A youth camp in Amherstburg has a new lease on life, thanks to new owners and an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.
A Resilient Communities Fund grant of $43,500 was awarded in 2021 to the Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club (BYCOC), the owners of the former Camp Bryerswood on Texas Road.
The money has been used to enhance the club's fundraising, purchase fundraising coaching, and help the camp's recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I would like to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for awarding Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club the Resilient Communities Fund grant," said Essex MPP Taras Natyshak in a media release. "This grant will enable Camp Bryerswood to improve on their Youth Camp programs. Bryerswood Youth Camp will continue to provide young people in our community an opportunity to learn many life skills to enhance their daily lives that will stay with them for a lifetime. Sincere thanks go out to President Kathi Poupard for your continued dedication to the future of Camp Bryerswood."
The BYCOC purchased the property from the Girl Guides of Canada last year, with the sale officially closing in October. With the coaching purchased with the grant money, the club revamped its website and bought a Zoom licence to enhance virtual programming and marketing.
The camp sits on 25 acres and will be available for year-round use starting this spring. There are cabin and tent accommodations, three common buildings, and amenities like a playground, mini-golf course, and acreage for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. It will be open to all youth from Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.
"We are excited to continue these initiatives that will help us overcome the impacts of COVID-19 so that we may provide outstanding outdoor experiences and programs to the youth of our community," said Poupard.
Complete information about the camp and the BYCOC can be found on their official website.
