Kalin’s Camp Story
“I like to describe it as going to camp with a low battery and emerging from camp at the end of the week with a fully charged battery, ready to take on the next year,” Kalin fondly reminisces. He has been a camper at Easter Seals’ Camp Woodeden for an incredible 16 years, a journey that has shaped his life in profound ways.
For Kalin, it feels almost impossible to recall a time before he became a camper. Perhaps it’s the sheer number of years he’s attended the camp or the emotional difficulty in revisiting a challenging period in his life. As a child with cerebral palsy, he had faced enormous hurdles in finding accessible summer activities. “All I did before I started in 2009, with Easter Seals, was sit at home and just think, ‘what the heck am I doing?’ So bored. And I was so depressed at that time because there wasn’t anywhere to go.”
Fortunately, Kalin’s quest led him to discover Camp Woodeden, a decision that would mark the beginning of a remarkable 16-year journey. Little did he know the impact it would have on his life.
“I just think that Easter Seals is everything. I mean, we’ve been through everything together. At least from my experiences. Every time we lose a camper, we mourn together. Every time something amazing happens, we celebrate.”
Over the years, Kalin, now gearing up for his 16th summer at the camp, has gathered a treasure trove of cherished memories with fellow campers and dedicated counsellors. “I’ve been involved for 16 years, and I’ve made great memories. I’ve made memories with some campers and counsellors that I hold so dearly in my heart,” he shared. Camp Woodeden has transformed into a second home, a place that provides not just recreation but also a sense of community, purpose, and belonging. Kalin exclaimed, “I just think that Easter Seals is everything. I mean, we’ve been through everything together. At least from my experiences. Every time we lose a camper, we mourn together. Every time something amazing happens, we celebrate.”
What truly sets Woodeden apart from other camps, in Kalin’s eyes, are its unmatched accessibility and the unwavering commitment of its counsellors. Kalin was taken aback when he first experienced the fully accessible camp. “It was shocking and also a miracle because, to my knowledge, Woodeden and Merrywood are the only fully accessible camps in Ontario. It’s fully accessible,” he marveled. He had encountered other organizations that claimed their camps and activities to be fully accessible, only to discover that they were accessible to some children, but not to him.
Because of your support, many kids with physical disabilities can attend a fully accessible Easter Seals camp.
As Kalin reminisces about his time at camp, his heart swells with gratitude for the counsellors who have evolved into friends and mentors. “In the end, the most important thing to me and what makes camp possible are the counselors that literally come from across the globe to spend eight weeks with us, which is something I can never repay them for. I wish I could, but I can’t. But the fact that they do – that is something that I will never forget. And I honestly think that’s the only reason some campers come back to camp is to be a kid and to be heard, and to be in an environment where nothing is impossible. And that’s what Easter Seals provides.”
Kalin underscores the pivotal role of Camp Woodeden and expresses his deep gratitude to Easter Seals donors who make it all possible. “If it weren’t for Easter Seals and the people supporting it, I truly believe we wouldn’t have as many people with disabilities here. I honestly think that, because if you listen to their stories that I’ve listened to, the only thing that saves their life every year, and the only thing that keeps them going – everybody says Easter Seals, Easter Seals’ camp experiences.” He continued, “I hear story after story, including myself. To this day, I say, ‘they save people’s lives.’ Because if it wasn’t for Easter Seals, kids wouldn’t be able to get the equipment they desperately need. And they wouldn’t be able to have that freedom to go to camp without any barriers to be themselves.”
“If it weren’t for Easter Seals and the people supporting it, I truly believe we wouldn’t have as many people with disabilities here. I honestly think that, because if you listen to their stories that I’ve listened to, the only thing that saves their life every year, and the only thing that keeps them going – everybody says Easter Seals, Easter Seals’ camp experiences.”
Kalin’s story is one of many that demonstrate the transformative power that Easter Seals camps hold for individuals and families across Ontario. Through the generosity of donors, it is possible for Easter Seals to help children like Kalin flourish in a world that should, without question, be accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.
Kalin underscores the pivotal role of Camp Woodeden and expresses his deep gratitude to Easter Seals donors who make it all possible. “If it weren’t for Easter Seals and the people supporting it, I truly believe we wouldn’t have as many people with disabilities here. I honestly think that, because if you listen to their stories that I’ve listened to, the only thing that saves their life every year, and the only thing that keeps them going – everybody says Easter Seals, Easter Seals’ camp experiences.” He continued, “I hear story after story, including myself. To this day, I say, ‘they save people’s lives.’ Because if it wasn’t for Easter Seals, kids wouldn’t be able to get the equipment they desperately need. And they wouldn’t be able to have that freedom to go to camp without any barriers to be themselves.”
Kalin’s story is one of many that demonstrate the transformative power that Easter Seals camps hold for individuals and families across Ontario. Through the generosity of donors, it is possible for Easter Seals to help children like Kalin flourish in a world that should, without question, be accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.