Finding Inspiration in the Night Sky at YMCA Wanakita

For four summers, 10-year-old Julian and his family have made their annual journey to YMCA Wanakita’s Family Camp—a place that’s become a blend of tradition, adventure, and connection. From the archery field, to beach days, and evenings around the fire, Wanakita has shaped some of Julian’s favourite memories. But in 2026, the camp became the source of something even more special: his winning design for the Wanakita T‑shirt design contest.

“I’ve always liked Wanakita. I like the nature, the activities, and being able to see friends from older years,” he says.

Among activities, one stands out: basketball. The court is always busy, and Julian laughs about how often he ends up there.

“Maybe it’s not my favorite thing, but I definitely do that the most.”

Still, it’s the camp’s classic traditions—the campfires, the themed events, the freedom to explore—that truly shape his experience.

The Inspiration: A Night Beside the Archery Field

One evening at camp, Julian and his family were spending time near their A-frame cabin by the archery field. After a campfire and an energetic glow‑stick sword fight, Julian stepped outside one more time, alone under the trees.

“I looked at the stars and that was pretty nice. I thought that could end up as a drawing.”

That quiet moment became the foundation of his T‑shirt design: two silhouettes around a glowing fire, framed by towering trees, beneath constellations shaped like the four Wanakita animals.

The finished artwork beautifully echoes the nighttime stillness that inspired it.

Julian’s approach to creating the design reflects both thoughtfulness and creativity. Before working on the final piece, he practiced drawing stars, arranging them into animal constellations, and studying how to create silhouettes.

“I started off by practicing drawing the stars and making constellations...Then I looked up some images on how to do silhouettes, and I kind of made my own.”

Yet, after adding the campfire, he still felt it wasn’t quite right.

“At the end I felt like there was something missing, and that had to be the trees.”

The addition completed the piece, grounding it firmly in Wanakita’s signature landscape.

When Julian found out he had won the contest, he says he was excited, but also in a bit of disbelief. 

“I don’t know if everyone’s going to be convinced that I actually drew it…I could show them the photos of me making it.”

His family, who encouraged him to submit his design, couldn’t be prouder.

Looking Ahead

As they prepare for their fifth summer—always Week Eight now—Julian and his family look forward to everything they’ve come to love: reconnecting with familiar faces, quiet moments in nature, joyful chaos at activities, and of course, the food.

“We always look forward to going every year…It’s just a wonderful experience to be out in nature,” says Julian’s mom, Carrie.

But this year will be different.

In Summer 2026, Wanakita will be filled with campers wearing a piece of Julian’s story—a piece sparked by a simple moment under a star‑filled sky.