Memories From Camp
January 1, 2007
An SMD Consumer Recalls Her Camping Capers
Many children have fond memories of summer camp. Colleen Marek is no exception.
The difference is that Colleen relies on a wheelchair for mobility and electronic equipment for communicating – something that made her camping experiences both more challenging and more meaningful.
“I became involved with overnight camps at age 10,” says Colleen, now age 20, recalling her first year attending one of the SMD overnight camping trips. “A social worker suggested that my mom and dad let me try going to overnight camp with a worker from SMD.”
“Ken and I were very concerned about Colleen going to camp as she had never been away from home for that degree of time,” says Phyllis, Colleen’s
mother. “Our main concerns were whether or not Colleen could have fun and would be looked after properly.”
“My biggest concern was letting my worker know what I needed, and whether or not I would have my communication book and litewriter with me so that I could communicate my needs,” adds Colleen.
Fortunately, SMD had a good history with Colleen. At age 3, she began receiving physiotherapy and occupational therapy at home thanks to SMD’s ability to provide services in rural areas. This past relationship made it easier to provide information to the SMD worker accompanying Colleen on her camping trip, giving the worker a better understanding of Colleen’s needs and how to meet them in a camping environment. Her worker also encouraged Colleen to really make the most of her first camping experience.
“I tried lots of activities because my worker gave me the opportunity to try as many things as possible,” Colleen remembers. “Some of the activities included kayaking, swimming, canoeing, sail-boarding (lying on the sailboard with my worker pushing me thru the water), horseback riding, wall climbing and the list goes on.”
“My favorite times at camp were doing the girl things like nails and hairdos…and talking about the boys!”
When she returned home, her parents knew Colleen had a good time because she came home “tired but very happy.”
“From then on, Colleen went with our blessing to have fun and experience camp life to the fullest,” says Phyllis…which is exactly what Colleen did for the next six years.
It’s been a while since that first camping trip. Today, Colleen has graduated from Westpark School in Portage la Prairie, is an avid power wheelchair hockey player and will soon be taking independent living and computer courses to prepare her for a new chapter in her life. But both she and her parents still appreciate the work Easter Seals and SMD do together.
“Easter Seals is very important since we, as parents simply could not afford the high cost of sending Colleen to camp with a worker,” says Phyllis. “Without Easter Seals, Colleen would have spent summer at home and therefore not have those happy memories of her childhood.”
“Easter Seals is very important because they help make wishes and dreams come true,” says Colleen. “The funding allowed me to go to camp with a worker and experience camping the same as other young people.”
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