Moorelands Stories
Moorelands Camp Stories
City Summer Day Camp Stories
After-School Program Stories
Leadership Programs Stories
Other Stories
Moorelands Camp Stories
Brian
Brian was raised by a single mom who tried her best to give her son all the support he needed growing up. Money was always tight so Moorelands Camp, which sets fees on a sliding scale according to income, offered an important and affordable opportunity for Brian and he attended camp every year until he was 18 years old.
Although good natured and kind, Brian had ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder) and was constantly in trouble at school and in his neighbourhood. He had little impulse control and the hyperactivity made it difficult for him to settle or concentrate. Moorelands Camp was a good fit for Brian. With lots of physical activity every day and supported by trained staff, Brian learned new coping skills and developed confidence as he overcame obstacles.
When he was 16 Brian participated in Moorelands Camp’s Skills and Leadership program and at 17 he became a Camp Cabin Leader. He was wonderful with the younger kids and soon realized that he wanted to become a teacher more than anything else in the world. We’ve stayed in very close touch with Brian. He recently finished Teachers College and he included Moorelands as one of his job references. Recently, Brian was offered his fist job as a teacher with the Nippissing school board. After years at Moorelands Camp, Brian came to love the north so much he decided that was where he wanted to live.
Jamie
For 13 year old Jamie, Moorelands Camp is a refuge. Responsible for his two younger siblings after school every day as well as many evenings and weekends, Jamie carries a big load at home. He gets dinner started every night and makes sure his little brother and sister do their homework. His Mom works shifts and has come to depend on Jamie’s help. “It’s not easy raising 3 kids on your own especially when your ex-husband misses so many child support payments” explains Jamie’s Mom.
At Moorelands Camp, Jamie can concentrate on just being a kid. “He gets to play basketball, swim, canoe, be with kids his own age, and have fun. He loves it at Moorelands and I love that he gets to forget about all the adult responsibilities he takes on at home.”
Latasha
16 year old Latisha says Moorelands Camp changed her life. “If I had my way, every inner-city Toronto kid would go to Moorelands Camp!”
“I’ve been going to Moorelands camp since I was 9 years old. I’m almost seventeen now and the kids and Counsellors are like a second family to me. At camp you’re given the chance to work things out with people. In the Skills and Leadership Training program (SALT) you get to do things like canoe trips, rock climbing, cliff diving, really challenging stuff. You learn to work as a team and you learn about anger management, something I had a bit of a problem with. You learn that there are steps to take before getting angry. I learned not to yell, that there are other options. I guess you learn how to communicate properly. I learned to open-up and the kids around me saw that and opened-up too.”
“There is plenty of opportunity to get into trouble in the city- drugs, gangs, crime, its everywhere. Moorelands taught me that there is an alternative. I feel good about myself and where I’m going and I owe so much of that to Moorelands. There’s no way we could have afforded to go away to camp, it has made such a positive impact on my life.”
“Moorelands is much more than summer camp. I stay connected with my friends from camp all year round. We share a common experience, we’re all making the best of what we have and we’re staying out of trouble!”
Katie's story as told by Melissa
“I knew from the very first lesson, that this would not be an easy group of girls to work with, said Melissa, a Moorelands Camp swimming instructor, speaking about an 11-year-old girl named Katie and her cabin mates. “They didn’t want to take direction and were not used to working cooperatively with others. As the week progressed I didn’t see any improvement in the girls’ attitudes. They balked at the idea of working in partners to solve problems and would never dare to show weakness.”
“On the second last day of camp, I it was time to learn how to do a kneeling dive. One by one the girls tried it, and with much success. That is, until it was Katie’s turn. ‘Alright Katie, why don’t you give it a try, just kneel down, squeeze your ears with your arms, finger tips together and point to the treasure at the bottom of the lake…’ She looked up at me with terror in her eyes. “I can’t,” she whispered. Tears were beginning to escape her.”
“Come on Katie, I know that you can do it. Let’s give it a go.”
“No,” she said, “I’ll hit my head…I’ll get hurt…I can’t do it.” I could see how afraid she was and I wasn’t going to push her anymore. But I wasn’t the only one who noticed the fear on her face and in her voice. “Come on Katie! You can totally do it!” “Just give it a try, we know you can!”
I could not believe my ears. These girls were rallying around and encouraging her. “Here Katie, you can borrow my lifejacket.” Another climbed out and took her hand. “I’ll dive with you if you want Katie.”
“Without even realizing it, these girls were demonstrating one of the most precious things that I experienced at camp. They were working together. They were encouraging each other. They were putting aside their differences and genuinely caring for one another.
I knelt down next to Katie. “So? What do you say; do you want to try it?”
“Yes,” she said. “I want to try.” And with that Katie knelt down, squeezed her ears with her arms and pointed to the treasure at the bottom of the lake. Cheers erupted from the girls and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a little girl smile such a huge smile. These were not the 7 tough girls that came into my class at the beginning of the week. After experiencing Moorelands Camp, these 7 girls had made real connections with each other and they had a new confidence in themselves.”
And that is what Moorelands is all about – helping kids develop competence, confidence, character and make positive connections with peers and adults.
