YMCA introduces day camp specially designed for kids impacted by trauma

By KENDALL KING, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on July 14, 2022.

Medicine Hat’s YMCA is helping make summer fun for all with a new day camp for youth impacted by trauma.

Camp Jude, which launched last week and runs until Aug. 26, integrates trauma-informed practices with summer camp, to create a safe and fun environment for local youth aged 5-12.

While campers can enjoy many of the same activities traditional day camps offer, such as crafts, games and outdoor play, Camp Jude is designed to support campers who may exhibit anti-social or aggressive trauma-response behaviour.

As well as being run by staff specially trained for youth trauma, the camp offers smaller group sizes; quiet spaces; sensory supplies to help de-escalate behaviour; flexible schedules for campers and their families; and a higher than average educator/camper ratio of one to five, with a social worker or youth care counsellor also on hand.

The camp, a one-year pilot program funded through YMCA Canada’s Innovation Grant, is believed to be the first of its kind in Canada, said local YMCA community services director, Victoria Potter, who came up with the idea.

“I wanted to know, what is there for kids who have these big feelings and typical childcare isn’t a (good) fit? Where do you place them?” Potter said. “When I was doing my research last year, there wasn’t an organization in Canada doing (this kind of camp). And in the U.S, they have very limited options.

“So, the goal with this camp is to give children who’ve experienced trauma almost the same type of camp experience other children would get in the community, but with the additional support for when they are experiencing those big feelings.”

Though Camp Jude only launched last week, Potter says she is already seeing positive reactions from the 13 campers currently enrolled.

“Our hope is the pilot will prove so successful, other YMCAs across Canada will be able to use our approach,” she said.

YMCA of Medicine Hat CEO Sharon Hayward is proud of the program, which she plans to introduce again next summer as part of the YMCA’s annual programming.

“We know how valuable this program is to families and children who need it,” Hayward said. “Due to the specialized programming available at Camp Jude, it is more expensive to operate (so) our goal is to secure as much funding as possible to offset these costs.”

Over the next 11 months, Hayward and her team hope to raise a total of $120,000 to cover next year’s expected operational costs and camper registration fees.

For more information about the program or to register, email admincoordinator@medicinehatymca.ca.

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