The Family Transition Place (FTP) Violence Prevention team has send another 11 kids to Camp MyWorld; an experiential, fun and safe learning camp being held this week at the Mono Community Centre.

Targeted for youth ages 9-13, Camp MyWorld offers boys and girls the opportunity to be involved in many fun activities that incorporate learning skills necessary to develop healthy relationships.

Now in its fourth year, Camp MyWorld has been an incredible success each year.

“It’s a busy week, but well worth it,” says Sabina Greenley, an FTP violence prevention educator. “Seeing some of these kids transform right before your eyes is … priceless. Kids discover a lot about themselves during this week, and through our activities they acquire qualities such as confidence, self esteem, courage and trust. It can be a profound experience; positively impacting their lives long after they have left camp.”

The name Camp was chosen because the camp really is all about the kids.

We want the kids to have fun and feel good about who they are,” Sabina said,

thus the camp is Camp MY World. It is what they want to do, activities based on getting to know who they are better, the experience of getting to know others who they may not had have a chance to meet, and to experience healthy relationships.”

Many of the campers have walked away from this experience with increased confidence and valuable life skills. One example is of a camper who had experienced bullying in school and struggled to be assertive or make his opinions known. By the end of the week, he was emceeing the talent show, displaying assertive skills, and was more confident about himself. His mother commented on the difference she saw in her son in one week.

Another example of a self-assured camper is of one who had just been through a parental separation.

Now that his mother was a single parent, costs EMPLOYEE had to be kept down.

One of the camp activities that the campers participate in is a game that involves giving the campers $1,000 in play money and they all have an opportunity to bid on different donated prizes.

When a backpack full of school supplies became available, this particular camper was determined to outbid the other auctioneers. He used all of his play money to purchase the backpack and wore it proudly for the remainder of the day.

When his mother came to pick him up, he would not allow her to leave until he pulled out each and every supply to show his mom what he had acquired. He made sure to do his part in supporting his family.

Since 2006, Family Transition Place has sent 50 kids to camp, but with more help from the public, it will be able to send even more kids on the camping experience of a lifetime.

If you would like more information on how to send a kid to camp or more about the program, please contact Stacey Tarrant at stacey@ familytransitionplace. ca or by calling 519- 942-4122 ext. 240.

25-year history

Family Transition Place has a 25-year history and commitment to working towards ending violence and supporting those who have experienced violence, by providing safe shelter and counselling to those women and children who need it the most.

Last year, 162 women and 103 children from the local community found refuge in the shelter. And 1,023 men, women and children received support through counselling and outreach programs. Over 6,000 youth received their Violence Prevention training, learning new skills and developing attitudes that will allow them to build healthy respectful relationships.

FTP relies on community support through donations and sponsorships, to ensure its programs maintain their high standard of excellence and that Violence Prevention programs continue to be available to the youth and communities of Dufferin and Caledon.