RTCC’s RAC Camp officially wrapped up in August, and we’re excited to share some highlights from an incredible summer!
This summer was filled with laughter, creativity, friendship, and adventure. From exciting games and special events to arts, crafts, and outdoor exploration, each day offered campers the chance to try new things, build confidence, make lasting friendships, and create memories they’ll cherish for years to come.
Take a look below as we reflect on the fun, growth, and unforgettable moments that made each week of camp so special.
week 1
Two campers who met at RAC Camp last summer reunited on the first day of camp. They took off right where they left off and spent the week laughing, playing, and making even more memories together.
Week #1 was all about reconnecting, building friendships, and kicking ⚽ off the summer with lots of energy!
One of my favourite moments was watching campers and staff who had met at RAC Camp in past summers find each other again after months apart. It was amazing to see those friendships pick up right where they left off. Camp creates such meaningful connections, and seeing those relationships continue from one summer to the next reminds me just how special this community is.
As with any first week of camp, not everything went exactly as planned, and that’s part of the adventure! From extreme heat to adjusting schedules and discovering what worked best for each group, our campers and staff embraced every challenge with flexibility, creativity, and positive attitudes. Some of the best moments happened when we let go of the plan, went with the flow, and made the most of unexpected opportunities. Watching campers adapt, seeing our staff’s willingness to go with the flow, and finding joy in every situation reminded us that camp isn’t about having a perfect schedule. It’s about making unforgettable memories together.
Week 1 reminded us that the best parts of camp aren’t always the activities we plan, but the friendships we build, the laughs we share, and the memories we create along the way.
– Lainey
week 2
RAC Campers enjoying great weather outside!
Although this was Week 2 of RAC Camp, it was my first week with the campers, so a lot of this week was about getting to know everyone and building relationships. As everyone got more comfortable, it was fun to see their different personalities come out.
One of the fun moments happened at Jimmie Simpson Park playground. One camper was drawing in the sand by herself, so I went over to talk to her. After a while, she started showing me all the things she drew and tricks she could do, like cartwheels, handstands, and the splits. She even taught me the English names for the moves and later quizzed me to see if I remembered them. It made me smile because sometimes the campers end up teaching us something new.
Another fun moment was walking back to the centre. Some of the campers started playing word games with me that I had never heard before. I kept falling into their little “traps,” and we all laughed together. It was nice to see them becoming more comfortable around me.
The rest of the week wasn’t full of big moments, but I really enjoyed getting to know each camper a little better. I’m learning that they all have different interests and personalities. Sometimes I think a camper won’t enjoy an activity, but then they surprise me by getting really excited and joining in.
One of my favourite things so far is hearing the campers call me by my name. It might seem like a small thing, but it makes me happy because it means they remember me and feel comfortable talking to me. Those little moments remind me that we’re building trust day by day.
I’m looking forward to getting to know the campers even better over the rest of the summer and seeing the world through their eyes. They notice things that I might miss and often surprise me in the best ways.
– Zola
week 3
Grace & Grace at Camp!
Some of the sweetest moments are the quiet ones. When doing sign-in alone in the mornings, most campers show up within the first five minutes, and I’m left sitting outside by myself for the rest of sign-in. At some point, a few campers started sitting with me in the hot, bright sun.
As a sports specialist, I don’t get many one-on-one moments with the campers, so I really appreciate and feel grateful that some of them still want to hang out with me, even when I’m not doing anything.
I loved seeing my twin, Grace Chen, ask so many questions at the Toronto Zoo. Her curiosity and lack of fear when it comes to asking questions are truly inspirational. She asked the staff so many questions about bees. She really is my twin!
I also loved seeing everyone’s reactions to the music videos, watching them smile and laugh when they show up on screen. Those reactions make the nine hours of editing worth it.
– Grace
week 4
RAC Camp outdoor fun!
My favourite highlight of this week was when we went to Joel Weeks Park. There was this huge red swing that could fit multiple people at once, so we decided to see how many kids we could fit on it. We started pushing them, but they kept complaining that the swing was going too slowly!
