In summer 2005, Sarah and Noah Matoo had an idea to help out some of the youth in Coral Harbour.

They had noticed a lot of youth were getting into trouble and SA国际影视传媒渏ust kind of floating aroundSA国际影视传媒� in the community with no obligations, so the husband-and-wife pair figured they could take about 10 of them to their camp, teach them how to fish, make pipsi and stay out of trouble.

By the time the camp weekend was coming up, the Matoos had 52 youth signed up to join. They had no way to accommodate all that interest, so volunteers in the community stepped right up to provide all the camping equipment, food, mattresses and Coleman stoves they could need, even letting youth stay in their cabins to sleep.

SA国际影视传媒淭here was a lot of healing being done,SA国际影视传媒� remembers Sarah Matoo about that first camp. SA国际影视传媒淭hey were talking, sharing, letting things go at the camp.SA国际影视传媒�

It was initially going to be a weekend venture, but the group decided to stay an extra day SA国际影视传媒� even though it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a long weekend SA国际影视传媒� to continue the experience.

Since then, itSA国际影视传媒檚 become a staple of the community, with the Matoos fundraising for the celebration camp and running it each summer they can afford to. It has also become a six-day journey, full of games, counselling, time on the land, sharing, talent shows and challenges.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a balance,SA国际影视传媒� said Matoo about the activities at camp. SA国际影视传媒淲e do a lot of talking, a lot of self-esteem building.SA国际影视传媒�

And at the end of it, the Matoos walk with the youth all the way back to Coral Harbour SA国际影视传媒� more than 42 kilometres, SA国际影视传媒渏ust to show the kids that no matter how hard things get, youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to make your destination.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e bleeding, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 blisters and limping, and even me, ISA国际影视传媒檓 having a hard time finishing the walk now because of my age and bum knee, but we make the walk,SA国际影视传媒� said Sarah.

Noah Matoo, she said, came up with a SA国际影视传媒榗atwalkSA国际影视传媒� challenge where youth had to strut in front of their peers down a catwalk like a fashion model.

SA国际影视传媒淚 couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 believe that he came up with that, because he was one of the most shyest people I had ever met,SA国际影视传媒� said Sarah. SA国际影视传媒淗e told me that if somebody had done that push for him, maybe he wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have been so shy for that long.SA国际影视传媒�

That philosophy extends to the talent show, where youth have to put on some sort of act by the end of the camp.

Sarah said the camps are even helpful for herself, as the sharing people do helps the lighten the load for everyone.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll the problems you thought you had are no longer huge like you thought they were in your own house,SA国际影视传媒� she said about hearing what other people are going through.

As the Matoos prepare for another camp this month, Sarah encourages anyone with an idea that could benefit their community to pursue it.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think we all have some need for healing in one way or another,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know what we were stumbling into when we decided we were going to take those 10 kids to our camp. What became of this camp is something that weSA国际影视传媒檝e never really even comprehended that it would happen that way, but it did, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 got a life of its own. Sometimes things we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 even expect to happen happen, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 always way better than what we anticipated.SA国际影视传媒