When Michelle Khoury saw an advertisement for Salvation Army summer camps in British Columbia in 2022, she decided to ask her son, Francis, eight, if he wanted to join. Francis excitedly agreed.

Since enrolling, Michelle has noticed that the activities at Camp Sunrise have helped her son gain confidence, as well as a few other skills.

Pathway to Participation

“My son has ADHD and mild autism,” Michelle shares. “When he came back from camp last year, he was a different kid, in a good way. He was very confident in himself. His hand-eye co-ordination also improved.”

The social aspect of camp is what Michelle likes the most. As she considers herself a homebody, she felt that Francis maybe hadn’t had the chance to socialize much with other children outside of school. Since he began attending camp, Francis has built some nice friendships along the way.

“The social aspect of camp really helped my son out. He made really good friends and some of them went with him again last year,” Michelle adds.

The current summer program Francis is enrolled in is Camp Sunrise’s holiday camp. This weeklong camp is open to children between the ages of seven and 12, who can take part in a variety of outdoor activities.

Since Francis joined holiday camp, the Khoury family has become more involved with The Salvation Army. They now attend church services weekly, while Francis goes to a children’s program that teaches participants about Jesus. In addition, Francis is also enrolled in music camp.

Opportunities for Growth

Aside from the developmental benefits, Michelle also admits the affordability of the program can be very helpful for families.

“If it wasn’t for the Salvation Army camp, considering how much summer camps cost now, he’d probably be home all summer long. Salvation Army camps offer financial support, too. If a parent needs a bit of financial support, they can help cover some of the costs, so it doesn’t become a financial burden, and not all camps do that,” Michelle says.

Looking forward, Michelle expects Francis to continue going back to camp every summer, and perhaps eventually even become a cabin leader.

“I’m grateful he’s had the opportunity to go and try new things. Extremely grateful,” concludes Michelle.

Juan Romero is the staff writer/news media relations specialist at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters in Toronto.

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