By rdnewsNOW staff

Central Middle, Oriole Park students visit Tim Horton’s camp

Oct 5, 2018 | 9:15 AM

For many, heading off to camp brings back wonderful memories of new experiences, time with friends, campfires, marshmallow roasts, and one’s first taste of independence. But not every child gets the opportunity to make those types of memories.

That’s where Tim Horton Children’s Foundation comes in – they make it possible for kids who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance.

Currently 50 Red Deer Public students – 25 from Central Middle and 25 from Oriole Park – in Grades 4-6 are on a four day, three night adventure at the Tim Horton Children’s Ranch in Kananaskis – a program that builds leadership skills in youth to help them thrive at school and in their community. This is the first year Red Deer schools have participated in the camp.

This experience would not be made possible without the incredible partnership with Tim Hortons.

“We are beyond thrilled the Red Deer Public School District has been able to send 50 students from our community to the Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation Camp in Kananaskis. It’s an incredible opportunity for young people to explore leadership, community involvement and personal growth,” said Tanya Doucette, Red Deer Tim Hortons owner. “The Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation works very closely with curriculum programs across Canada, including Alberta, to ensure that camp is both fun and an enriching educational experience for young people.”

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During their camp experience students are exploring a variety of outdoor activities including rock climbing, outdoor living skills and rope courses. During these activities, students are using leadership and collaborative skills learned in small group sessions at the camp.

“It’s a leadership camp for kids that don’t normally take on a leadership role in the school. From sun up to sun down the kids will be involved in team building and leadership growth,” said Nathan Good, teacher at Central Middle School. “As part of the experience they have to come up with some kind of community leadership project to come back and do in the school.”

Colette Pedde, principal at Oriole Park, said they jumped at the chance to send some of their students to the Tim Hortons camp.

“We thought this would be an opportunity for some kids to experience something they otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to experience,” she said. “It’s about developing core values and community leaders. Some of these children have never had the chance to see the mountains, so just to see such an amazing part of our country is an experience in itself. But there will also be a lot of teamwork activities as well. They’ll get a chance to build community amongst each other and with the staff that are going. I think it will help grow these children in a way that we couldn’t do within the hours of the school day.

“We are grateful for the opportunity from Tim Hortons and their generosity. We feel this will be a life changing experience for our students that they will treasure into adulthood.”

In the spring, the students will return to camp for another four days to continue to build on the leadership skills they have and to share their community projects.

(Submitted by Red Deer Public Schools)