CAMPFIRE CIRCLE / AUTOUR DU FEU — Quick View

Reporting period views

Reporting period ending: 2022-12-31

Programs and activities:

Ongoing programs:
Campfire Circle (formerly Camp Ooch & Camp Trillium) brings healing through happiness to kids and families affected by childhood cancer or serious illness. Through our in-hospital, community, and overnight camp programs, we create opportunities for children to build friendships and social skills, develop self-confidence and resiliency, and improve their overall well-being. By providing play-based experiences, we give kids the chance to just be kids, regardless of their medical diagnosis. With the support of our generous donors and community partners, our programs are fully accessible and offered at no cost to participants, helping to foster a world where children thrive and families heal. Programs include but are not limited to: 1) In-Hospital Programs: Daily at SickKids, McMaster Children’s and Children’s Hospital London; 2) Community Programs: Day Camps and Single Day Programs for children and families across Ontario; and 3) Overnight Camps: Summer & Weekend Camps for children and families at the Camp’s three sites: Waterford, Rosseau, and Prince Edward County. The camp's main administrative headquarters is in downtown Toronto. With an emphasis on creating play experiences that are accessible and inclusive, Campfire Circle programs promote belonging and connectedness, perseverance and resilience, and hope and optimism for the future.

New programs:
When Camp Ooch and Camp Trillium merged in 2020, the newly formed organization embarked on a process to discover a new name that would signal a bright future together. We wanted this new identity to place kids and families affected by childhood cancer at the heart of what we do, and recognize the caring community surrounding them. With the input of our board, staff, donors, volunteers and Camper families, we established a new organizational name that would both celebrate our vibrant history and propel us into the future. On January 1, 2022, we officially became Campfire Circle. Following two years of pandemic disruption, we were able to resume all overnight camp programming, welcoming elated campers and their families to Campfire Circle Muskoka and Rainbow Lake sites. More than 1,000 campers attended our overnight camp sites where kids and families had fun and healed together in the great outdoors. We also offered a number of Weekend at Camp programs in the fall to help reach every family in our community. Summer Family Camp returned to Rainbow Lake with half of families having a child under the age of seven on active treatment. At Rainbow Lake, families accessed emotional support and connected with others who share a similar journey. In Muskoka, our traditional kids-only camp returned with a new sibling-only session, and double the specialty sessions for bereaved siblings. Our medically safe environment helps kids grow independently, gaining confidence through new experiences and building new and lasting friendships. The Muskoka site is the only oncology camp in Canada with the ability to provide IV chemotherapy and blood transfusions, so that even the most medically fragile patients can experience the joy of camp. Campfire Circle also resumed all in-hospital programs, providing nearly 8,000 one-to-one experiences daily at SickKids Hospital, McMaster Children’s Hospital, and the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre. Our in-hospital program team helps restore a sense of joy and normalcy to children affected by cancer or serious illness, providing playful and interactive activities right at their bedside. The camp-inspired programs help kids – who often experience fear, discomfort, isolation and loneliness – to just be kids, improving their social, mental and emotional wellbeing. We are proud to work with leading healthcare partners across the province to bring our joyful camp experiences to children receiving treatment in hospitals

Compensation

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