Happy Camp!

When we arrived on the Mishkeegogamang Reserve, it was with feelings of anticipation, concerns for the unknown and excitement that a year of planning was coming to fruition.


As the sun rose on our last morning in Mish, the feelings were of sadness that we were saying goodbye to our friends but with the full knowledge that camp went well and the children had a great time.


A day earlier, as the campers were getting on the bus for the last time, there were hugs, tears, waves and ‘please don’t go’ sentiments. Yes the work was hard and last-minute changes in our program plans challenging, but the smiles and hugs made it all worthwhile.



After many hours of swimming lessons, canoeing on Lake St Joseph, sporting events, colourful crafts and water balloon tosses, we knew we had accomplished what we set out to do. We gave the children of Mish a great camp experience, taught them new skills, and had many heartfelt conversations that conveyed a sense of hope that life can be good.


As we gave out the awards for canoeing, swimming and sports, we noticed the children had a sense of pride in what they had achieved.

Thanking Diana, our lunch lady and Tommy our bus driver, we knew we had made new friends and that their lives had been affected as they helped with camp. There was a noticeable impact on the parents as well.


“I didn’t realize what your camp was doing for our children until I saw how they interacted with your staff and responded to the obvious love you have for them. I’ve not seen them react that way in their normal life in this community.” said one mom.

No one knows what the future holds, but it is our hope and prayer that the futures of the children in Mish, will grow in a positive direction. Through the Mish Adventure Camp they discovered what great qualities they have inside themselves and they’ve seen that good relationships create a sense of hope in life.

Mish Adventure Camp Update

Week 1

Our first week of camp is over. It was a busy week full of surprises. We had planned camp for about 40 children, but when the bus showed up over 70 kids came off!

It was amazing to see the children so excited and eager to come to camp. The staff, unprepared for over 70 campers, was flexible and improvised to make the day successful; so the kids would want to come back. After that first day we revamped the schedule and brainstormed ways in which we could run the program with almost twice as many campers. We have changed our schedule from offering one session of skill instruction to a creating a rotation of skill sessions. The amount of rotation in each area depends on the number of campers we have interested in each of the activities.

The excitement the campers had for swimming was unbelievable. We have had to create four times slots where the kids come to swimming lessons. Some of the children love being in the water so much that they do not want to get out. Even when the weather is a bit cool and the water feels cold the children want to keep swimming. Three cheers go out to Heather who spends all day in the water with the kids.

Canoeing has also been a huge hit. The older campers love to go out on the lake with Penny and Charina in the canoes. There are so many of them interested in getting on the water we had to split the group into a morning and an afternoon session.

Greg, Sam and Maurice have been spending time teaching campers how to play soccer, baseball and ball hockey.

Christina has kept busy coming up with craft ideas for both early teens and young children. Some of the kids spend hours at the craft tables making jewelry and taking advantage of the other great crafts we have brought.

Making meals has been a bit of a challenge but with the help of a woman in the community, we were able to feed up to 85-90 people each day.

Week 2

Week 2 is being run simultaneously with the communities Youth Conference. The weather so far has been incredible; sunny hot days with no rain and the children are enjoying water activities for most of the day. We are half way through our time here and we are really getting to know a lot of children and adults in the community. We really feel welcome and have made many new friends.

More to come ... Karen

Karen Ward
Coordinator, First Nations Program

Boston Pizza Fundraiser

On Monday night, Mish Adventure camp staff, family and friends enjoyed a special fundraising event at Boston Pizza in Grimsby, ON.

Several of our First Nations camp staff, helped serve the Boston Pizza guests who came out that night for dinner. This gave them the opportunity to briefly talk about the camp and encourage people to support their efforts.

Many people were interested to hear what staff would be doing this summer and were genuinely captivated with their desire to work with First Nations children on the Mishkeegogamang reserve.

Boston Pizza graciously donated a portion of the dinner sales from that evening to FTC Canada to support the First Nations camp staff. Good job staff and thank you Boston Pizza!

Sponsor a child to go to camp!

