Community Living And Five Counties Children's Centre Provide Youth With Complex Medical Needs A Space To Be Kids And Have Fun

Community Living Trent Highlands ( Community and Family Services) in partnership with Five Counties Children’s Centre, hosted an accessible camp for youth in the area living with complex medical needs.

This camp was meant to provide an opportunity for youth living with complex medical needs to experience the fun of summer camp, while still having access to important medical resources they need.

“The facilities here are absolutely perfect,” said Shawna Belcourt, Outcomes Facilitator at Community Living. “The lift, the air conditioning, these are just things that are super important but wouldn’t be available anywhere else.”

Belcourt noted that the facilities at Five Counties helped participants with mobility devices and their supporters get around the building, the air conditioning was important to provide relief to campers with low blood sugar and, while much of their time was spent outside, being able to come inside to cool off or take a break was a bonus.

The two day camp welcomed four young people, who have aged out of most summer camps that accept participants up to 12 years old, and their supporters.

They had a packed schedule with visits from a music therapist from Soundspeaks Music Therapy, a performance by Peterborough Circus, participated in Art Therapy, Adapted Sports (bowling, hockey, and curling) and made lots of furry friends from Critter Visits.

Liam, a camper, and his supporter he refers to as ‘Nanny Beth’ had fun bowling in the gym.

Beth says Liam is always busy spending time with her or with his family, but the opportunity provided by Community Living and Five Counties was special.

“He’s not different here,” she said. “He fits right in. There’s no stares, no questions, he’s just like all of the other kids and he has just had so much fun.”

Belcourt says that this camp has been in the works for a long time, and now, as COVID restrictions are easing she hopes it becomes yearly.

She says that because of the complex medical needs these young people and their families deal with and nursing shortages, some of them were unable to attend school for many months because they couldn’t risk contracting COVID.

The closure and postponement of other accessible events and activities in the city has also disrupted routines and offered little support or interaction for these youth.

“This has been a labour of love,” said Belcourt. “We couldn’t have done it without Five Counties and without all of the behind the scenes support from our manager Penny Wood, the Recreation Therapists Colleen (Ristok) and Caitlin (Ivany) here at Five Counties, volunteers here and so many others. It was a huge success.”

This years camp was a pilot project, but with the success of it and feedback from participants, Community Living and Five Counties hope to be able to offer this program for years to come.

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Community Living Hosting Silent Auction This Thursday To Raise Money For United Way Campaign

Community Living Peterborough is hosting a Silent Auction to raise money for the 2012 United Way Campaign this Thursday (November 22nd).

Community Living, a United Way member agency, have set this year’s goal at $10,000—up from the $8,000 they raised last year.

The auction is open to anyone in the community, and takes place at the Community Living head office at 223 Aylmer Street from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. this Thursday.

Examples of some of the auction items available include:

1.
2 Floor seats to the Tracey Morgan stand-up comedy show at Casino Rama for January 26th, 2013

2. One Year Membership to Tamarac Golf and Country Club (valued at $1,050)

3. Two, 30 minute scenic flights for 3 people in a Cessna 172 airplane (sightseeing over Peterborough from Vector Air)

4. 2 tickets to any game (minus playoffs) from the Peterborough Petes

5. Sunday brunch for two at Chemong Lodge

6. Round of Golf for 3 with CPGA Professional James Clark (plus 2 power carts) from Oshawa Golf & Country Club

7. One month membership to GoodLife Fitness (valued at $150)

8. Guess Sunglasses (valued at $80.00)

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