Ronza Reynard loves ferrying kids and families back and forth from the Salvation Army’s (SA) summer camp retreats at Beaver Creek, near Saskatoon. Reynard, the Army’s administrative manager in Estevan, enjoys observing the transformations that happen with just a few days of open-air living in a safe environment, while being able to commune with nature.
Reynard sees this year’s camping experiences as being extra positive because the total number of participants from the Estevan area exceeded expectations.
Of course, that put a strain on the camping budget, but still, those who wanted and needed to go to Beaver Creek, got there.
“How could I look a kid in the face and tell them they couldn’t go to camp because of a budget problem?” said Reynard.
A total of 37 people, mostly children, enjoyed the experience this year, she said.
Last year there were 23 campers, so the budget challenges were very real.
“We keep the costs down per family, between $25 and $75 per camper, she said.
The first camp of the season is always the most popular due to the age of the participants since it focuses on youngsters between the ages of seven and 12. This year the local Salvation Army sent 22 young campers up to Beaver Creek between July 27 and 31.
The Aug. 4 to 7 camp was for mothers and kids. That camp caters to moms with children as young as newborn babies to children as old as 12.
This year the Moms and Kids Camp attracted four mothers and nine children from the immediate area.
The third and final camp offered by the Salvation Army was for teens between the ages of 13 and 15. This year the Estevan branch of the SA sent six campers to that particular outdoor experience which ended last weekend.
Reynard said, due to the numbers, they borrowed a bus to transport kids to the first camp, and on the way back, it broke down shortly after leaving the camp. “But STC (Saskatchewan Transportation Company) came to the rescue,” she said, ensuring that she and the kids arrived home safely after she had placed a distress call to the provincial busing agency. The Army’s van was used for transporting the other campers.
“We did a barbecue fundraising for the camps earlier in the year and Home Hardware partnered with us for another camp fundraising effort, and we always try to put something in our regular budget to cover some camping expenses,” she said.
“The average cost per camper for a week is about $300. So, you can see, this requires a little subsidization,” she added.
A lot of the camp-goers this year were first timers, which made it even more rewarding to those who get involved with the camp experiences. “I think between 17 and 20 of this years campers from here were first timers,” said Reynard.
“One little guy kept telling me all he wanted to do at camp was to roast a marshmallow. That was it. He just wanted to toast up a marshmallow over an open fire.”
The wish was easily granted since his camp was held prior to the open fire ban that was placed on a number of the more northern communities due to the forest fire hazard levels.
“We made his summer,” said Reynard.
“The kids were pretty excited, and that’s what I love about the camp. Most of them would go right back if they could and they couldn’t stop talking about it on the way home. Others see the positive results too. So we can go out into the community nd tell them they did the right thing by supporting our barbecues and partnerships. I see it in the faces of the kids, and when I listen to them talk about it. I’m looking forward to next year’s adventure too,” she added with a laugh.
Beaver Creek can handle up to 80 campers at a time for a week or more.
