Listen to this post:

I want to tell you about an awesome camp in Southern Ontario and tell you how you can support them to get some community funding.

[Image description: Logo on wood in front of trees shows someone canoeing at sunrise and text “Camp Dawn: Adult Camp Experience for ABI Survivors”]

Camp Dawn is a 4-day annual retreat for about 100 adults with brain injury held at the Camp Trillium property at Rainbow Lake in Waterford, Ontario. They have adaptive artistic, recreational, and adventure activities designed so that people with physical and cognitive impairments can truly participate and enjoy them. Like these things!

[Image descriptions: A man in a wheelchair is strapped into a safety harness getting ready for the zip line in the woods. A woman smiles for the camera and shows off her colorful collage project, a handmade journal. Three people in wheelchairs playing golf with staff nearby for support.]

Many of the campers are on a fixed income. Even though Camp Dawn is run by a volunteers, they keep the price of camp accessible. Speaking of accessible? They actually drive campers to camp from a few different pick-up locations in the area. I can’t tell you how many people I hear about don’t go to a support group or a cultural event or even to the doctor because they don’t have access to reliable or affordable transportation. Having Camp Dawn take care of some of the transportation needs allows campers to get a ride without having to bug a friend or family member. Goodness knows, a lot of us really feel like, after a certain number of times of asking you for a ride, we’re bugging you. We don’t want to bug you. But we also don’t want to miss out on great things.

If you like the idea of Camp Dawn (you should!), please consider visiting the Aviva Community Fund competition for funding through October 23rd. You don’t have to donate a dime. You register for free (or log in with a Facebook account) and vote for an idea you like. The ideas with the most votes get to split a $1 million grant. You get 18 votes just for registering.

Want to vote for Camp Dawn (you should)? Click here for Camp Dawn’s idea page on the Aviva Community Fund competition page.

Don’t take it just from me. Here’s what some of this year’s campers said:

“I was so amazed at how the ‘Canoeing’ and ‘High Ropes’ experiences especially, were able to be enjoyed by ALL who wanted to…”

“In my local community, we have no support groups.  I haven’t gotten to meet other people ‘like me’ – I came to see how others have gotten through their struggles.  it has renewed my will to keep going.”

This is the real deal.

Check out Camp Dawn’s Facebook page and their website at campdawn.ca to learn more about their wonderful programming or get involved.