Rotary Club of North Bay is raising funds for Camp Tillicum, a not-for-profit camp for kids on the shore of Lake Nipissing. Open in the summer months, the day camp is operated by the YMCA, which offers programming for the campers and oversees the staff. The Rotary Club owns the camp.
“The mission and the goal is to help youth in the area get out there who wouldn’t normally get out to the camp,” emphasized Spencer Merritt, a long-time Rotarian who has been involved with the camp for many years.
The current campaign is called the “Renewing Camp Tillicum” project, and ideally, the Rotary Club would like to raise $100,000 to improve the camp and help with operating costs. “Every amount helps,” Merritt said, “we know times are difficult now, but even five or ten dollars donated can help us to reach our goal.”
Camp Tillicum was established in 1926 and gifted to the Rotary Club of North Bay in 1949. Since then, “thousands of kids” have enjoyed the camp, but over the past few years, its clear “the decades have taken their toll and the facility is in need of an upgrade,” the Rotary Club outlined.
The YMCA contributes to the cause with its annual Fill the Bus Campaign. The organization collects donations to help offset costs for kids, and every time $275 comes in, a local child can attend Camp Tillicum. Canoeing, swimming, and good times await.
See: YMCA Fill the Bus Campaign returns
In 2019, the camp broke ground for a new building, which has been a great addition to the facility, Merritt noted. Redpath contributed much to that project, and the building was christened the Redpath Youth Centre.
See: Breaking ground for new Redpath Youth Centre at Camp Tillicum
The help has been coming in, and the community supports the project, but the fundraising continues to cover expenses, taxes, and upgrade the facilities.
“It’s a beautiful facility,” Merritt said, “on a beautiful spot on the lake. How often do you see a facility like that used for the youth of the community?”
“When I go to the camp and see the kids out learning in the canoe, and swimming, and everything else, it’s really good to see,” Merritt said.
To contribute to the “Renewing Camp Tillicum” campaign, visit the Building Camp Tillicum site and note the “donate now” button in the header on the homepage. You can also follow the fundraiser and learn more on the Camp Tillicum Facebook page.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.