Learn more about Kids Cancer Care's Camp Kindle

The Camp itself is on a massive 160 acres of forested land, literally a 1/4 section. The buildings themselves only take up 23 acres.. to put that into perspective.

They can hold up to 80 children at a time (7-17), with a capacity of approximately?100. Unfortunately, there is a waiting list with priority going to?those who have never experienced the camp before.

So what does Camp Kindle offer to it’s campers? The list is vast, but to mention a few, they have Cross-CountrySkiiing, Mountain Biking, Camping, Climbing Wall (which was the first initiative when the camp opened), Hiking (Creekside Trail which goes to edge of property where a campsite is available. They take kids 14-15 up there every Wednesday night), High Ropes, Old Trappers Cabin, Archery Range, Trails for hiking and more.. yeah, that’s quite the list indeed.

The camp sits near an Alberta forestry reserve which they use for events such as a 1-2 week, no power/ no water/ roughing adventure. In this manner, kids can enjoy the real camping experience.

Year-round youth leadership programs are available for teens to help their self-development, involving them with community groups, speaking engagements and even building homes for the homeless in Mexico and El Salvidor. Moving forward, they would like to work with aboriginal communities in Northern Canada as well.

During summer/ fall, the camp takes in school programs for grade 5/6 to help teach them about eco-systems using their pond. Kids get to put on gum-boots and dig through the pond itself which is home to a muskrat, geese, several blue herons and a couple of owls.

Not only is the camp available for schools but also corporate retreats. Adult team-building activities utilizing the high ropes challenge are offered during spring & fall to develop?communication and coping skills.

The high ropes are designed to accommodate 2-4 people simultaneously and has 4 separate components to it. Oddly enough, adults seem to be scared of it more than the kids. Gotta love that!

As you can see, the camp itself is just one part of the experience.

 

Medical Care & Education

The camp also actively works with the University of Calgary’s Cancer Centre and the oncology department at the Children’s Hospital in both Calgary & Edmonton. We’re fortunate in that the U of C’s Cancer Centre is known for groundbreaking cancer research.

Because many of the children have specific needs that require special attention, the camp has a small medical staff on site, offering a full-time, year-round nurse (Janessa) and several assistants. This provides kids with 24/7 availability, as the medical team go to bed with walkie talkies. If necessary, the children can be quarantined or sent home if necessary

The other amazing part of the medical program at Camp Kindle is their educational programs, which the camp itself will pay for on behalf of the nurses so they’re up to date on new methodologies to help the children.

?Though there is an 80%?survival rate for childhood cancers, ?it’s the treatment and long term effects that cause issues for the kids moving forward. This is one of the reasons the camp also has a $250,000 scholarship program for kids who survive childhood cancer.

An interesting fact we learned?is that children don’t react the same when faced with cancer. They don’s see cancer as an imminency of their time here, instead they just continue to enjoy life and the camp helps them focus on t he joie de vivre.

Jack Perraton lodge is where volunteers stay when at the camp. It houses an upper and lower level that can hold 26 and 28 volunteers respectively each week.

The volunteers work just as hard as paid staff and the camp admit that they could not function as they do without them. This is why all the training and hiring, done by Tracy their volunteer manager, is a year-round process.

 

Thanks to many sponsors, the camp has had some amazing development, such at ATCO helping to provide the Auditorium/ Gymnasium, Albi Renova and CTV building the Ranch House, which acts as a respite house for families affected by cancer, SHAW for the satellite feed so that kids who are quarantined can watch cartoons.

The Jayman Lodge which the main lodge for the camp, thanks to Jayman Homes, and Enerflex for the Music Hall which is rented out for receptions and weddings.

Keep in mind that the cost of camp falls squarely on the shoulder of Kids Cancer Care, the families are already burdened with illness and the camp is free to them. It costs $1500/ child to attend camp, so without sponsors, volunteers and donations, the camp could not run on the 1% funding they receive from the government.