First Nations Camps for Kids

For $60.00, you can give Mishkeegogamaang (Mish) First Nations kids 3 weeks of great summer camp experiences at Mish Adventure Camp, July 13 - August 1, 2008.

Camp Activites include: Swimming lessons, music, canoeing, windsurfing, fishing derby, crafts, drama, sports, golf, BBQ's and much more!

"Last summer I saw children at Mish Adventure Camp who didn't have many reasons to be happy. First Nations children right here in Ontario lack purpose because they are impoverished. I want to help, care for, and love these children. It's the smiles on their faces that beckon us back to do camp again."

- 2007 Camp Counselor

For more information contact:

Karen Ward
First Nations Program Coordinator
1-877-382-2262 ext. 232
karen@ftccanada.org

To make an online doation click the link below:

To FTC Canada Payment Page

Please mail financial donations to:
First Nations Camp Sponsorship
FTC Canada
P.O. Box 30
Guelph, ON N1H 6J6

CCI/Canada Welcomes FTC Canada

FTC Canada was welcomed as a member of Christian Camping International/Canada (CCI/Canada) early in 2008.

FTC Canada submitted the membership to create a partnership with the Canadian and international camping community.

Christian Camping International is an international alliance of Christian Camping Associations helping one another develop effective Christ-centered camps, conference and retreat ministries. CCI operates as a non-denominational evangelical organization through national and regional associations in countries around the globe.

CCI/CANADA is one of many Christian Camping International associations in more than 30 countries. Currently, there are approximately 200 regular and 20 business members in the CCI/CANADA directory.

The welcome has already translated into support for the camps FTC will operate in Northern Ontario this summer.

2008 Mish Adventure Camp Staff


Kim Hamming - Camp Director

Lives in Dunneville and has graduated with her Bachelor of Arts: Child & Youth Studies from Brock University

Penny Dobson - Community Liaison


Lives in Hamilton and has just graduated from Sheridan College with her Social Work Degree





Kandy Ostrosky - Program Coordinator


Lives in Burlington and has just graduated from Sheridan College with her Social Work Degree





Heather Kooiman - Swimming Director

Lives in Smithville and has just spent the last several months in Africa working with ‘Save the Mothers’








Greg Williams - Sports Director

Lives in Hamilton and has just completed his first semester at Bible College

Christina DeOliveira - Creative Director

Lives in Brampton and is very busy helping out at the Brampton Music Theatre









Naketa Pinnock - Program Assistant

Resides in Hamilton

Maurice Brown - Program Assistant

Resides in Hamilton

Sam Williams - Program Assistant

Resides in Hamilton

Charina Betty - Program Assistant

Resides in Hamilton

FTC Canada, with Christian love, compassion and integrity, responds to the needs of Canadian First Nations children and their families. We assist by providing food and supplies, home improvements, children’s programs, and youth life skills training, with a view to creating for them, a positive and more meaningful future.

Providing Food & Supplies…
FTC procures food and other essential supplies to be shipped to First Nations communities. FTC Canada works in collaboration with partner organizations in Sioux Lookout, Ontario that provide warehousing, workers, air transport, and important community connections so that FTC can reach the most families.

Operating children’s & youth programs …
Because of the many hardships facing children and youth living in northern Ontario's remote First Nations Communities, FTC Canada provides structured summer day camp programs. By training and mentoring the youth to serve in their own communities, FTC is helping them develop important life skills for their future.

Opportunities to become involved...

• Send one child to summer day camp for 5 days - $150
  
• Send one staff member to camp - $500
  
• Purchase one week of camp supplies - $750
  
• Fly 1000 lbs.of food to one reserve from Sioux Lookout - $1,000
  
• Ship one truckload of food to Sioux Lookout from Southern Ontario - $3,000

Join our Camp Team...
FTC Canada is looking for summer camp staff -Download Camp Staff Application

For more information contact:
Karen Ward
First Nations Program Coordinator
1-877-382-2262 ext. 232
karen@ftccanada.org

Please mail financial donations to:
FTC Canada
P.O. Box 30
Guelph, ON N1H 6J6