Message from the director

My name is Deanna Henry and I have been involved in Camp Quality Manitoba since 2007. I first became involved with CQ MB when a friend of mine, who I met while working at a different summer camp, encouraged me to volunteer. I thought “Why not? It has been some time since I was at camp and as this camp is for children living with cancer, then it is that much more special.” Therefore, my plan was to be a support companion as I was not sure that I wanted to jump right in as a companion my first year. However, the Camp Director and my friend had other ideas for me; they called saying they had this camper who was just like me and would I mind being a companion instead. Well, needless to say I did and we were together for that year and the next. Last year I was to be a support companion as my camper decided not to return. However, once again, plans changed and I filled in as a companion for a camper whose companion had to leave.

Now Camp Quality has been quite an eye opener for me in the sense that I have never seen such excitement and joy on the faces of young people as this is perhaps the first time they have ever been to camp and are doing activities that they perhaps thought they could never do before. Also the fact that the campers have to deal with very mature issues when living with cancer and the best part of camp, the whole concept, is to allow them to be kids and have safe fun. The relationship I have with my camper has also incorporated her family and is one that I hope will continue even if she no longer attends camp. As they are not far from where I live, I have been able to see them on regular occasions, both planned and unplanned.

Now as Camp Director I look forward to working with a great group of people who are on the committee to make the third week of August the best week of the children’s and volunteers’ summer. Camp Quality Manitoba is in Whiteshell Provincial Park situated on Brereton Lake, which allows us to do boating, swimming and have memorable campfires under the Prairie skies.