MUSKOKA, ON – A local youth organization that focuses on empowering females needs the public’s help to send those who can’t afford it to camp.
The YWCA is based out of Bracebridge but provides programming for girls all over Muskoka. The organization said one out of five girls looking to get into one of its day camps needs financial assistance. The community relations coordinator, Donna Kearney, said that is where the Send a Girl to Camp campaign comes in.
She added the program needs donations to help with subsidies and to increase program accessibility.
“We have a two-stream focus for this fundraising campaign,” Kearney said. “The first is to subsidize girls who need help to attend camp. The second is to create new spaces for next year because we always have a waiting list. We would like to open it up and offer more spots.”
The two different week-long day camps available are Girlz Unplugged Summer and Girlspace Leadership. They cost $175 and the YWCA knows some families simply can’t afford it.
The camps promote building self-esteem and confidence, healthy relationships, leadership and community engagement.
“A long time ago the YWCA Muskoka realized that girls are valued differently than boys,” Kearney said. “We needed to change that so we could promote gender equality through education and programs that would support girls in our community to thrive and become the best they can be.”
The not-for-profit organization is accepting donations all throughout June. Kearney said not only do funds help send girls to camp but will make the YWCA eligible for a $10,000 grant from the Great Canadian Living Challange, an initiative for charities across the country.
Kearney added the camp is open to any youth that identifies as a female.
“We just want to make sure anyone who identifies as a female is welcome to come to camp,” Kearney said. “We have safe and inclusively structured activities and we want everyone to feel welcome. So traditional female identity and other female identity are welcome.”
Anyone looking to donate can visit the YWCA website and there is no maximum or minimum. The organization is also setting up booths at the Gravenhurst Farmers’ Market on June 19 and 26, Port
Carling Farmers’ Market on June 27 and the Bracebridge Farmers’ Market on June 28.
