Company founded
1985
Description
Camp Goodtime was founded in 1985 by Mrs. Estelle Forbes-Doucet, Oncology Nurse Coordinator at that time of the former IWK Children's Hospital. Camp was held at the YMCA Camp Wapomeo, Carleton, Yarmouth County and was the first camp of its kind in the Maritime Provinces (the Canadian Cancer Society was approached for financial support in that year to offset financial costs.) The camp's mandate was to increase the self-confidence and independence in children who have cancer. Social skills of children with cancer often lag behind their contemporaries due to frequent hospital visits, severe treatments with accompanying side affects and the stigma society attaches to "cancer". In its first year, Camp proved to be as beneficial to medical staff and counsellors as it was to campers. Medical staff were able to interact with the children in a natural environment with few constraints, relating to the individual child as opposed to a "child with cancer". Counsellors found the week inspirational; cathartic. The week was of great earning and teaching for all - and all learnt a great deal about themselves and the human spirit. Twenty one children attended the first Camp Goodtime in 1985 supported by approximately 15 staff. Counsellors were supplied by Camp Wapomeo as was all programming. In 1986 Camp invited some survivors of childhood cancer to attend as support for counsellors and as friends to campers -individuals who could relate to the camper and provide extra support for campers...