Developing new programs for CNIB Lake involves more than selecting fun activities. It’s about creating meaningful experiences, fostering inclusion and ensuring that every camper has the opportunity to grow and thrive. Eugene Chong, CNIB Lake Joe’s General Manager, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how our innovative team develops new programs that make each season unforgettable.
Learn from other established programs
It might surprise you that up until the turn of the century (2000!), CNIB Lake Joe primarily served adults and families impacted by blindness and sight loss. Focusing on children and youth programming has led to much learning and innovation.
Our Camp Abilities program is a great example. This goal-based athletic program was first introduced in 2012 and modelled on the Camp Abilities program founded in New York. They had been successfully offering programs for children with sight loss for years, reframing what physical sport and activity could be for the community. With the support of volunteers and coaches, Lake Joe was able to implement and adapt the Camp Abilities model to help kids set and achieve performance goals through specialized programs like triathlon training and sailing.
Build and benefit from new facilities and friendships
Once Camp Abilities had been successfully piloted at CNIB Lake Joe, it continued to evolve based on new partnerships and property amenities. With a new soccer pitch developed onsite in 2021, this specialized sports program expanded to include 5-a-side soccer in partnership with experts at Soccability and the Ontario Blind Sports Association.
We respond to the changing landscape
“In recent years, there has been a real growth in blind hockey and hockey in general, and it’s become a year-round activity,” says Eugene, who volunteers as a hockey coach in his spare time. He explained that players may be fully engrossed in the sport or worried that they may fall behind if they don’t keep up with others.
“Parents of children with sight loss often feel this way,” says Eugene. “We want to create experiences where kids can play hockey with other kids from across Canada and return home with new skills and friendships.”
Don’t reinvent the wheel!
When we considered launching a blind hockey program at CNIB Lake Joe, we reached out to staff and volunteers at the Canadian Blind Hockey Association (CBHA). Having run blind hockey programs and day camps for youth for years, they were eager to brainstorm ideas and share their talent. Building on past CBHA learnings and successes, hockey programs at Lake Joe are unique in that they include other recreational opportunities at camp and a real focus on independent-skills and friendship-building.
This year at CNIB Lake Joe, kids ages 8-18 – and their sighted siblings and friends – can select from a new, intro-level blind hockey program or a more advanced “junior” level program. We encourage you to learn more about the 2025 Camp Abilities program and register now.
Identify gaps in programming
To engage with an underserved population, CNIB Lake Joe delivered new programming to young adults aged 19-35. In 2023, we launched our first Young Adult Week and are upscaling it this year with three specialty streams: social, leadership, and sports. Explore this new program and discover how to “choose your own adventure” during 2025 Young Adult Week.
While offsite/trip programs have been around for years, accessing these types of opportunities for young adults who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision can be difficult or nearly impossible. Building upon the previous success of Lake Joe's adventure program WILD (Wilderness Immersion for Leadership Development), we’re launching our first-ever Young Adult Wilderness Trip/backcountry camping adventure in 2025!
Know your limits
It’s important to rely on experts. For the wilderness trip, our experienced and highly trained staff will work with an established outfitter, Algonquin Outfitter, and their certified guides, who will oversee route planning, guiding, safety measures, etc. To ensure a comfortable staff/guest ratio, this program's maximum number of participants is limited to eight. Before campers head into the woods, they will participate in a “backcountry boot camp” at Lake Joe to build the skills required while off-the-grid: perfecting paddling skills, learning about canoes and portaging, building safe fires, etc.
Since space is limited, we recommend you apply early for the Young Adult Wilderness Trip program.
Take it up a notch
“Including a learning component in all our camp programs is core to the work we do at Lake Joe,” Eugene stresses. “We understand that a week at CNIB Lake Joe has the potential to be part of a much larger life experience.”
He imagines, for instance, that the Young Adult Wilderness Trip has the potential to grow and expand with additional time spent learning navigation skills in a natural environment. There was similar success last year when the Counselor-in-Training program skill-training was enhanced with an offsite camping experience.
“People can determine the level of learning they want from any camp experience,” Eugene explains. “The intention is not to host intensive classes, but to give participants the chance to grow in their skills and knowledge.”
Why is this important? “CNIB Lake Joe is the opposite of Las Vegas,” Eugene jokes. “What happens at Lake Joe should not stay at Lake Joe. We want the skills, stories, and friendships to travel home with every guest, expanding their opportunities to get involved at the local level.”
Think about what happens next
When asked about other program ideas he’s been contemplating, Eugene’s passion for camp shines even brighter.
“I come from an arts background, and I always think that art at camp gets a bad rap,” says Eugene. He imagines participants engaging in fine arts or musical theatre and building on CNIBLakeJoe@Home’s virtual choir. And don’t even get him started on all his program ideas for when CNIB Lake Joe is open year-round!
Check-in with guests: “What do you want?”
Our participants are at the centre of all we do, and their feedback and big dreams help drive our programming.
“We’re walking shoulder-to-shoulder, hand in hand with our participants,” says Eugene. “If there’s something you want to experience at Lake Joe, simply let us know in our new online CNIB Lake Joe suggestion box.”