Finding Belonging at Camp

“Oh, it was really fun!” says 11-year-old Asher who just came back from one week at Campfire Circle’s Muskoka site. “I loved everything. There were tons of activities and so many new opportunities. All the chants were so amazing that I lost my voice. I also made new friends,” says Asher about his first overnight camp experience.

We learned about Asher when his dad Kevin was fundraising for the Sporting Life 10K. Asher was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) when he was just a baby. From three months to three years old, Asher and his parents were at McMaster Children’s Hospital, almost daily, totaling 764 treatments over three years.

Back in May, Asher had only attended Campfire Circle’s community events and was looking was looking forward to the new adventure of overnight camp. Kevin shared that Asher didn’t have anyone his age to speak about his experiences, so he hoped that at overnight camp, he would make more friends.

“I wouldn’t say I was nervous. I was more excited. As soon as we got to camp, I saw all the counsellors in line waving pool noodles. It made me feel really welcome,” says Asher.

Asher’s cabinmates were a mix of kids who were returning and attending camp for the first time. “They all made me feel like I belonged,” he says. “I thought I would be more nervous being away from my parents for that long, but I was having too much fun that I didn’t get homesick at all.”

For Asher, the week had many highlights. “I really enjoy fishing. I wanted to bring my rod and tackle box, but my parents said they would probably have everything I needed there. And they did. They had good rods, lines, and real worms! That’s how you catch bass. One of my favourite memories was when my friend caught a 17-inch bass. The record for Muskoka is 18 inches!”

When it came to the early morning Polar Bear dip, it was a breeze. Asher, Kevin, and the rest of their family would do the annual New Years Day Polar Bear dip in Lake Ontario. “We do it every year and it’s a fun little tradition,” says Kevin.

On the canoe trip, Asher learned important camping essentials from building a fire and pitching a tent. “I came up with my own recipe of roasted marshmallows in between potato chips,” he says.

One of Asher’s cabinmates had to spend a night at the Med Shed because he was feeling sick. “He’s on treatment, and we supported him. I’m really glad the Med Shed was there. And I know he’s doing okay now,” he says.

When it came to pick Asher up at the end of camp, Kevin saw everybody get off the bus and give each other hugs. “I knew immediately that it was a success. That was fun to see,” says Kevin. “He hadn’t been off the bus for five minutes and he was already making plans for next year. As a family we’ve signed up for a Weekend at Camp in the fall. We figured seeing what he had so much fun doing would be a cool opportunity.”

For Kevin, running the Sporting Life 10K and seeing his son go through a transformational experience was unique. “I had raised just over $2,500 for Campfire Circle, and it’s great to know that it would give somebody else the opportunity to attend camp. It’s a nice feeling to know you’re giving back at the same time.”