Camp Reviews (2007)
| This years conference & camp was the usual wonderful experience. Thanks to Betty Cornelius, who always books wonderful speakers and through much hard work, provides all kinship families in attendance a chance to connect, laugh and/or cry, and take home a wealth of knowledge. Plus meet with old friends and make some new friendships. We were joined this year by a special group working on the Kinship Care Project. These 3 special young ladies, along with their support staff, not only interviewed each of us, they also volunteered to help us at the camp. The food this year, lets just say, breakfast was the highlight, and if you really like chili and/or chicken you would have been thrilled. This family sure won't be eating a meal with chicken or chili for a very long time. Despite some communication glitches, between the Salvation Army staff and ourselves, which left us scrambling at times to rearrange or change things, all went fairly smooth, considering the 100 plus attending. Special thanks to all our speakers for donating their time! Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all our wonderful volunteers, you are such an important part of our camp experience, we would be lost without you! I just wish all our members from across Canada could attend. Unfortunately distance and finances prevent many from attending. I feel a good time was had by all! See everyone next year. Cheryle, Serge & Kyle |
| My husband and I with granddaughter, Maggie, attended the 2007 Cangrands Camp and Conference for the first time. Although we had an informative schedule from Betty, we were not quite sure what this would be like. The workshops and speakers all sounded so interesting and the opportunity to meet others who were raising grandchildren were our main reasons for attending. We were in a cabin with three other families who we really enjoyed meeting and sitting on the cabin deck sharing stories of our lives. We all shared one shower and one room with toilet and wash basin but never had a problem with line-ups. I felt our time with our cabin-mates was very enjoyable. The workshops started on time and the speakers were always willing to take any questions from the group. The workshops were informative and presented a lot information. The "sweets" provided by various "grands" were delicious and helped to supplement the average food in the dining room. We felt that this camp and conference was very beneficial to us in dealing with issues we are all coping with. A lengthy discussion took place around the subject of financial support and one idea discussed was a class action suit to try and get recognized as needing support. Overall we felt this camp and conference was very good..we met great people, both speakers and Grands, Maggie enjoyed her time there, and we felt more empowered being part of a group working together for the welfare of our dear grandchildren. We thank Betty for all her hard work and effort in making this a great camp and conference. Connie, John and Maggie |
| We love camp; Taylor, our granddaughter is 8 years old and has been in are home for over three years. Taylor is our son's daughter. Taylor enjoyed spending the first day and night with us and the Office of Child and Family Service Advocacy gals then went over to the Wabana camp where she had a blast. The gals who collect the research data and explore ideas that will help improve and enrich the lives of are young children and are youth living in the KINSHIP CARE system were great. What the group of young woman did for us and are children was outstanding and gave us all hope we asked questions about their time in foster care and group homes We all cried , there was not a dry eye in the room as they talk about the last group home as the best and how they felt like they were loved birthday parties and Christmas gifts and so on. Some of the kinship families have kids in group home and them speaking so openly gave them hope for their child. The workshops were great! All of them were really out standing speakers. I loved meeting everyone at the camp. We laughed and cried together and had a great time. We did not want to go home and all felt a year is too long to wait to see each other again. Betty, thank you and Ron for all your work and efforts in hosting the 6th annual conference and camp out. Love Deanna and Taylor |
For more information see accommodations page, call 613-474-0035 or e-mail: grandma@cangrands.com.
CANGRANDS National Kinship Support
R.R. 1, McArthurs Mills, Ontario K0L 2M0
Tel: 613-474-0035
E-mail: grandma@cangrands.com
courriel: demandez@cangrands.com