Natalie has a special place in her heart for Easter Seals Camp Merrywood.
Natalie has a special place in her heart for Easter Seals Camp Merrywood. Now 30 years old, Natalie has been attending Merrywood since she was just a kid. While Natalie enjoys the huge range of inclusive activities at camp, it’s the people – the counsellors and the campers – that have kept her coming back year after year.
“There’s a group of girls that she became friends with when she started camping. And some of them are still coming back to camp,” Leanne, Natalie’s mom explains. Leanne used to work as a Phys. Ed. teacher not too far from Merrywood and has always been familiar with the camp, even before Natalie began attending. Her connection to the community created a unique situation, “A bunch of my students were counsellors, so they would always keep a special eye out for Natalie. And in a way, they kind of grew up together.”
“The people in the staff, we’ve known them for years, they are like extended parts of our family.”
Our camp staff are known for creating the special moments that form the magic of Easter Seals camp. “The people in the staff, we’ve known them for years, they are like extended parts of our family,” Leanne warmly expresses. Natalie fondly reminisces about a particularly memorable instance when she and her fellow campers got to cover their counsellors in paint, “they had all of the colours, and you got to paint them whatever colour you wanted.”
Natalie, who has spina bifida and is paralyzed from the waist down, appreciates the accessible and inclusive activities that Merrywood offers. After so many years at camp, she has tried it all – from sailing and kayaking to arts and crafts, “sometimes they do pottery outside by the lake,” Natalie shares. It’s also common to go for nature walks where you might spot a baby deer on the camp property.
Your support will help ensure more campers like Natalie have the opportunity to attend a fully accessible Easter Seals camp.
Having the opportunity to participate, to get outside and enjoy nature, is so important for Natalie. “We are just very thankful for it,” Leanne expresses. “There’s not a lot of activities or camps that are geared toward these kids. Especially kids like Natalie who are in wheelchairs – accessibility is a big issue… At camp, everything is built for them – even the windows are lower in the cabins, everything is on one level, and there are no stairs to worry about.”
When asked to describe camp in one word, Natalie responded: “Easy. I don’t feel stuck.” She further explained that she often feels more independent after being at camp. Natalie loves camp so much that she would often attend multiple sessions in the same summer, once completing three 10-day sessions and once seven-day session.
“At camp, everything is built for them – even the windows are lower in the cabins, everything is on one level, and there are no stairs to worry about.”
Having so much camp experience, Natalie will often now act as an ambassador for other campers. “She helps kids in her cabin because she’s very verbal and she knows where everything is. And she likes to help the younger campers,” Leanne shares. Natalie also has some advice for younger campers thinking about trying out Easter Seals camp for the first time: “Give it a try and have fun!”
Natalie’s enduring connection to Camp Merrywood is evidence of the meaningful impact Easter Seals camp experiences have on the lives of children, youth, and young adults with physical disabilities. We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated donors and supporters who continue to make camp possible for Natalie, and the many young campers who are just beginning their camp journeys. Your generosity not only changes individual lives, but it also helps to strengthen the sense of community that defines Easter Seals camps. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of campers like Natalie, and we hope you will join us in creating even more magical camp moments next summer!