Send Kids from Military Families to Camp.

When they’re not glued to their phones, most teens are still figuring out what they want to do when they grow up.

But though he hasn’t graduated high school yet, or even started the flight program that will lead to his goal of becoming a pilot, Mateus, 15, is already re-training for a second career once he leaves the military.

Mateus has just got an after-school job with a local electrical and construction firm near his home in BC – his plan is to work towards an electrician apprenticeship, so when he retires he’ll be ready to re-enter the workforce. It’s an unusually mature long-range plan that’s been informed by the post-military career of his dad Mario, who retired from the Armed Forces in summer 2020.

“We’re no strangers to re-skilling in our family,” says his mom, Celina. Mateus’ plan highlights the big differences between military and civilian families, and Celina admits those differences can sometimes feel isolating.

“We had to fit into a new culture when my husband retired, a typical suburban life,” says Celina. “Military life is a different life in its totality – it’s hard to explain it to anybody outside of it.”

But even though Mateus is planning a military career, he’s still a young teenager, and the big brother of two sisters, Lola, 13, and Pippa, 11. All three kids have had to deal with their dad’s absences and the stress of having a parent in combat, and they also know the feeling of having a life that their friends just don’t understand.

That’s where the Mainland BC Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC), Camp Maple Leaf, and True Patriot Love come in.

Through the MFRC, Celina learned about Camp Maple Leaf, a week-long summer camp for children of military families. Mateus and Lola’s first Camp Maple Leaf experience was at the Ontario site in 2022, and all three siblings got to go to the new Alberta location this summer. Being with other kids who know the military family’s life makes camp different – and special.

“You can get along easier with military kids, your life is more relatable,” says Mateus, and Lola agrees. “At Camp Maple Leaf, kids talk about their parents’ service,” she says. “That doesn’t happen in regular camp.”

With funding from True Patriot Love, the MFRC can offer the Camp Maple Leaf Grant for kids to go to one of the camps in Alberta, Ontario, or New Brunswick. As part of the application, kids send a creative submission, such as a video, an essay, or an art piece, explaining why they want to go to camp. This year the MFRC gave 16 grants for kids to attend camp in Alberta and Ontario.

“Without the funding it would be cost-prohibitive for us – the kids wouldn’t be able to go otherwise,” says Celina.

True Patriot Love also enables the MFRC to offer its My Choice Summer Camp Grant, which allows military children, who are used to decisions imposed on them, to choose the camp they want to be funded for. The MFRC gave 82 My Choice grants in summer 2023.

Along with fun activities like an overnight outdoor campout, a water trampoline and the camp’s sponge-based version of paintball, Camp Maple Leaf’s programming prioritizes friendship building and mental health supports for kids who cope with unique stresses thrust on them by military life.

“They have very understanding staff. Other camps don’t have that level of support – it’s more like ‘Hey, have fun and if you don’t, forget about you!’” says Celina. “Camp Maple Leaf is a safe place for kids who are more bottled up. For kids who are coping with big issues in their lives, it’s a good safety net.” ?

along easier with military kids, your life is more relatable,” says Mateus, and Lola agrees. “At Camp Maple Leaf, kids talk about their parents’ service,” she says. “That doesn’t happen in regular camp.” With funding from True Patriot Love, the MFRC is able to offer a Camp Maple Leaf Grant for kids to go to one of the camps in Alberta, Ontario or New Brunswick. As part of the application, kids send a creative submission, such as a video, an essay or an art piece, explaining why they want to go to camp. This year the MFRC gave 16 grants for kids to attend camp in Alberta and Ontario. “Without the funding it would be cost-prohibitive for us – the kids wouldn’t be able to go otherwise,” says Celina. True Patriot Love also enables the MFRC to offer its My Choice Summer Camp Grant, which allows military children, who are used to decisions imposed on them, to choose the camp they want to be funded for. The MFRC gave 82 My Choice grants in summer 2023. Along with fun activities like an overnight outdoor campout, a water trampoline and the camp’s sponge-based version of paintball, Camp Maple Leaf’s programming prioritizes friendship building and mental health supports for kids who cope with unique stresses thrust on them by military life. “They have very understanding staff. Other camps don’t have that level of support – it’s more like ‘Hey, have fun and if you don’t, forget about you!’” says Celina. “Camp Maple Leaf is a safe place for kids who are more bottled up. For kids who are coping with big issues in their lives, it’s a good safety net.” - True Patriot Love Foundation? ?

On Giving Tuesday, please help True Patriot Love provide funding for children and youth to go to camp in 2024. And remember, every donation today will be matched (up to $25,000) so your gift will have twice the impact!

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