He has seen them arrive at Camp Jubilee chin down, eyes low, and a bag slung over a shoulder as they take those first unfamiliar steps to their cabin.
And he has seen them leave, sometimes tearful and sometimes proud, but always transformed by their time in the wilderness.
"When we get kids up, they want to be challenged," says David Duckworth, general manager of Camp Jubilee.
Jubilee is a wilderness camp for kids between the ages of seven and 16, and after 12 years of watching kids paddle a canoe for the first time in their lives, Duckworth has seen what a few days with nature can do.
Asked about some of his more memorable campers, Duckworth recalls a pair of young friends, "who took up a lot of my time with their behaviour," he recalls, chuckling.
On the last day, each of them were sad to leave.
The duo came back the next year, eventually joining the camp's staff as counsellors.
That emphasis on trying to give back to younger campers is what Jubilee is all about, according to Duckworth.
Camp Jubilee first opened its doors in 1936.
In the midst of the Depression, the camp was the
brainchild of the women's auxiliary of the labour movement, according to Duckworth, who says the camp was founded on giving kids who couldn't afford to go to camp a chance to camp.
"A lot of kids are sponsored," says Duckworth.
Aside from a few fundraisers to support the camp, as well as some money from British Columbia's gaming fund, the campers are largely subsidized by the camp itself.
"Because we sponsor a lot of kids, some parents think it's not for everyone," says Duckworth.
The camp is intended for all children who could benefit from spending a few days in the camp's 128 acres off of Indian Arm, according to Duckworth.
Jubilee is offering seven camps in July and August, as well as a wilderness leadership camp and the Extreme Camp.
"They have a more robust out-tripping program," Duckworth says of the Extreme Camp, which is slated to be a 10-day adventure at the end of the summer.
The camps range from four to 11 days, and the activities include kayaking, canoeing, hiking and swimming.
Adventurous campers can also get a chance to shoot an arrow, rappel down a rock face, or take the high-ropes course through the treetops that dot the camp.
Jubilee also offers a family day and a three-day family camp.
The camps are largely social, giving young people a chance to form lasting friendships, according to Duckworth.
Part of each camp that is six days or longer includes an overnight canoeing or kayaking trip up Indian Arm.
After a night spent learning how to survive in the wild, the campers trek back for a banquet dinner, a jamboree dance and carnival games.
Jubilee also awards outstanding campers on the last day.
The camp provides young people with an opportunity to hear what life sounds like without the hum of electronics.
"I think we live in a pretty fast society," says Duckworth. "Camp's a great opportunity to reconnect with nature and the outdoors."
For more information or to register visit the website at www.campjubilee.ca.
