From Camper to Supervisor: Dylan’s Y Story

For Dylan, Supervisor of Recreation and Camps at the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario, the impact of camp is something he understands from more than one perspective. Today, he helps create opportunities for children and youth to build friendships, discover new interests and develop confidence. But before he was helping lead those experiences, he was a camper himself.

Dylan remembers what it meant to receive financial assistance that allowed him to attend an overnight YMCA camp for two weeks, an experience that otherwise would have been out of reach for his family.

“I can personally say it changed my life,” Dylan shared.

That opportunity helped shape the career path he would take, inspiring him to work with children and youth, and eventually help oversee the very programs that had made such a difference in his own life. Now, he gets to help ensure other children have access to those same opportunities.

In his role today, Dylan sees that impact unfold in countless ways. He’s watched first-time camp staff discover their strengths, young campers find their footing in unfamiliar environments and children try things they may never have had the chance to experience before.

At Camp Tillicum, that meant building forts from fallen branches, exploring the outdoors, and getting into a canoe or kayak for the very first time. Sometimes, it meant something as simple as taking a break.

One camper was having a difficult time adjusting to camp, so Dylan and the team found an opportunity to step away for a walk along the beach. Together, they collected sea glass and helped clean up along the shoreline. It was a small moment, but an important reminder that children don’t always need to push through a difficult day. Sometimes, they just need a little space and someone willing to meet them where they are.

For Dylan, these experiences are part of what makes camp so valuable. Beyond the activities and summer fun, children are learning to navigate new social situations, adapt to unexpected challenges and build resilience. They’re discovering what they’re capable of, often without even realizing it.

He also saw that growth in the YMCA’s leadership programs, where older campers were given opportunities to take on responsibilities and explore their own leadership abilities with guidance from camp staff.

But some of the most meaningful moments aren’t always easy to put into words.

This summer, one family returned to camp week after week, building memories and looking forward to more summers together. When the team received the heartbreaking news that one of their campers, Kayden, had passed away in a tragic accident, it deeply affected the staff and leadership team who had come to know him.

In his obituary, Kayden’s family shared how much he loved Camp Tillicum and how excited he was for future summers there. That detail has stayed with Dylan.

It was a reminder that what happens at camp reaches far beyond the days a child spends there. The friendships, experiences and memories become part of their lives, and sometimes, the anticipation of returning is a meaningful part of the experience, too.

It’s why Dylan believes every child should have the opportunity to attend.

As the cost of everyday life continues to rise, camp can become increasingly difficult for families to afford, even when both parents are working hard to make ends meet. Financial assistance can help ease that pressure while giving children access to friendships, new experiences and the simple freedom to be kids.

For Dylan, supporting Fill the Bus means helping give another child the opportunity that once changed his own life. It means making room for new friendships, first-time experiences, growing confidence and memories that stay with children long after summer ends.