Stag Special

Want to send your child to summer camp using the Support Our Troops national summer camps program for eligible families of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) community?

Support Our Troops is the official charitable cause of the CAF community, supported by donations from individual Canadians, proceeds from third party events and contributions from external charitable foundations.

According to CFMWS CEO Ian Poulter, 2023 represents the 10th year of the Support Our Troops national summer camps program whereby eligible families of serving CAF members will be able to receive funding for participation in an accredited residential camp of their choice or a day camp experience.

“In an effort to remain responsive to the needs of families, Support Our Troops has decided to accept applications earlier for the 2023 camp season, as various national camps are already open for summer registrations,” offered Poulter.

Online registration for the summer camp program opened March 20. Visit www.supportourtroops.ca/Get[1]Support/National-Summer-Camps-Program

The following are eligible for the program:

• Bereaved dependents ofdeceasedCAF members;
• Dependents of ill/injuredserving members of the CAF, currently being supported through the CAF Transition unit or CAF Transition Centre;

• Dependents of serving CAFmembers who are currently deployed, or on a prolonged training (course) or an attached posting away from their families;
• Special needs children ofserving CAF members; and
• Children of serving CAFmembers with special needs siblings — one sibling per special needs child.

Further to the eligibility criteria, there may be unique or exceptional circumstances which would warrant a serving military family benefitting from a summer camp experience. Unit Commanding Officers (CO) or Deputy Commanding Officers (DCO) may nominate such families through an e-mail forwarded to camps@cfmws.com for consideration.

As a minimum, a nomination should include details of the family along with the rationale for their inclusion within this program. CFMWS commits to providing a prompt reply to such nominations.

Families with eligible dependents may be reimbursed up to a maximum of $700 for an accredited residential or day camp facility. In addition, CAF families with children having special needs may be reimbursed up to a maximum of $1,100 at an accredited residential or day camp facility.

Camp programs managed and delivered by Base/Wing PSP staff qualify in this regard. Maximum grant amounts per child, per summer, will be maintained, without week restrictions.

“As always, the national summer camps program is wholly dependent on charitable donations received by Support Our Troops,” said Poulter. “To this end, funding is limited and only a fixed number of families will receive funding to attend camp each year. For 2023, registration will remain open until all available funding has been exhausted. Priority will be given to first time camp applicants. Grants for returning campers will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis and contingent upon funding. A waitlist may be established.”

All applications will be reviewed to confirm eligibility and camp accreditation, where applicable. A grant approval notice will be issued to the applicant within two weeks of successful submission. Grants will be provided to applicants upon receipt of final paid camp invoices and after the child has attended camp.

“Participating families remain responsible for monitoring the public health regulations for summer camp participation in their respective communities,” noted Poulter. “Support Our Troops is not responsible for reimbursement of any expenses associated with camp cancellations or registration changes.”

All applying families are encouraged to verify with their camp of choice about any specific cancellation policies, and/or related charges. As always, Support Our Troops encourages families to only participate in camps which follow a strict adherence to local public health regulations.