A Bragg Creek camp is relying solely on donations this season after $30,000 in expected government funding fell through.
“It was a shock,” said Anna Garcia, director of operations at Alberta Easter Seal Camp, of learning they wouldn’t receive federal funding.
The one-of-a-kind camp in Alberta, offers children and adults with special needs and disabilities including ostomies, kidney impairments, cancer and diabetes a chance to take part in the challenges and success of customized outdoor adventures at camp.
The non-profit organization applies for a provincial and federal grant every year: typically $10,000 from the provincial grant program STEP, which was cancelled earlier this year, and just more than $20,000 from Canada Summer Jobs, a federal program.
The money is used to help pay for staff.
Garcia said while camp staff knew earlier in the year the provincial program was dropped, they were hoping to make up for the loss with the federal grant.
“What happened was at the federal level the money was reallocated towards an apprenticeship training (program) so the remaining money for the others isn’t there.”
She said the trickiest part for them is the fact that they just found out the information, in the middle of May.
“Which, for a summer job doesn’t give us a lot of time to respond,” she said.
Staff have already been hired and they have a waiting list for people wanting to attend the camp, she added.
Because the camp hosts 1,200 campers with special needs every year, they have a higher ratio of staff to campers than a typical camp and she said adjusting staffing numbers isn’t an option.
“We are optimistic we will find dollars elsewhere,” she said, noting the group does a considerable amount of fundraising.
Garcia hopes to bump their goal of raising $90,000 to $120,000 for their upcoming annual fundraiser, the Banded Peak Challenge.
The event takes place on July 20 at the Little Elbow Recreation Area at the end of Highway 66, west of Bragg Creek.
People bike 13 kilometres on Big Elbow Trail, then complete a hike and scramble five km to Banded Peak summit at 2,934 metres. The return trip is 37 km with a total height gain of 1,416 m.
To find out more information about the hike or the camp, visit easterseals.ab.ca.
