THUNDER BAY – The Wilderness Discoveery Camp is a special place for Tracy Hurlbert.
Hurlbert, who is confined to a wheelchair, has been attending the HAGI Community Services for Independence operated accessible camp for the past 12 years.
The camp, which is located on the scenic Shebandowan Lake and has been an ideal summer getaway for many disabilities, is facing the prospect of closing at the end of the year as HAGI has stated the organization might not be able to continue operating the facility.
“There are no curbs I can’t jump up. There are no buildings I can’t get into. The bathrooms are all completely accessible,” she said.
“It’s just like being in heaven. Everything you can do I can do…It’s just like being able-bodied.”
Hurlbert was one of dozens who attended a forum hosted by the Friends of the Wilderness Discovery Camp, a group attempting to rally support to save the camp.
The cause has gained momentum since an online petition garnered more than 26,000 signatures, which was started by Kevin Johnson, a Minnesota resident who attends the camp annually with a disabled veteran he and his family care for in their home for the past 26 years.
Johnson has searched across North America for accessible recreation opportunities and was amazed by the quality of equipment and environment offered by the Wilderness Discovery Camp.
“There’s nothing else like that anywhere and we’ve looked, trust me,” he said. “Wilderness Discovery is a model. There’s nothing else like it now but it’s a model of everything that could happen across Canada.”
The camp has hospital beds in every room, ramps, roll-in showers patient lifts and specialized chairs.
HAGI executive director Dave Shannon was not present at the meeting but was reached by telephone shortly afterwards.
He said increased operating costs for the camp have put a strain on the organization’s core program. HAGI has searched for partnerships that would allow the camp to continue to operate but thus far hasn’t found any takers.
“It’s been a challenge every year to fundraise to meet the costs. That’s inherently risky. We’ve been working on further subsidized recreation opportunities far beyond Shebandowan,” he said.
“We’re focusing on new opportunities for the disability community. We’ll be supporting persons with disabilities to go to parks, the community auditorium, fishing trips at not only Shebandowan but other rivers and lakes. We’ll be supporting a revised program.”
MPP Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay-Atikokan) attended the discussion and provided the group with an update of the government’s role.
The property on which the camp is located is Crown land, which is leased to HAGI at a cost of just $3,600 per year. The lease cost isn’t presenting a major financial strain, he said.
The province might be willing to extend the lease agreement into the future, but it has to be ensured somebody will run the camp.
“There needs to be someone or some organization that is committed to continuing to operate the facility. Short of that being the case, there is a challenge,” he said.
“My role, representing the government as MPP for the riding, is what can I do should somebody step up and continue to be interested in operating it.”
He was asked about whether the land could be designated as a provincial park or permanently designated as a camp for those with disabilities, but both of those options come with challenges.
In the meantime, those who have enjoyed the camp and were counting on it continuing into existence in the future know what’s at stake.
“If we lose this camp, what do we do next? There isn’t that much to do around town in the summer time if you have a disability, other than walking down the bike paths as far as nature goes,” Hurlbert said.
“If we can’t continue the camp it’s going to be pretty depressing. I can just imagine telling my little sister we’re not going to camp anymore and watching her face as she realizes this time of being able-bodied just like everybody else is going to stop and that breaks my heart.”
