Finding Friendship at Camp

When Ben was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma at four and a half, arts and crafts with Campfire Circle quickly became his source of comfort.

“When he was in the clinic, it was arts and crafts. When he was admitted, it was more arts and crafts,” says his mom, Amber. Through long days of treatment at the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, Campfire Circle became a familiar face, providing laughter and joy.

When Ben and his parents experienced Family Camp at Rainbow Lake, it was transformative. Amber loved watching Ben explore camp freely and confidently. “I enjoyed seeing Ben do everything he wanted to do and have the freedom to go and play as if nothing happened,” she says.

Now eight years old, Ben says the highlight of the week was his friendship with Young – his camp counsellor, or as he proudly calls him, “my camp buddy.”

Whether tackling a new project in arts and crafts, hitting targets at archery, or sharing meals in the dining hall, Ben was rarely far from Young’s side. When asked how he braved the Polar Bear Dip, Ben says: “I just went in with my buddy.”

Amber formed new friendships too. During a fall weekend at camp, she met another mother who lives in the same city. A single conversation turned into a meaningful connection. “We see each other for coffee here and there. It’s nice to do that,” she says.

The closeness of Rainbow Lake makes these experiences even more accessible.

“The beauty of Rainbow Lake is that it’s close to home,” says Amber. “We never feel stressed about getting there. It makes the whole experience calmer for us, especially after everything Ben has been through.”

And for Ben, camp can be captured in just three words: “Fun. Happy. Exciting.”