Camp Dawn

A HUGE thank you to Thomson Rogers Lawyers for being our LUNCH sponsor 2024!!! We are very excited to welcome you to the Camp Dawn community 😀

Meet a board member Monday! Meet Sandra!

Hi All. My name is Sandra and I am an OG Camp Dawn-er! I have had the distinct pleasure and honour of being a part of this organization from the very beginning, back when we had only a handful of campers and spent some very cold days and nights on the shores of Lake Huron. I’ve worn several hats at camp over the years including cook, coordinator, caddy, consultant and my personal favourite…karaoke queen! After all these years, I still look forward to the day I arrive at camp and get to experience it all over again. I so look forward to meeting and hanging out with all of you. See you soon!

Meet birthday girl and board member Caresse!

Hi campers. My name is Caresse LeBlanc and I joined the camp dawn board in 2005. I am mostly involved in the less exciting parts of camp. Making sure all of our health and safety needs are met, completing cabin assignments and a ton of paperwork. I see survivors of brain injury work so hard everyday on rehab and I am honoured to be a part of offering you a much needed vacation! I love seeing familiar faces returning each year and love meeting new campers and leaders! Can’t wait to see you all at rainbow lake real soon!

Meet board member who clearly has a sense of humour Sonia!

Hey everyone! My name is Sonia! I work on Brain Injury in Hamilton. I love everything about camp! You can meet me right at registration in my wrestling belt and my safety vest. Really pretty much all around camp all weekend! There is nothing I do not love. You can find me giving meds, at canoeing or high ropes but I also love to cast a line and I do get the participation award at the plank challenge every year... a few years ago I asked other campers their favorite part of camp and I'll share below what their thoughts were.

Meet a board member Monday! Meet Amy King
I’ve been enlisted as the next treasurer. I came to camp as a leader for the first time in 2018. My role at Camp Dawn will be different this year with joining the board. One thing I know will be the same is I’ll be busy helping wherever needed.

My real life job is in an office looking after the accounting and helping develop an e-commerce website for a small business in St. Marys.

My favourite part of Camp Dawn would be talking with campers and leaders. We all come from different locations and live our regular lives to come together at camp once a year. With not having worked in the brain injury field I’m coming in blind and learning something new every year.
You won’t see me singing or dancing at camp. If you find me in the pitch black shine some light for me. My vision is an important part of my balance. I’m missing the inner ear bones on my left side that are part of your balance. They were drilled through during brain surgery in 2012 to remove 2/3 of a benign brain tumour leaving me deaf of the left side. The remainder was fried with radiation and no longer grows. I don’t know where sounds come from so if I don’t answer or acknowledge you feel free to give me a tap or wave to catch my attention.

Fun fact - I became a grandma 6 weeks after brain surgery. Our daughter & granddaughter live with my husband and I along with 3 dogs, a cat, 5 finches, and approximately 30 free range chickens.

When we have a chance my husband and I spend time riding his motorcycle, or on the water boating, fishing (more him-I get to drive the boat then so I don’t fall in), or kayaking. We’re lucky to live near so many bodies of water.

I’m excited to see everyone at camp on Sep 12!

Hi all. I’m going to post some info on our board members and leaders so all our new friends can get to know us before Camp Dawn! Meet ME! I’m Julie Dee - I’m president of the board of Camp Dawn (Jack of all trades)

How long have I been involved with camp? I think since 2007. And I love every min of it

What is my role at Camp Dawn ?  at Camp Dawn you will see me all over the place. I will help with registration help with getting Campers to their cabins answer questions problems solved. I will be in the med room and I will be in cabin 7A the board members cabin and you can text me or access me 24 hours a day at Camp.

What is my job in real life?  I worked as a Brain Injury rehab facilitator for 22 years and now I work at Fanshawe College as an academic strategist.

What is my favourite part of Camp Dawn ?  my favourite part of Camp Dawn is meeting new campers and leaders and seeing returning campers and just spending time with people watching people try new things and enjoy themselves and also I enjoy the dance actually I love the dance.

