteering with City Camp was very meaningful for me. During our orientation training with the nurses who would be at camp, we talked about what kinds of things to expect medically during camp to be prepared. Although I objectively knew all of this, the discussion made everything feel very real. I realized that I would be alongside kids who have ports or receive blood transfusions on a regular basis, all things I had experienced myself.
For me, when treatment is all said and done, it is easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of life and slowly exit “cancerland”, especially when checkups and other reminders of that experience become less frequent. But with City Camp, I enter back into that cancer world in an intentional way. I choose to. This time, it wasn’t because pokes and low hemoglobin made me. It is my choice to be around kids with a similar experience as mine. It’s empowering this way, because now my cancer experience influences how I show up and shapes the way I connect with the kids. Because I had leukemia, I understand what many of these kids face and the positive impact that camp can have.
I think that the day-style of City Camp could have fit me well when I was in treatment, as I was too anxious a kid to attend an overnight camp. I’m so grateful there are more spaces like City Camp that aim to support kids affected by cancer or a blood disorder in a meaningful way by letting them be themselves.
Looking Back: What I’m Taking With Me
If I were to describe City Camp to someone who’s never experienced it, I would say it’s magical. That was the word I heard others use to describe their experience at City Camp. Now, having experienced it myself, I can verify that word truly does sum up City Camp. I think it is the staff, volunteers, campers, and individuals who contribute behind-the-scenes that help create the magic of City Camp, and without everyone’s presence, it would not be what it is today.
I’ll be taking lots of memories with me from camp, but two things that will stick with me from the week of City Camp are passion and compassion. Being part of a community that helps kids and families affected by cancer or a blood disorder gives me that internal fuel that gives me purpose. This is what I am passionate about. I am also taking away compassion, as working with kids can be challenging! Knowing each kid has their struggles gives me the outward focus and awareness to support them as best I can. In life outside of camp, I aim to involve myself in things that fuel my passion and live with eyes of compassion.