Emily’s House Children and Families Enjoyed An Overnight Away Camp Long Weekend

Family Away Camp for Emily’s House Families, September 2024
It was “all hands on deck” as teams prepared for our first overnight away camp for families since before COVID. Registrations filled almost immediately. It is a rare opportunity for these children and families to have access to a clinical nursing/PSW team, child life/recreation specialists, camp coordinators and a fully-accessible facility for a family vacation in Ontario’s beautiful north country. Family Away Camp reinforces all our programming values to build up families, communities of peer-family support, meaningful memories within families, and adding life to days for everyone in the child’s immediate family who participates.

Letter from an Emily’s House Family of Four – from Family Camp

“My family and I attended Emily’s House camp at Campfire Circle in fall 2024 which proved to be an extraordinary experience for us all. For the first time in my daughter’s 15 years, we felt truly supported and able to relax as a family. The camp offered us opportunities to engage in activities together that we had never imagined possible. The camp was nothing short of magical, offering us opportunities to partake in activities we’d only dreamed of before. It was heart-warming to see my daughter and her twin embarking on thrilling adventures together – a precious first for them. The level of support we received was exceptional. The experience was so impactful that we sincerely hope for the chance to participate again in the future – hoping this can potentially be an annual event! This camp provided us with a unique opportunity for family bonding and created lasting memories that we will cherish. Many thanks!”

Music Recreation Groups and Drop Ins at Family Away Camp

At Family Away Camp weekend last September, music was integrated into campfires and daily recreational fun. At the Campfire Circle campground for complex care children, one designated room was fully equipped for music programming, with music instruments, sound-making toys and recording equipment.  Campers and families were free to drop in and explore over the three days of camp. With the limited time and lack of continuity after three days, deeper Music Therapy work was not realistic, but kids could come in for more introverted time, for self expression and exploration. Our Emily’s House music therapist had a chance to meet some of our client families for the first time (having met previously only with their children), and to introduce families to programming supports.

Emily’s House Kid, Ethan, Enjoyed the High Ropes Course at Family Camp 2024

Over the years, we have celebrated Ethan’s building of a construction-paper house with a strongly worded “keep out” sign. We’ve witnessed him playing in a mediaeval castle, directing drawings (with hand-over-hand support from a trained volunteer), laughing too hard, “tossing” pancakes into a pancake monster, and staying awake to trick-or-treat for candy inside Emily’s House children’s hospice. Check this out. Last September, at an overnight away camp outing for Emily’s House families, with help from our Recreation Coordinator and a well-designed accessible structure, Ethan braved a high ropes course in a wheelchair. Normally, travelling in a wheelchair doesn’t provide frequent opportunities to ascend above ground, but this superhero is unstoppable.

Thanks to our partners in programming for this memorable camping experience, SickKids Pediatric Advance Care Team (PACT) and Campfire Circle, as well as everyone from the Emily’s House children’s hospice team who participated.

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