Following in his older brother’s and mother’s footsteps, Felix Ducharme is continuing a family tradition attending Roseau River Bible Camp.
Katy Ducharme, who has three boys, sent her oldest son Eli to the Roseau River camp last year.
Ducharme herself attended the camp when she was in Grade 5 and although she admits feeling a little homesick during her experience, she’s happy her sons have made very positive memories there.
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Katy Ducharme and her son Felix Ducharme, 6
“(Eli) went and he had such a good time, then the entire summer and time after that, he just talked about camp constantly,” said Ducharme. “And so, that became kind of the theme of his summer and Felix, being younger than Eli, just dreamed of going, as well.”
Eli had to have spinal surgery in March, which prevented him from attending again, but is recovering well and plans to go next year.
“(Camp) wasn’t on our radar until a family friend told us last summer that their son was going to go,” said Ducharme. “It popped it up on our radar for us, and we were, like, ‘Well, maybe our kids should go.’”
Thanks to Free Press Sunshine Fund donors, both Eli and now Felix have been able to attend.
“We found out about it last year when we were looking into it for my oldest son, Eli,” Ducharme said. “Then we were trying to figure out how we were going to be able to afford sending him. And then I think on the website for Roseau River, it talked about funding with the Sunshine Fund and that was the first I had ever heard of it.
“And so we looked into it and the process was so easy for us to be able to fill out the form and be in contact with everyone and receive approval very quickly.”
Felix, 6, attended day camp this summer and loved it, just as his older brother did last year.
“He really enjoyed it,” said Ducharme. “And that was a bit of a surprise to us because he’s normally very reserved and nervous, so we didn’t know if he would enjoy it as much as he actually did and he far exceeded our expectations.”
For more than 40 years, the Sunshine Fund has helped low-income families send their kids to camps across Manitoba and northwestern Ontario.
Each year, the Manitoba Camping Association sends approximately 600 children to various day and sleep-away camp programs.
“The reason Roseau River appealed was because at least I was familiar with the camp,” said Ducharme. “I was familiar with their values, and it wasn’t far from home so I didn’t have to worry if all of a sudden I did need to pick them up.”
Felix had a great time.
“He said his favourite part was what they call ‘Gaga Ball,’” she said. “I guess it’s a sport or a game that they do and then tuck time — being able to go and grab snacks and stuff from the tuck shop.”
Ducharme, who home-schools her three boys, believes that camp offers valuable lessons in adapting to other adult authority figures while also helping them build new experiences and connections.
“This is good for them to learn who they are as individuals away from their brothers, as well,” she said. “It provides a good place for them to grow.”
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca