To celebrate Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, we’re sharing stories from our program participants, staff, and volunteers about what makes our House so special.

Here, former youth worker Romy explains how leadership program camping trips helped everyone rise to the challenge.

The Leadership Program was a great turning point for a lot of kids. We spent many weekends away at Camp Sasamat.

The intention is to teach youth how to run summer day camps themselves. But wow, the growth I have seen in these kids.

Watching them mature, building relationships, utilizing their skills has been amazing for me to see. 

They all learned from each other. From the first time we went camping to Tofino to the last camping trip we took together, the growth and initiative was beyond words.

On the first trip, we as camp leaders had to do everything. But on the last trip, we only drove them there, and they took care of everything—the dishes, the cooking, the fire, the cleaning, everything!

But I have to admit, I overcame a lot of my own fears at Camp Sasamat too, because I had to be a positive role model. I had to put on a brave face and get in the canoe.

I did it, I got into that 10-passenger canoe—and the teens won their challenge to get me on board!

Do you have a story about what your Neighbourhood House means to you? Share it on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the hashtag #myNHstory!