A Bunch Of Peterborough Kids Had Life Changing Experience At A Tim Hortons Camp
/You would be hard pressed to find someone in Canada who has not heard of Tim Hortons Camp Day that takes place each year on the first Wednesday in June, where you buy a coffee and help turn a kid's life around.
One hundred percent of coffee sales on Tim Hortons Camp Day help raise funds to send kids to camp, with $12.4 million being raised last year alone. But does anyone actually know where that money really goes and how it is used? I sure didn’t—that is until I got to experience a Tim Hortons Camp firsthand in April as a chaperone for the Grade 5 and 6 students of Prince of Wales Public School in Peterborough.
One of the buses that drove the kids to the camp was the Peterborough Petes bus
When I was asked to tag along on this trip to Tim Horton Memorial Camp on stunning Lorimer Lake near Parry Sound, Ontario, I did not hesitate to say yes. All I asked was, when do you need me?
Off the buses from Peterborough and entering the camp for the first time
The bunk beds in the cabins
I was not only curious to see the camp but extremely eager to share in the excitement that these 85 students were about to experience.
The view from the cabins
I knew going in that the kids would be very excited to take this four day trip, but I had no idea how much so until I arrived at their school to catch the bus. The children were comparing the trip to Christmas, with most of them saying they could not sleep the night before.
Kids on the low ropes
They were super excited for the camp itself but many were also looking forward to riding a Coach bus so that they could watch movies along the way. The icing on the cake for many was that one of the two buses was the same bus the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League travel to their road games in!
Floor hockey in the gym
Two and a half movies and lots of laughs later, we were there. The kids were incredibly well behaved as they filed off the bus and headed towards the cabins that would be their home for the next four days.
There were boys and girls cabins—each featuring ten rooms with two bunk beds per room with a spectacular wilderness view from each window within.
Gaga ball
Once unpacked, the Tim Hortons camp staff greeted us with beaming smiles and gave us our itinerary for the week, which included an action packed schedule of exciting activities.
Awesome experience on climbing wall
She did it!
The camp featured several team building activities, including low ropes, floor hockey, Gaga Ball (I’m still sore from that), a climbing wall, ultimate Frisbee, Geocaching, a Tim Hortons version of the Amazing Race (which my team won but nobody is keeping track), arts and crafts, and even Quidditch—the same game they play in Harry Potter.
Playing the Harry Potter game Quidditch
Although the main focus was fun, this was a leadership camp and the goal was to give these awesome kids the tools they need to be leaders in their community—whether that be in the classroom, the schoolyard, at home or in public.
In arts and crafts, they made dreamcatchers
That goal was certainly achieved as these children definitely grew and developed in the time we were there. Kudos to Tim Hortons for supplying them with that opportunity.
Getting instructions for the Tim Hortons Amazing Race
The entire experience was an eye opener but my eyes were truly widened when we wrote our thank you letters to Tim Hortons at the end of the week.
Although most kids thanked the camp for the fun activities, some gave thanks for the opportunity to eats meals that were made from scratch and for the hot water that gave them the ability to have a nice warm shower every day—one they could take their time with.
The Wolf Pack: My amazing Amazing Race team!
Even as I write this, my eyes get a little teary as I think of these things that seem so small and basic to a lot of us—things that I certainly took for granted growing up.
I was allowed to shower whenever I wanted and they would not be timed or monitored to save on hot water. And I never had to worry about fresh food being on our table. I thought everyone lived like me and it wasn’t until I got older that I realized how lucky and fortunate I truly was.
Kids toasting smores by the campfire
The real tear jerker came when I heard a child thank the chef for “the best meal I have ever had”. It was basic pasta with light sauce, something that most of us throw together when there is nothing else in the cupboard and we’re too lazy to go to the grocery store.
Beautiful Lorimer Lake: Directly beside the fire pit where kids were roasting smores
Not all of the children at Prince of Wales come from the same background though or have the same socioeconomic status; in fact, their school is very diverse. They come from different ethnicities, different cultures and many come from strong financial households, which I think is what makes this school so special.
No matter where they come from, these kids are all the same on the inside. They all have big hearts, and they all treated each other with the upmost respect during this trip. Everybody was helpful and encouraging which I think really enhanced each child’s experience. It was truly special to see.
The students pose for fun group shot on last day
