Manitoba Camping Association

4 CAMPINGINMANITOBA May 3, 2014 www.stmalocamps.net Registeronlinetoday! leSEULcampsenrésidence francophoneauManitoba! camps@catholicway.net (204)-347-5396 Located in Saint-Malo, MB AtPioneerCamp,youwillmakerealandlastingfriendshipswith campers and leaders, gain expertise in skills such as canoeing and survival, and discover more about yourself and God – all while trying new things and having fun in the beauty of God's creation. RealWilderness Real Adventure Really Fun 204 788 1070 | mpc@pioneercamp.com | manitobapioneercamp.com By Kathryne Cardwell For the Free Press S ix years ago, Roxanne Gutknecht's 10-year-old daughter Skye Springer wanted to go to Camp Arnes to attend their drama program. But when Gutknecht saw the camp fees, she became worried. "I was a single mom, and I knew there was no way I could afford it," she said. But then, a friend told her about the Sunshine Fund, a program run by the Manitoba Camping Association (MCA) that provides funding for camp fees to families with low incomes. Gutknecht, and other parents in her position, could apply to have the Sunshine Fund pay for the majority of her fees, leaving her with only a small nominal cost to cover. Gutknecht was excited to hear that this program existed. Thanks to the Sunshine Fund, Skye was able to attend Camp Arnes for the next three summers. Not only did Gutknecht have the pleasure of seeing Skye take part in a program she loved, she saw her daughter become more self-confident and outgoing. "I had a great experience with them. I really do think it's a great program," Gutknecht said. Skye, now 16, said she agrees. "I enjoyed it a lot. It was a great learning experience for me," Skye said, adding that in her three summers at Camp Arnes, she made a host of friends that she still keeps in touch with. "I knew when I first looked at the camp costs that it was very expensive," said Skye. "So it was a relief that the Sunshine Fund was there to help." The Manitoba Camping Association started subsidizing camp fees for kids in 1937. In 1972, the arm of the MCA that subsidizes camp fees for children became known as the Sunshine Fund, thanks to help and generous donations provided by the Winnipeg Free Press. Today, the Sunshine Fund is still operated by the MCA and is funded entirely by charitable donations. Since the 1937, MCA has sent over 20,000 kids like Skye to camp. Liz Kovach, executive director of the MCA, said no child should miss out on attending camp because their family can't afford the cost. The MCA, through the Sunshine Fund, currently sends approximately 750 kids to camp every summer. As successful as the program has been, the Fund needs help. "We do get a lot of applications, and we do have to turn kids away sometimes," said Kovach. But Kovach wants to change this and the MCA has set a goal to increase the capital of the Sunshine Fund so they can send 1,000 kids to camp every year. To make this happen MCA is launching a new fundraising Sunshine Fund comes through for kids The MCA's Sunshine Fund provides funding for camp fees to families with low incomes. Manitoba Camaping Association photo

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