HD Summer Retreat Ontario - apply in March through your local HSC social worker.
At the CNIB Lake Joseph Centre, Muskoka
Every year, the Ontario Huntington Retreat provides a variety of activities that campers are unable to experience at home, including:
- waterfront activities such as kayaking, sail boats, canoeing, swimming, tubing, water skiing
- mini golf, billiards, shuffleboard, exercise equipment
- variety of arts and crafts activities
- and of course the annual baseball game and other impromptu activities
Retreat staff
Staff are a critical component of the retreat experience. Our staff are dedicated and knowledgeable people who relate to campers. They engage campers and foster an environment that makes the camp a fun and memorable experience.
The staff complement includes two Directors and six volunteers. Each staffer organizes retreat activities and is responsible for two to three campers, which ensures every camper receives special attention.The Ontario retreat includes memorable experiences. There is a massage therapist, an entertainment night, a music therapy group and an artist who provides campers with an opportunity to create their own canvas paintings.This year we plan to add other unique experiences. For example, at
the closing ceremony, a very emotional time, we plan to release
butterflies as a sign of releasing to the universe our deepest wish:
Find a cure for Huntington disease (see http://magicalmonarchs.com for
details). And, we plan to give each camper a fanny pack as a memento of
their days at camp.
What does it mean to campers?
A chance to really experience life...
The intense, week-long program gives campers an opportunity to simply experience life and to be — that’s all. Campers don’t have to worry about anything; every person at the retreat is equal and the same, and everyone speaks the same language. Camp offers an environment where people with HD can try new things without being scared of failing or being judged. Many campers have new and empowering experiences. It is not uncommon to hear: "Wow, I never knew I could still do that".
Dream: Just imagine...
- Twenty people who suffer from a movement disorder that affects
balance - most have difficulty walking - yet they play baseball and run
around the bases.
- Receiving your first massage, relaxing and enjoying the power of
what a serene environment can do. Physical touch is something that many
campers yearn for.
- Not only going in the water but tubing. This is a unique
experience for most campers - last year many even went out in the rain.
They just wanted to experience and BE.
- Participating in a music therapy session that releases powerful
emotions. Imagine drumming to the beat of your own energy. The
experience is so meaningful that campers do not want it to end.
- Meditating, guided by music and a calm voice - which usually
leads to a significant drop in movement. When the meditation is
finished, no one moves no one speaks; some people cry and everyone sits
there looking at each other not wanting it to end.
- Making crafts and t-shirts that you can share with your loved
ones - that later remind you of camp.
- Making a collage of who you are and what’s important in your life.
If you want to attend the next retreat, please contact your local HSC social worker directly for further details and to make an application.