It may be winter but that doesn’t mean the work stops for those who run the Bryerswood Youth Camp on Texas Road in Amherstburg.
The Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club which takes care of the camp hosted its annual fundraising dinner this past Saturday night.
According to club president Kathi Poupard, nearly 200 came to the K of C Hall in River Canard to either sit and eat ribs and chicken or take it home to enjoy.
Highlighting the night was a 50/50 draw, a draw for a big screen TV and of course lots of items to be raffled off.
“We get very good support from the community,” said Poupard.
Despite it being winter, camp director Caitlin Gonneau says there are still lots of things for young people to do including the exciting “Beach Bash” being held on a PD Day, February 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“They are going to learn to hula dance and play with sand slime,” said Gonneau.
After that Bryerswood hosts March Break day activities from March 11–15 for ages 4 to 13. Gonneau explained that those who attend will be treated to a different adventure theme each day.
“They are going to outer space and go to the Arctic and build a sled and we’re going on a field trip to wrap the week up.”
In the spring, Earth Day will see a lot of outdoor activities including tree planting and there will once again be food trucks and book sales.
Bryerswood Youth Camp opened in 2018 and sits on 25 acres. The summertime is when they are the busiest and according to Poupard work on the cabins is progressing quickly.
“They are in place and have been anchored down. They’ve got insulation and we’ve been working on the painting and we continue to do that as long as the weather holds up.”
The cabins are of a rustic, wooden style and blend in well with the camp which offers leadership, outdoor camping skills, life skills and environmental stewardship.
Bryerswood Youth Optimist Club will be hosting lunch at the annual Essex Train Show Feb. 24-25.
For more information, call 519-726-6266 or contact info@bryerswood.com
By Fred Groves
Bryerswood Youth Camp hosts fundraising dinner in River Canard