Campfire Circle

Stories

• Larissa's Story

  A Place I Can Just Be Myself

  I’m Larissa. When I was 11, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma – a rare bone tumour. I did chemo for a few months then had an amputation to remove the tumour, got an artificial leg, and then another 6 months of treatment. Today, I don’t mind as much that I have a prosthetic leg and a lot of that is due to my experience at camp.

  Camp was probably the first place where I didn’t feel so different anymore. I was surrounded by people just like me having a great time and laughing, and it made me feel comfortable enough to just be myself and not the “kid with cancer”.

   

  So Many Firsts

  Camp has been a second home to me, and now that I’ve graduated I miss it so much more but hope to carry all the lessons I’ve learnt and experiences I’ve had for the rest of my life. This was the first place where I didn’t feel shy about my prosthetic leg, the first place I wore shorts and didn’t care if people noticed my leg or not. It was also my first time rock climbing, kayaking, water skiing, doing archery, dog sledding and much more.

  Camp holds a lot of firsts for me and I’ve made life-long friends along the way. As crazy as it sounds I wouldn’t change a thing. I wouldn’t wish not to have had cancer, or to still have my leg because that person wouldn’t be me anymore. I wouldn’t have gotten to go to camp and grow into the person I am today. And I wouldn’t trade any of that for the world!

• Stefani's Story

  I was first introduced to camp when I was first diagnosed with cancer in 2014. It was a very hard time for both myself and my family but camp made it 10 times easier. The people there supported me, helped me through tough times and made me feel at home.

  Camp is a place for kids to be themselves and to forget the battles they are having to face every day. It’s a place where kids feel joy and happiness, and experience things they never have.

  When I was introduced to CAMPFIRE CIRCLE, I didn’t want to go because I was scared to be in an unfamiliar environment with other kids. I didn’t really understand exactly what camp was, so I thought I was still going to be different. I was also worried to open myself up about my cancer journey, and I thought I would have to talk about what happened to me in the past. I didn’t know what to expect or what I would be doing so I shut down the idea. Two years later, they told me about it again, and I was more open-minded, so I decided to go. That was probably the best decision I have ever made in my life.

   

  Discovering What I Am Capable Of

  My first time at camp was better than I imagined. I had so much fun and met the most amazing people. I did so many new things like waterskiing, ropes courses, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and camping trips. I never thought that I would experience those things until I went to camp. Camp is also very accommodating with each one of the Campers so I was never pushed to do anything I didn’t want to. I was only encouraged to try new things. Because of the encouragement I received, I did things I wouldn’t have thought I could achieve. That is another reason why I love camp. The Campers, as well as the counsellors made me believe in myself and helped me to realize the things I am capable of. There were moments when I felt discouraged, and I had the support to get me through it.

   

  Just Being Me

  The first time I went to camp I wore a wig. I always would wear it in public because I was never comfortable with people seeing me without it. On the bus ride there, I didn’t think anyone knew that I had one. When we got there it was hot, so I wanted to take off the wig and the girls who were in my cabin recognized that. Even before I took it off they told me that that was okay because we were in a place where it was normal and where people wouldn’t look at me like I was different.

  I remember feeling warm and happy and once I took the wig off and went outside I truly felt like I was myself again. I was finally done with hiding and feeling like the “different one”. Camp was the first place where I could be all of myself.

  CAMPFIRE CIRCLE is honestly one of the best places on Earth. Without it, there wouldn’t be a place where kids can just be kids and not be constantly reminded that they are different, because they aren’t. My camp experiences have affected me in many ways. It gave me friendships that will last a very long time. It gave me a place where I could be myself. It gave me an outlet to not feel different, and most importantly, it gave me another place to call home.