City Summer Day Camp Stories
Joelle
We first met Joelle four years ago, shortly after she immigrated to Canada with her husband and their two sons from the Middle East. Both she and her husband were only able to find minimum wage jobs but they were committed to establishing a new life in Toronto. In addition to his full-time day job, Joelle’s husband also found a part-time work in the evenings. Every day Joelle picked up the boys up from school and shyly tried out her English with some of the other mothers. When school closed in June, it was vital to her that her sons have a safe place to be during the day where they would keep up their learning. She was relieved to hear from some of the mothers about the Moorelands City Summer Day Camp and that subsidies were offered to low-income families like hers. So, on registration night, and every one since, Joelle left work early in order to arrive 2-3 hours early to register her children.
When her eldest son, Ronald first attended Day Camp he was a quiet, shy seven year-old who was afraid to interact with other children. Drama and active games were particularly difficult for Ronald. It would often take a lot of encouragement to get him to join in group activities. However, with each passing week, Moorelands staff reported small successes: a new friend made, a game enjoyed with other children. Three years later, in addition to growing a few inches, Ronald has become a most enthusiastic and talkative participant indeed! Last year, Ronald was one of the older children in his group and staff encouraged him to help new and younger children in the program. This was a role that Ronald enjoyed and became quite good at. At the end of Day Camp last summer, Ronald’s mom asked to speak with Ronald’s Day Camp Counsellor privately. She said that she was so thankful for all that the Day Camp had been able to do for her son, and that thanks to the subsidies available, she was able to continue to send him to this wonderful program.
Joshua
When Joshua first arrived at the Moorelands City Day Camp five years ago, he was a very angry child. In the care of the Children’s Aid Society, Josh had been moved through a number of homes and it had become very difficult for him to trust adults.
In the beginning, Josh’s behavior at Moorelands City Day Camp was pretty disruptive. He would bully quieter children, refuse to participate, and sometimes would yell or run around the room upsetting activities. He refused to listen to staff and was often rude and aggressive.
Every summer over three years, Joshua spent much of his first week at the City Day Camp in the camp director's office. His behaviour was so bad that he was usually suspended by the second week of camp.
But Moorelands City Day Camp staff refused to give up on Josh. Each summer they worked with him to consistently apply consequences for his behaviour. Over time, bit by bit, he learned to manage his anger and trust others just a little more.
His caregivers say that Moorelands City Summer Day Camp has become the most consistent part of Josh’s life and he always asks to come back. Over the last two summers, Joshua's behavior has changed dramatically. He is still a very active boy, but now will accept redirection. He is warm, affectionate and clear about boundaries. Last summer, he asked to help out with the younger children and he proved to be a positive and loved mentor.
After-school Programs Stories
Nasreen
At Moorelands City Programs, we serve over 900 children each year at our after-school, leadership and summer day camp programs. And yet, we disappointed many families and children who waited for hours in long lines to register for our programs.
One mother was faced with what is perhaps the most difficult decision of all. She waited in line for 2 hours, having left her job early to register her 3 children at a Moorelands After-school program. She lost wages so that her children could have this opportunity. By the time it was her turn, there was only one after-school space left. She had to make the impossible decision to give up the space or choose just one of her children to attend. All three wanted to go and she did not know how she would go home and tell them that only one could do so. She finally made the heart-wrenching decision to send her eldest child. He was struggling to communicate in English and finding it hard to make friends. She had heard that at a Moorelands program her child would be able to make at least one friend. She hopes there will be space for her other two children later in the year.
The opportunity to become confident in communicating and make connections with other children is a something that we often take for granted. For many of the children we serve, these are gifts beyond measure.
Nasreen* was only 7 when her parents were killed before her eyes in Afghanistan. Her only living relative was her teenaged uncle. Together they fled to a refugee camp and within a year found themselves in Canada, newcomers sponsored by a Toronto church.
Once in Toronto, Nasreen was diagnosed with a blood disorder that required her to be taken to the Hospital for Sick Children every couple of weeks for a blood transfusion. The local Afghani community did not embrace the newcomers. Parents feared that Nasreen’s disorder might be contagious at worse or unlucky at best and would not let their children play with her.
When Nasreen joined the Moorelands After-school program she was very shy and quiet and did not have a single friend. To watch her alone in the school yard was enough to break your heart. Over time, Nasreen gained confidence working with other children on arts and crafts projects and taking turns reading. As the other children got to know her, they began to accept her. The mothers picking their children up from the After-school program also began to notice her and one mother gave her daughter permission to become friends with Nasreen. It was the first friend Nasreen made in Canada and her smile told everyone how important it was.
Angela
Angela first started attending the Moorelands After-school program at the Applegrove Community Complex when she was 11 years old. Today, at 22, she is a Program Leader at another Moorelands After-school program and also works at the Moorelands City Summer Day Camp in the summer.
“I wasn’t popular at school”, says Angela. I was the tallest; I had curly hair, buckteeth and acne. The Moorelands After-school was a place I could go where I wouldn’t be judged. It was a place where you were free to be who you are, a loving place, a safe place. I wanted to make sure the after-school program was the same for others as it was for me. The people there are the best.”
