Rama's Story: A Long-Awaited Wanakita Adventure

For years, YMCA Wanakita was something Rama heard about. 

She heard the stories during family visits and summer weekends. She listened as her friends talked about canoe trips, campfires, new friendships, and adventures at Wanakita. Those stories seemed to follow her through childhood, carried by people who cared about her and hoped that one day she might experience camp for herself. 

This summer, she finally did. 

But Rama's journey to Wanakita began long before she packed a bag for two weeks of overnight camp. 

More than a decade ago, when Canada welcomed families fleeing the conflict in Syria, Christine, her husband Jim, and a group of community members sponsored Rama's family to come to Canada. What started as community support eventually grew into something much deeper. 

"Rama's mother and I became friends early on, and we've remained friends all the way along," says Christine. "We've watched the girls grow up. They've become part of our lives." 

Over the years, Christine and Jim looked for opportunities to introduce the family to new experiences and traditions. 

"We always wanted them to see what Canada has to offer," Christine says. "Not because they had to like everything, but because they deserved the opportunity to try." 

One of those opportunities was camp. 

For years, Wanakita came up in conversation. Christine's nieces, nephews, and family friends attended camp.

"They would come back talking about all the people they met and all the things they did," says Christine. "I remember thinking that I hoped Rama could have that experience one day too." 

Still, taking the leap into overnight camp wasn't something either of them wanted to rush. 

Then, in the summer of 2026, the timing finally felt right. 

"We really encouraged her this year," Christine says. "She was older, more independent, and we felt ready to let her find her own camp experience." 

Christine is also grateful for the financial assistance provided through YMCA Wanakita and Amici Children's Camp Charity. Without that help, Rama's family would not have been able to afford to send her to camp. 

For Rama, the decision came down to curiosity. 

"Wanakita seemed different," she says. "I wanted to try something new and explore what else I could do. People I knew had gone there and they always described it as a really fun place." 

Even with that anticipation, arriving at camp wasn't easy. 

"At first, I wasn't sure if it was going to be good," Rama laughs. "I didn't know anybody and I didn't really know what to expect." 

It didn't take long for that feeling to change. 

"I made a lot of new friends," she says. "My cabin mates were amazing, and all the activities were really fun." 

Among her favourite experiences were high ropes, kayaking, windsurfing, and paddle making. 

"I really liked paddle making because you could see your progress every day," she says. "By the end, I had something that I made myself, and I was really proud of it." 

Rama says it was the people who made the experience so special. 

"Getting to know everyone was really fun. Learning about their backgrounds, why they came to camp, and talking to the counsellors about why they chose Wanakita. I liked hearing everyone's stories." 

For Christine, that's exactly what she had hoped would happen. 

"I just wanted her to be able to experience camp life," Christine says. "To try it for herself and see what was possible."  

By the end of her two weeks at Wanakita, Rama had done exactly that. 

The place she had heard about for years had become part of her own story.