Meet one of the longest-attending campers at YMCA Wanakita

Have you met Matt Fox? If not, you should. Matt is 43 years old and he’s one of the longest-attending campers at YMCA Wanakita.

And Matt LOVES camp.

When Matt was an infant, it became clear that he would need extra support throughout his life. Matt’s special needs include having a developmental delay, epilepsy and mild cerebral palsy. He is a man of few words, but he’s definitely not shy.

For Martha and George, the thought of their son going to camp had never crossed their minds, but when Matt came home from a three-day school trip to YMCA Wanakita, camp was all he could talk about.

“The Wanakita experience was tremendous. We signed him up for the following year,” says Martha.

Matt was 15 when he went on that school trip to Wanakita. 28 years later, he hasn’t missed a single summer.

“We’ve never looked back. It’s been one wonderful year after another.”

For Matt, it was important that he had individual support. 

Thanks to a partnership with Reach for the Rainbow, and the summer camping inclusion opportunities offered through Wanakita’s Inclusion program, the camp can provide 1 to 1 support to children with special needs, so that they may attend summer camp programs. 

With a dedicated camp counsellor, children like Matt are able to integrate fully in all aspects of camp programming.

“We were struck by the incredible support and caring and knowledge base of the staff at Wanakita.”

When Reach for the Rainbow was no longer able to support the program, YMCA Wanakita took it upon themselves to ensure the Camper Inclusion Program continued.

As Matt grew older, he was no longer able to attend the Camper Inclusion program, and as a young adult with high needs, the opportunities were scarce.

Seeing this gap in programming for adults with special needs, Wanakita created the Adult Inclusion program, where adults with special needs can continue to be part of camp experience. If they are able, campers like Matt become Wanakita staff members, helping with tasks around camp that fit their interest and abilities.

“The two-week camp experience at Wanakita is the highlight of his year—and he does a lot during the year.”

When he’s not at camp, Matt attends a day program with other adults with special needs, many of them his longtime friends. He goes on day trips with his parents, helps around the house, and walks their dog, Fortee.

Matt also loves sports. He likes hockey and football, but there’s a clear winner: basketball.

“That’s one of the things Matt does as soon [as we get to camp]. He jumps out of the car and grabs the ball and runs to the court,” says George.

And for the last twenty-eight years, Matt has been the ball and water boy for the McMaster Marauders Men’s Basketball team, something he’s quite proud of.

“He has a Wanakita family, and he has a McMaster University family,” says Martha. “He has learned skills in each area that he can use in other parts of his life.”

“He talks about basketball [all the time]” says George.

As the conversation continues with Matt and his parents, Matt pulls out his 2024 Wanakita journal. Inside it are daily logs from his counsellor about what Matt did that day, his mood, and what he ate. There are doodles from Matt and pictures from his past year at camp, lovingly printed from the Wanakita Facebook page.

“Anyone who walks in the house gets the 2024 Journal. It will be tattered and torn by the end of the year,” laughs Martha. “‘23 is under the table—so is ‘22. The others we’ve secured downstairs for a while.”

There’s a photo of Matt with a Wanakita sweater between two campers. Another one shows him smiling, sitting in a canoe with a counsellor.

George says Matt was so excited when they got to camp this year that he got out of the car and disappeared.

“He met four counsellors he knew from the past and we didn’t see him again. We gave the nurse his information and medication, we spoke to his inclusion counsellor—we looked around and he was nowhere to be seen,” says George.

He says knowing that they can trust YMCA Wanakita and the dedicated staff with Matt’s health and safety is a gift.

“We’ve [gone through] lots of hurdles with Wanakita and Matthew’s health. They have never [asked us] to come pick him up. Some years it’s been significant,” Martha says.

Matt was prone to seizures, but thankfully hasn’t had one for the last eight years. He once had to be taken to Haliburton Hospital, but he returned to camp later that same day, ready to take on his next adventure.

“For us, it’s a two-week gift. No worries, no cares for that time. We can plan to do things, just the two of us,” she says.

YMCA Wanakita gave Matt a place to grow. He went on an overnight camping trip across Koshlong Lake, and as a staff member, Matt does important tasks around camp, helping in the kitchen, sweeping floors, and inspecting cabins as Captain Clean.

“We can’t even visualize this, but he helped put margarine in bags for the out-trippers,” says George.

Martha, Geroge and Matthew are incredibly grateful for what Wanakita has done for them.

“It’s the complete valuing of Matthew as a person. They need to know what an incredible job they’re doing and just how much it means to us as a family.”

“They’ve always said ‘we love him, and we want him back as long as he wants to come,’” she says.

“What a wonderful gift that is.”

The gift of inclusion goes both ways. Reading through Matt’s journal, you’ll come across a note from his counsellor, something that Martha says has been said every year, in one way or another.

“Matt, I have had so much fun hanging out with you. Your laugh is infectious, you make people smile wherever you go, and you bring so much joy in a bubbly, loving way to everyone.”

Camp has been life-changing for Matt, helping him overcome obstacles and reach his full potential—but it’s also been life-changing for the people who have been lucky enough to have Matt in their life. 

“Everyone benefits from living, learning and loving others who may not look, speak or act like they do,” said Martha.

#ShineOn #IgnitePotential #OvercomingObstacles #TheYSavesLives