New camp helps youth connect with parents during challenging times
A new camp is helping children going through challenging times learn new coping mechanisms that will help them for years to come.
Over the weekend, the Wounded Warriors Canada Warrior Kids Camp in Bradford had just over two dozen youth between the ages of eight and 16, with the shared experience of having a parent who is a first responder or military veteran battling psychological impacts from the job.
"It is specifically designed to help kids understand their own mental health as well as their parent's mental health," says Jerris Popik, the camp director. "We also really want to make sure that they have access to getting psychoeducational mental health around what is mental health, how do they look after their mental health and what is an operational stress injury related to their parent?"
The camp ran for two days.
In addition to traditional camp games, students participated in various activities, teaching them different coping mechanisms to deal with the stress they feel when they think about the dangers and challenges their parents face.
"Parents who are impacted by psychological injuries such as PTSD and Operational Stress Injuries, it is a very isolating injury which means a lot of time there's stigma about talking about it," says Popik. "But with the camp and being open and able to bring your child to this program, it opens the door around communication."
The camp first started in 2019 in Alberta, and while there were plans to expand the following year, the COVID-19 pandemic put things on hold.
This weekend's camp was one of the first iterations held outside of Alberta, with another recently held in British Columbia.
"It felt good to know that I have people who know what I'm going to and that I can talk to about everything that's difficult with a parent who is struggling or a parent who is a first responder," says Emilie Misner, a 14-year-old camper whose mother is a paramedic and suffers from PTSD.
"Life changing; 100 per cent life changing for us," says Emilie's mom Melanie. "It's making our family together for everybody to understand everything."
Complete information about the camp is available here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.