Mackenzie Monias really does Wannakumbac.
The 16-year-old from Brandon has returned to the Riding Mountain National Park-area summer camp year after year since he was 10.
Now, after his last season as a camper, he plans to give back by working there as a counsellor next year.
Marcia Monias says having the financial support to send her son Mackenzie to camp has been a blessing
“(I like) meeting new people,” Mackenzie said. “It’s very fun to be away from home and get outside and move around a lot.”
Mackenzie got his first overnight camping experience at Circle Square Ranch in Austin the same year his older brother attended Camp Wannakumbac. He got his chance the following summer and fell in love with the place.
“He never wanted to switch and try any other camp,” said his mother, Marcia Monias. “He likes going for all the fun of the activities.”
Monias, a single parent, said the experience has helped her son gain independence and meet other kids from across the province. She hopes her two youngest children can attend camp with the help of the Sunshine Fund once they’re old enough.
“I wouldn’t be able to (send them) without the Sunshine Fund,” said Marcia. “You feel like a better parent. For somebody who’s living on low income, it’s hard to get your children into things such as camp and sports, and so having that financial support is a blessing.”
She said she would miss Mackenzie when he first starting going to camp because he’s her “sidekick,” but loves to hear about all of his experiences when he gets home.
Sunshine Fund program director Dana Moroz said more than 600 kids will attend camp this year with donors’ help.
Along with everything else, it seems, the costs associated with sending kids to summer camp have increased, she said, adding the program is fortunate to have the support of both new and returning donors each year.
“Lots of times these kids don’t get a summer vacation,” she said. “This is their summer vacation. It’s such a special event for them to attend and participate in all those activities.”
Moroz said the pandemic caused a sharp decline in the number of people they could send to camp, but seeing an increase this year is a step in the right direction.
The Sunshine Fund supports 30 different accredited camps.
“It helps the Manitoban kids,” said Moroz. “We’re helping kids from across the province.”
Free Press editor Paul Samyn said he’s grateful for the donations readers make to the Sunshine Fund.
“We delight in sharing stories from the Sunshine Fund each summer because it’s our way of letting Free Press readers know how important this program is and how their donations make a difference,” said Samyn.
“I am always amazed at the generosity of our readers and thankful for their tradition of giving to the Sunshine Fund.”
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca