Camp Choice BC

🌟 Camp Choice BC AGM 🌟

Tonight, we gathered for the 2024 Annual General Meeting to celebrate another amazing year at Camp Choice BC and dive into plans for 2025! From heartwarming success stories to in-depth financial reviews, this AGM highlighted the resilience and dedication of everyone involved in our mission to inspire and empower youth.

🔹 Camp Review: This year’s camp was a huge success, thanks to our dedicated volunteers and supporters. We shared stories of transformation and growth, with youth embracing confidence and community. Thank you to all who made this possible!

🔹 Financials: We took a closer look at our 2024 financials, ensuring transparency and sustainability for the future of Camp Choice. Every dollar has gone towards creating unforgettable experiences for the youth we serve.

🔹 2025 Planning: As we plan for the upcoming year, we’re excited to keep growing and reaching even more youth. With fresh goals, new ideas, and an unstoppable team, we’re ready to make 2025 our best year yet!

Your 2024/2025 Board of Directors:
John Patricelli - Chair
Phil Moore - Vice Chair
Tom Hermez - Treasurer
Juliana Vallee - Secretary
Veronica Patricelli - Director at Large
Eileen Tann - Director at Large

🌟 Members at Large: Phil Bourque, Celia Chiu, Xyrina Gutierre, Elviro Iacobucci, Wanda Loo, Mikhail Moore, Brydee Robinson, Michael Sato, Chelsea Wiseman, Zoe Vallee

Thank you to our entire team, supporters, and community for continuing to stand by us in this mission. Here’s to making 2025 even brighter for Camp Choice BC!

Last night, we had the incredible privilege of attending the Vancouver Canucks🏒 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins 🐧 game in two amazing hospitality suites 🎉, gifted by the generous Francesco Aquilini, owner of the Vancouver Canucks 🙌. Over 48 youth from Camp Choice BC, the East End Boys Club and East End Girls Club enjoyed a night they’ll never forget! 🏟️🎊

Francesco has been an incredible supporter of our clubs—providing scholarships 🎓, attending sessions in person 👏, and supporting other guest speakers 🎤 to share their wisdom with our youth. He continues to create opportunities and access to experiences these young people wouldn’t otherwise have, including the chance to enjoy hockey games they’ve dreamed of attending.

What’s even more exciting is that several of our youth had their first day of work at Rogers Arena! 🎉👏 About 10 of them started their new jobs yesterday, and we’re so proud of them and grateful for this incredible opportunity.

Thank you, Francesco, for all you do for the youth and for opening doors that create lifelong memories! 🙏💙
Collingwood Neighbourhood House - Indigenous Programs

🎉 After an inspiring summer at Camp Choice BC and ongoing efforts with the East End Boys Club and East End Girls Club, we’ve been helping youth apply for job opportunities 💼. Since August, we’ve seen 8 youth apply in August, 11 in September, and now over 20 in October 🙌. Some of these youth come from Camp Choice BC, while others are part of our East End programs. We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of Francesco Aquilini, whose generosity is creating life-changing opportunities for these young individuals 🙏. 🏆🎉

🌟 We’re excited to attend the 8th Annual Casino Night in support of Zajac Ranch for Children! 🎲 This incredible charity has been making a difference since 2004, providing a fully accessible, inclusive camp experience for kids and young adults with serious medical conditions. 🌈 At Camp Choice BC, we’re proud to partner with Zajac Ranch to host a camp every year, empowering youth and giving them a place to thrive. 💪 Join us in supporting this amazing cause and making a lasting impact on these kids’ lives! 🎉

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY! Tickets for our Casino Night will be on sale until 3 PM tomorrow! If you haven't grabbed your tickets yet, this is your last chance! It will be an incredible evening to help support sending kids with complex medical conditions to summer camp! ❤🫶

DON'T FORGET - our Silent Auction is open to everyone until 9:30 PM tomorrow! Please check it out by clicking on the link below.

PURCHASE TICKETS: https://bit.ly/3yaXGR6
SILENT AUCTION: https://bit.ly/3Xvrro4

🎉 A proud moment for some of our Camp Choice BC youth at Rogers Arena, the home of the Vancouver Canucks 🏒! After an inspiring camp experience, these motivated young leaders are taking the exciting step of applying for their first jobs 💼.
A heartfelt thank you to the Vancouver Canucks organization and Francesco Aquilini for providing these incredible opportunities 🙏. We’re also grateful for the continued partnership with East End Boys ClubEast and East End Girls Club, helping make these life-changing moments possible 🌟! 🏆🎉

🌟 Camp Choice BC may be just one impactful week in August, but our partnership with the Indigenous community ensures that the connection and support continue all year long! 🌱 We’re proud to collaborate with amazing organizations like Collingwood Neighbourhood House to follow up and provide ongoing mentorship and guidance for the youth. 👫✨ Together, we’re empowering young leaders to grow, thrive, and achieve their full potential—not just for one week, but every day! 🙌💪 🌍💖

How realtors are empowering youth and making a difference at Camp Choice BC Find out how realtors at Camp Choice BC make a lasting impact on the lives of at-risk youth through empowering activities and mentorship

🌟 Camp Choice BC Post-Camp Debrief 🌟

After an emotional rollercoaster at Camp Choice BC, it’s essential to debrief and check in with our incredible coaches. Last night, we gathered to reflect on the most inspiring moments, the teamwork that made a difference, and the wins that made it all worthwhile. 💪❤️

Celebrating these victories and learning from the challenges is what makes our camp experience so powerful. We care deeply about our coaches and their well-being because they are the heart of Camp Choice. Together, we’re making a lasting impact! 🙌

Our Camp Choice ended a week ago, but the journey continues for our youth! Today, we were at Rogers Arena 🏒, home of the Vancouver Canucks, working alongside our partner charities like East End Boys Club and East End Girls Club. Our youth had the incredible opportunity to apply for jobs for the upcoming season 💼. Grateful for the doors that keep opening for these young leaders 🙏. 🏆🎉

🌟 The youth from Camp Choice BC just wrapped up an amazing camp experience, and what better way to keep the good times rolling than a day at the Danny Virtue Camp! 🎬🐾 It was a perfect opportunity to reconnect with friends and make new ones while diving into the exciting world of movie-making, stunts, and more! 🤝🔥

Thanks to Danny Virtue and The Virtue Foundation for making this day unforgettable! 🙌💫

🎉 It’s a wrap as 2024 Camp Choice BC comes to an end for another unforgettable year! 🏕️ We want to send a huge shoutout to the 19 incredible volunteers who stepped up as camp coaches. You gave your time, energy, and hearts to make this experience truly special. 🙌

Despite the lack of sleep 😴 and the challenges we faced, you never wavered. We were tested, we were pushed, but our hearts were all in the right place, and that’s what made this camp so powerful. 💪 Your dedication and passion ensured that these 52 youth at Zajac Ranch for ChildrenZajac Ranch had an experience they’ll never forget.

A massive thank you as well to all the generous donors who made this possible. 🌟 Your support helped us create life-changing moments for these young people. We couldn’t have done it without you! 💙

🎤🎸🎹 After five incredible days at Camp Choice BC, we wrapped up with an unforgettable talent show! 🌟 The youth came out and wowed us with their singing 🎶, dancing 💃🕺, comedy 🎭, guitar 🎸, and piano 🎹 skills. It was amazing to see them shine on stage, unafraid to speak and perform! 🎤✨

Witnessing their growth and confidence over the last five days was truly inspiring. 👏 These talented youth showed us that when you believe in yourself, anything is possible! 🌟

🚣‍♀️🚣‍♂️ At Camp Choice BC, our campers, both boys and girls, had an unforgettable time kayaking and canoeing! 🌊 These activities were more than just fun—they were powerful tools for team-building. 🤝

Through paddling together, our campers learned the importance of communication 💬, trust 🤝, and cooperation 👥. They built stronger bonds, developed leadership skills, and discovered how working together can achieve great things. 🌟 The friendships formed and lessons learned on the water will last a lifetime! 🛶💙

📣 Huge shout out to Brandon Bavaro, one of our incredible coaches at Camp Choice BC! 🌟 This marks his fifth consecutive year of coaching with us, and his dedication is truly inspiring. Not only is he deeply involved in fundraising efforts, but this year, he also went above and beyond by purchasing all the copies of “The Four Agreements” 📚 that we used to teach invaluable lessons. Each student received their own book, thanks to Brandon’s generosity. He’s an amazing leader who the youth can really relate to, making a lasting impact on everyone he meets. 👏🎉

Hey Camp Choice BC! 🏹 One of the highlights at Zajac Ranch was archery, and it’s so much more than just hitting a target! Archery teaches our youth invaluable life skills like focus, patience, and perseverance. Every arrow they release is a lesson in setting goals and learning from both success and setbacks. 🎯 Beyond the physical benefits of improved coordination and strength, archery helps them stay calm under pressure and practice mindfulness, giving them tools they can use in all areas of life. 💪 Whether they’re aiming for bullseyes or life goals, archery at camp is helping them hit the mark! 🎯

🐴 Empowering our youth through horseback riding at Camp Choice BC! 🏞️ Riding offers more than just adventure—it builds confidence, teaches responsibility, and fosters a deep connection with these magnificent animals. 🌟 Whether they’re learning to trust, developing patience, or simply enjoying the freedom of the ride, the benefits are endless. Grateful for the experiences that shape these young lives! 💪

At Camp Choice BC, our youth shattered barriers in an empowering board-breaking exercise, opening up new horizons and opportunities. 💥👊 This unforgettable experience was made possible by the generous donation of boards from Van Burn Construction. 🛠️🏗️ A special shoutout to the principal, who not only supported this impactful activity but also proudly sits behind the Canuck Bench, reflecting his commitment to our community and the future of our youth. 🙌✨🏒📸

🌲🏕️ Camp Choice BC is incredibly fortunate to partner with the amazing Zajac Ranch for Children in Mission, BC! 🌟 It’s always a highlight of our year when the legendary founder, Mel Zajac, stops by to check on our camp. His dedication to creating such an inclusive and accessible space for youth is truly inspiring. 🙌

We love being able to use the fantastic facilities here—from the beautiful 44 acres of wilderness 🌳 to the top-notch amenities like the 60’ by 40’ gymnasium 🏋️, outdoor amphitheatre 🎭, and dining hall 🍽️. These spaces allow our youth to fully immerse themselves in an empowering and fun-filled camp experience.

Thank you, Mel, for your unwavering support and for providing a place where everyBODY can thrive! ❤️

Today at Camp Choice BC, we faced our fears and climbed to new heights on the high ropes! 🧗‍♂️🔥 With our buddies by our side, we pushed beyond what we thought was possible, building teamwork and setting new goals together. 💪🤝

💪 At Camp Choice BC, we’re diving into the 4th Agreement: Always Do Your Best! 🌟 It’s not about perfection, but about giving your all in every situation, big or small. Every day, we remind our youth that their best effort is enough, and it’s the path to personal freedom and success. 🚀

🌟 Hey Camp Choice BC 🌟

Today was all about breaking through barriers! 💪 The youth took part in our board-breaking exercise where they wrote down their biggest goals 📝 and the challenges that hold them back 🚧. With a powerful kick 🦵, they shattered those obstacles, sending a message to themselves and everyone watching: nothing can stop them from reaching their dreams! ✨

This exercise is more than just physical—it’s a reminder that with the right mindset and determination, they can break through any limits and achieve greatness. 💥

Proud of these incredible young leaders for pushing themselves to new heights today! 👏🔥

🚀

Starting our mornings at Camp Choice BC with shout-outs! 🙌 It’s all about recognizing the kindness, leadership, and good deeds our campers showed yesterday. 🌟 When we lift each other up, we create a ripple effect of positivity that spreads throughout the camp. Let’s keep that energy going! 💪

🌟 Camp Choice BC is all about pushing boundaries and stepping out of comfort zones! This week, our amazing youth took on the challenge of public speaking, embracing the opportunity to lead and inspire their peers. The courage and growth we witnessed were incredible. 🚀

At Camp Choice BC, we believe in nurturing future leaders, and these youth are well on their way to making a difference in their communities! 💪✨

🌞 Morning session, Day 2 at Camp Choice BC! Today we dove into ‘The Four Agreements’ and focused on ‘Don’t Make Assumptions.’ 🧠💬 Powerful lessons for the youth, helping them build stronger communication and understanding. 💪📚

🌟 Huge thanks to Paterson Food Group and Save On Foods for their incredible support! 🙏 They generously provided 1,000 pounds of mandarin oranges, 600 bottles of water, protein bars, and treats for the 52 youth at Zajac Ranch for Children during Camp Choice BC. 🧡🍊 Your contribution is making a big difference in their camp experience!