NORTHERN ONTARIO: NEWS FROM MISH ADVENTURES

Up to 50 children a day arrive at the Mish Adventures home base by bus each day! And they arrive to a host of great activities; from swimming to volleyball and of course, eating food!

The weather in the North has been ideal; never too hot and never too cold!

A youth camp has been added to provide the older youth with activities that don’t include running over or into the smaller children! About 10 to 15 youth have participated and we have enjoyed afternoon canoe trips to explore the islands and games like Capture The Flag!

Swimming lessons are offered and of course we have the lifeguards to run “free swims”. This ensures not only essential skill development but a safe and fun waterfront for the children.

Because swimming is our #1 fun activity we hosted a Beach Day at the community beach half way between our home base and the main reserve. Most of the day was spent in the water of course! We added some volleyball and naturally some food! Lots of hot dogs roasted on an open fire! Of course everyone wants to have another Beach Day!

The staff get their recreation in the evening and the soccer and baseball games inevitably draw in members of the community who want to “hang out” and enjoy some fun with us.

The staff work hard and they share their care and concern for the children freely. Children here notice unconditional love maybe more so than children in other parts of Ontario and it impacts attitudes and is demonstrated in improved behaviour.

This is our last week here and already we are starting to regret the time when we have to pack up and head back to Southern Ontario.

FTC Canada would still welcome your gifts to help support this program. Please click here to go to the First Nations page.

FAMILY FOOD BOXES GO TO FAMILIES IN THUNDER BAY

An eager and terrific team of volunteers, some from An Eagle's Cry Centre (our host) and some from the FTC Canada Mish Adventure Camp Staff had the entire food box distribution ready to go a day before the actual event!

This included 350 family food boxes (approx. 22lbs each) and 350 hygiene boxes (personal essentials), food and cold drinks provided by the Centre, and games and crafts for the children. There turned out to be an added couple of bonuses for families picking up their boxes. Some families attending had no idea the Centre was open for them throughout the year. Families with small children were also able to help themselves to plenty of children's clothing.

Sky and Angie Hedricks, founders of the Centre were on hand to manage the intake process and to speak with families about the centre and its various programs. Each family had received a voucher which they exchanged for the boxes.

Families were genuinely appreciative of the support and excited to get this type of assistance when sometimes they were running short on food and supplies. Thunder Bay has an improving employment situation but many people are still living in low-income situations.

Our hope is that families in Thunder Bay will remember the generosity of An Eagles Cry Centre and turn to it whenever they find they are in need.

MISH ADVENTURES 2010: LEADERS

>

There are a high percentage of First Nations children and youth in most of the communities in Northern Ontario. In Mishkeegogamang we have had the privilege of meeting and spending time with several of them over the over the course of three years.

Lauren has been attending Mish Adventures every year since it started in 2007. He is one of the children committed to coming as often as he could. There was always a smile on his face and a desire to help out where he could. “I’m going to make different choices than the some of the youth I know” was one of the first things he said to us. Every summer, Lauren returns to camp and seems to be on a path to making some good choices.

When asked why FTC Canada to such invests in a children’s program in a community that is so far away, the answer that has most been appropriate is, “If the relationships we build with the people in the community changes the direction of even one person’s life, it is a good thing.” If that person chooses hope instead of despair, it was worth it.

Lauren has agreed to be a Junior Leader at Mish Adventures this summer. Helping him find the skills and talents he was born with and developing his leadership potential is an exciting adventure. Our goals at camp are:

• To meet the needs of the children;
• Give children a place to forget their sadness;
• Develop long-term relationships.
  

We hope to inspire young people to become leaders, in the camp program and in their community. We are excited about our forth summer in Mish. Goals are being met and the journey many of these children are on may, change transform and entire community’s outlook on the future.

Learn more about supporting a child at Mish Adventures: Click Here!