In her off hours, Angela is studying at George Brown College and is an active volunteer. She has been recognized with five awards for her volunteer efforts, including a Volunteer of Ontario Award.
Registration Night
Registration nights for Moorelands After-school Programs often prove to be real eye openers. Take a recent evening at the bustling Grenoble Public School in Flemingdon Park for example. We’ve been delivering programs at this school of 1000 students since 1998 and each year, the demand for our programs has grown. Usually 2 registration evenings are held and any remaining spots are filled during the first week of the program. This year was very different! When we arrived early for our 6.00 p.m. registration we were shocked to see a line of people stretching out the door and half way around the school – more than 200 people had lined up to sign up their children for available spots.
As we frantically set up, the school’s staff informed us that people had started queuing at 2.30 p.m. There were parents, older siblings, grandparents, friends of the family and little children who had stayed on After-school with their parents, so families could secure space in the program. Hard working parents who are unable to afford childcare are desperate for a safe space for their children to be after school. Moorelands After-school Programs provide a nutritious snack and creative activities that help children develop self esteem and life-skills while having a lot of fun. Children are also supported in language learning and academics through homework help and literacy programs. The children in our programs soak up new experiences and are never afraid to make mistakes or try new things
Everyone in the line-up was incredibly patient. No one broke into line; no one became angry or protested about having to wait. People helped each other to complete the forms, even though they were strangers to one and other. People frequently stepped forward to assist with language interpretation even after they had registered and needed to get home themselves. As the spaces started to fill rapidly, the line still grew. In what seemed like moments, we were down to the last two After-school spaces. As we watched in shock, the woman who was next in line stepped aside to allow the person behind her to register his child, as he desperately needed to leave. As a result of her generosity, she was unable to register her own children because they were twins and they wanted to go together. She did not complain or protest.
All the spaces were filled in an hour and a half and another 10 children were put on a waiting list. We turned away many other deeply disappointed and desperate families with sadness and a sense of the overwhelming need for more programs such as this. And yet, frustration was not the only outcome. We left learning that while the community of Flemingdon Park might have a lack of resources, they were rich in mutual respect and support. The Moorelands After-school program at Grenoble is but a small piece in the fabric of this school and this community and yet an essential and sorely needed one.
Leadership Programs Stories
Karim
When we first met Karim, he was getting into trouble at school, acting out and skipping classes. Reeling from the loss of his father, he was struggling to cope with his hurt feelings and the upheaval to his home life. He refused to speak to his mother about it and counseling hadn’t proved useful either. The one place he could communicate was at the Moorelands Leadership program.
Karim’s mother gave us a call to let us know how much she appreciated the program. She said she was grateful because her son loved being at the program. He would not skip a day, even when he was not as interested in being school. She told us that he has been happier since joining the program and more settled. She also told us that she feels an incredible peace of mind because she knows that at least one day a week, her son is in a safe place that encourages him to question his values and actions and that helps him to find positive and healthy ways of connecting with others.
The two hours a week at this program allows young people from a variety of backgrounds, many of them with complex issues, to come together and learn from each other and our skilled staff. The program has a clear focus on developing personal leadership skills and self-awareness, which Moorelands believes is the right of all young people, and our participants thrive on it. We have long waiting lists at all our programs, which speaks not only to the popularity but also of the need for these kinds of programs.
Christmas Sharing Story
David, a single father with two small children, was struggling to make ends meet. He had been on long-term disability for some time but in September, finally found a part-time job he thought might turn into full-time work. Less than two months into his job however, he was laid off. Feeling very discouraged, David tried to find other work but had a hard time of it. He knew Christmas was coming and he had no money to buy his children gifts. That’s when he applied to our Christmas Sharing Program. It was a big step for David to ask for help. He said he never would have come if not for his kids. He told us that they deserved to have a proper Christmas. This year our Christmas elves put their efforts into overdrive finding food, gifts and winter hats and gloves for David and his family and for the over 300 other families helped through our Christmas Sharing Program. He was ecstatic when he came to pick up his hamper. It’s the little things that make a holiday special. Christmas Hampers, with their food and gifts allow parents to spend time and connect with their kids - cooking a special meal, playing a new game, working on a puzzle or marvelling over new toys.
Baby Bundles Story
Public Health nurse Sandy O’Connor was concerned about Ludmila V. Ludmila and her husband Petr had moved to Toronto from Eastern Europe the year before and were struggling with poverty, a new language and culture. Ludmila, a first time Mom with a week-old baby, was isolated and scared. Petr worked two part-time jobs to make ends meet and Ludmila was stuck in their basement apartment with the new baby, few resources and no friends or family for support. Sandy called Moorelands knowing that we would prepare Baby Bundle for Ludmila.
Baby Bundles assists our partners who work directly with new moms affected by poverty and their newborns. Baby Bundles not only provides basic toiletries, clothing and other items to help keep newborns warm and dry but is also used by public health nurses and other social services agencies to connect with new mothers. This connection promotes infant care education and encourages much needed interaction between mother and baby.