What is one thing I won’t do at Camp Dawn?  you will not catch me fishing. I do not touch fish or worms.

What is the last cool thing that I did?  I am a backpacker and I spent three weeks in eastern Europe, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Bosnia.

 I can’t wait to see you all on September 12th!

Be sure you confirm your spot for 2024.

Let’s talk food. What kind of food do we eat at ? Amazing food. The kitchen staff do an incredible job making delicious meals for us and accommodating all of our special requests. What are you most looking forward to trying?

Hello all! I am going to start sharing daily camp information. Today is a camp map. Take a look and start to learn how the camp property is laid out.

Keep in mind - that cabin 9 is listed as the staff cabin (it is our cabin 9 lol).

Also, each cabin has an A and B side connected by a shared deck.

As well, female leaders can staff male cabins but male leaders will not staff female cabins. All leaders will share a room with each other in their cabins and camper preferences will be taken into consideration when Caresse and Julie do the cabin assignments. Each cabin has 2 washrooms and a common room with a couch and chairs. Each cabin also has a wheelchair ramp and stairs.

The dining hall is where we do the majority of our indoor activities and all meals.

Hello all! I am going to start sharing daily camp information. Today is a camp map. Take a look and start to learn how the camp property is laid out.

Keep in mind - that cabin 9 is listed as the staff cabin (it is our cabin 9 lol).

Also, each cabin has an A and B side connected by a shared deck.

As well, female leaders can staff male cabins but male leaders will not staff female cabins. All leaders will share a room with each other in their cabins and camper preferences will be taken into consideration when Caresse and Julie do the cabin assignments. Each cabin has 2 washrooms and a common room with a couch and chairs. Each cabin also has a wheelchair ramp and stairs.

The dining hall is where we do the majority of our indoor activities and all meals.

We have hoodies for sale for camp this year! Get your order in by August 15 to ensure you have one for camp! Available for campers leaders friends and family!

Exciting news! We can offer hoodies for camp this year! Information will be added to the website by the end of the weekend, but campers, leaders, friends, and family can order Camp Dawn hoodies this year.
There are 2 styles - zip up and pullover and 2 colors. Shirts will be delivered to camp for campers and leaders attending and mailed after camp for those who are not.

Payments can be made by e-transfer or credit card only.

The cost is $50 for the zip-up and $40 for the pull - over style and orders MUST be into [email protected] by August 15 at the latest.

Lots of exciting things to share! We are thrilled to have so many amazing camper applications! There are still spots available! Julie will be doing acceptance calls in August! This is when payment and med forms will be due.

We need leaders! We are short on leaders as of this point - if you are looking for an amazing short-term volunteer opportunity that will change your life, consider joining us this September 12 -15. You can arrive at camp on Thursday afternoon and will be home by noon on Sunday! Agencies - this is an ideal opportunity for your staff, volunteers, and management to see your clients in a completely different light.

We can't wait to see you this year!

Our friends and supporters at Bartimaeus Rehabilitation Services and Bartimaeus Support Services are participating in the annual Barrie Public Library Dragon Boat Festival. We are delighted they have designated Camp Dawn as one of the charities for which they are raising funds. Last year they won the coveted Tim Horton’s Cup for the team with the highest fundraising total. Would you help them repeat and donate to Camp Dawn. As you might know, Camp Dawn receives no government funding, which is a great way to support us.



Please click the link below, type Bart Dragon in the message to the charity line, and click Donate Now.

Camp Dawn Camp Dawn operates a camping retreat to adult survivors of an acquired brain injury.

Whether a father, a father to pets, a son or someone missing their dad, we honour you today. Happy Father’s Day.

Camp Dawn is excited to be at the brain injury of London conference. Stop by our booth to talk to and .miles.9

We need community support to help keep camp affordable! Donate today.

https://gofund.me/6537387c