I asked the LITs, Fahim and Bella, to help me push, and we ended up pushing the swing for about 30 minutes straight. Eventually, I told them I was exhausted and wanted a turn on the swing. Bella and I got on, but Rosie really wanted to stay on too. We warned her that the swing might go really high and that she might get scared, but she insisted, so we let her join us.
Fahim started pushing, and I immediately became terrified! I was screaming so loudly that I honestly think the whole neighbourhood could hear me! 😭😂 Meanwhile, Rosie stayed completely calm, laughing and giggling the whole time.
When Fahim finally stopped, I asked Rosie if she had been scared. She just shook her head. It was so funny because I thought it would be the complete opposite. I expected Rosie to be scared and me to be the brave one. Instead, she was having the time of her life while I was screaming my head off! It was such a fun and memorable moment and definitely one of my favourite memories from this week.
– Aragsan
week 5
Rosie at the Zoo.
One of my favourite moments last week was our trip to the zoo, and getting to experience it with Rosie made it even more special. Rosie has such a bright personality. She is so sweet, loves talking, and spent the entire week counting down the days until we could see the baby otters. When we finally made it to their exhibit, she was completely mesmerized. We stayed there for almost 20 minutes just watching them because she couldn’t take her eyes off them, and seeing how happy she was made the whole zoo trip worth it.
Throughout the day, Rosie kept accidentally calling me “Mama,” and it became our little joke. She would laugh every time she caught herself, and it always made me smile. She also had us walking in the wrong direction more than once because she was convinced she knew where to go, and she kept tripping over just about everything in her path. No matter what happened, though, she would get right back up with the biggest smile and keep enjoying every second of the day.
Even in the afternoon, after our bus driver cancelled on us and things became a little stressful, Rosie’s excitement and positivity never faded. Watching her find so much joy in every animal, every conversation, and every little moment reminded me why camp is so important. Children like Rosie remind us to slow down and find happiness in the little things. Getting to see the world through her eyes was the highlight of my week, and it’s a memory I’ll always cherish.
-Hazeefa
week 6
Wednesday’s Face Painting session with RAC Camp & Mentor Program!
This week made me think a lot about being open to trying new things.
On Tuesday morning, we played Just Dance. Some campers didn’t want to join in, and honestly, I could understand why. Trying something new can feel uncomfortable. At the same time, it made me realize that I sometimes feel the same way. As I watched other campers having fun and being willing to give it a try, I decided to join in too. I’m glad I did because it reminded me that sometimes all it takes is seeing someone else participate first. I hope that by joining in, I was able to encourage some of the campers to give it a try as well.
On Wednesday, we did face painting. It reminded me again that every camper is different. Some were excited right away, while others took a little more time. One of my favourite parts was seeing all the creative face paint designs and how proud the campers were to show them off.
On Thursday, we went to the movies together. On the walk back, I had a really nice conversation with one of our Mentor Camp campers, Jayden H.. We talked about all kinds of random things, and he kept making silly faces and funny reactions that made me laugh. It was a small moment, but it reminded me how much more comfortable he has become over the past few weeks. Seeing him open up and share more with me has been one of my favourite parts of the summer.
This week reminded me that camp isn’t only about the activities we do. It’s also about creating a space where campers feel comfortable being themselves and trying new things at their own pace. Sometimes we learn from the campers just as much as they learn from us, and that’s one of my favourite parts of camp.
– Zola
week 7
RAC Camp visiting Nell & Natasha.
One final highlight is seeing all the kids who used to be my campers come back as volunteers. Seeing them as little leaders, all grown up, just brings me to tears.
Lilly used to be a camper when she was a wee 7-year-old, and I love seeing that she’s still just as creative and artistic as ever. When Alicia told me about how amazing all the Wave kids did in training, I literally started tearing up. My campers are all grown up.
No matter how tiring this job gets, the connections we make as camp counsellors have a huge impact on the campers and just as big an impact on us.
– Grace