By: Miriam Mas, Program Lead, Buddy Dog & Ambassador Dog Training CNIB Guide Dogs
We hosted 15 children, their parents, and buddy dogs in August at CNIB Lake Joe for our second annual Buddy Dog Camp. Thanks to our incredible donors, this program was offered to participants at no cost.
This camp provided an excellent environment for children to explore, participate in educational and recreational activities, and forge new friendships. Parents also had the chance to connect and network with each other. 
Program highlights included:
- A special message from puppy raisers and boarders.
- Early morning group walks with buddy dogs.
- A session with parents to network, discuss resources and connect.
- An opportunity for participants to experience firsthand what it's like to walk with a guide dog in a harness.
- A Guide Dog Mobility Instructor delivered a workshop on how to recognize when our dogs need support and how to deal with dog distractions.
- An information session delivered by a vet advisor and vet tech on how to help keep dogs at their ideal weight,
- And other fun Lake Joe activities like swimming with buddy dogs, a scavenger hunt, a talent show, beep baseball, soccer, rock climbing, pontoon boat rides, tubing, paddle boarding, campfires, and more.
Another group of kids from CNIB’s Writing with Feeling – Braille Writers’ Retreat was also visiting CNIB Lake Joe at the same time as our group. This allowed our young participants to network and create new friendships with kids from across the country.
The program came to life thanks in part to the generosity of our donors and sponsors and the amazing teamwork between our philanthropy team, CNIB Lake Joe staff and CNIB Guide Dogs staff. We hope next year’s CNIB Buddy Dog Camp is even bigger and better!