NEWS RELEASE
CAMP COUCHICHING
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With summer activities at Camp Couchiching wrapping up soon, MPP Jill Dunlop stopped by to formally congratulate the camp’s staff on the work happening as a result of receiving $199,800 in Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grants.
Both were awarded in 2022, with the first being an $82,600 Resilient Communities Fund grant to help it rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. And then late last year, the camp learned it was successful with its capital grant application, receiving $117,200 to help it with needed vehicle and equipment purchases.
“Camp Couchiching has been a valuable part of our communities since 1946, and I congratulate them on the success achieved with their creative delivery model and various programs,” said Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North. “With the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the camp can extend its programs year-round, strengthening the capacity for staff and volunteers to continue offering a unique youth and family-focused experience and lifelong memories.”
Both sources of funding enabled Camp Couchiching to operate more fully year-round, thereby increasing access for local participants and families.
The capital grant enabled the camp to purchase and install water heaters for its cabins, as well as buy a maintenance truck, a transport van and a utility vehicle. These purchases will help the camp in years to come by providing improved access to the site, plowed trails in winter, and a variety of other uses that support its year-round programming.
Programming at Camp Couchiching includes group and school visits, regular day and overnight camp programs, community programs and, most recently, the Camp Couchiching Learning Centre (CCLC). The CCLC is a four-season outdoor learning program that encourages children to engage with nature and others in meaningful ways. The CCLC program, including summer day camps for local families, benefited from the $82,600 Resilient Communities Fund that it received earlier in 2022. The year-long grant was a catalyst for growth in program offerings, expanding year-round programming, and landing important staff roles.
“This funding was an essential and exceptional boost to our operations,” said Jen Dundas, executive director of Camp Couchiching. “Our industry is typically seasonal, which is why this funding and the new resources that come with it are so helpful for our long-term growth.”
The OTF, an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110 million into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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