By Adam Frisk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
For more than a century, Moorelands has helped thousands of children navigate the challenges of poverty, and the historic charity has set its sights on the “hidden pockets” of Haliburton County.
What began as a Toronto-based charity in 1912, serving low-income families, has since evolved into a youth-based leadership program. Since 1972, the organization has operated its flagship summer camp on the shores of Kawagama Lake in Dorset, and a new strategic plan is bridge-building across the corridor from Toronto to the County, to help ensure local families aren’t left behind.
“We recognize that poverty is on the move,” Colette Halferty, Moorelands Kids’ director of development and communications, told The Highlander. “There are isolated rural communities that aren’t getting served. We’ve really endeavoured to invest in more partnerships and outreach so we can reach families in need that aren’t necessarily from the GTA.”
Halferty explained that while the camp looks like any other classic Canadian summer retreat with archery, canoeing, and campfires, the fun is just the “icing on the cake.
“The curriculum is the foundational base of every activity and is the guiding principle for our staff mentors at camp to be able to make sure that our kids continue and they’re having fun,” she said.
The core of the Moorelands Kids camp leadership program is to equip the youth with the soft skills, emotional intelligence, resilience, and accountability that the school system often misses for children in highstress environments, Halferty said.
“It’s not like sitting in a classroom,” she said. “If you’re in a canoe, that’s teamwork. If you’re in a kayak, that’s individual leadership. We define leadership not by a paycheque or status, but by being a person of positive influence.”
Moorelands serves families on the Low-Income Cut-Off scale and helps to remove financial barriers through a subsidy program. Halferty explained that while it costs the charity about $1,780 to host one child for a week, covering transportation, food, lodging, and professional staffing, some families pay as little as $50 or $100 to send their child to camp for a week.
Putting the financial aspect aside, Moorelands helps address some of the specific hurdles faced by low-income youth. Halferty said frontline staff at the camp are certified in mental health training to support kids dealing with anxiety and depression. The camp also provides consistent, communal meals and has a 2-to-1 youth-tocounsellor ratio.
“Because we want to make sure that this journey and this experience for them is positive, that they can build up that sense of confidence themselves,” Halferty said. “They know that someone has their back.”
Last year, approximately 35 children from the County attended the camp. Through partnerships with the Haliburton County Development Corporation and the school board, Moorelands hopes to grow that number significantly.
“There is no cap on local kids,” Halferty said. “It’s first-come, first-served for families who meet the low-income criteria. We want more people to know this resource is accessible to them.”
As the charity looks to the future, it is seeking both families who could benefit from the program and local philanthropists interested in supporting the organization. Those interested in learning more about Moorelands Kids camp or applying for financial assistance can visit moorelands.ca.
