Enjoying the outdoors is what summer on P.E.I. is all about, and over the weekend close to a hundred newcomers got their first taste of a common Island pastime – camping.
For many like Samia Alkhouri, it was the first time roasting marshmallows over an open fire and participating in other camping activities like setting up a tent.
Two years ago, Alkhouri and her family moved to Charlottetown from Syria.
“This is our first time camping,” she told The Guardian at Stanhope Campground on Saturday, as she and her family worked together to put up their tent. “It’s wonderful. I think I will recommend my friends to go camping and we can go as a group. It is really nice.”
Alkhouri, a mother of three, started working at the P.E.I. Association for Newcomers to Canada shortly after arriving in P.E.I. It was through her job where Alkhouri learned of Parks Canada’s Learn-to-Camp initiative and signed her family up for the outdoor adventure.
Learn-to-Camp, a national program run in partnership with Mountain Equipment Co-op, takes place at National Parks across Canada throughout the summer, and introduces participants to the basics of camping.
While the program is open to the public, it focuses on attracting newcomers to Canada as a way to help them connect with nature, said Janette Gallant, Partnering, Engagement and Communications Officer with Parks Canada.
“The whole idea is to build a classic Canadian camping experience, but also adding in some of our P.E.I. local elements,” she said, noting the event included camping by the beach and Mi’kmaq programming.
From learning how to set up a tent and start a fire to a cooking demonstration and sandcastle sculpting, campers got a well-rounded introduction to having a successful camping experience.
Alkhouri said moving to the Island is going “really good,” which wasn’t what she initially anticipated.
“I didn’t expect to be happy like that,” she said. “I expected to struggle and to face difficulties, but now we are working and we bought a house and everything is good.”
This is the seventh year the Learn-to-Camp program has been held on P.E.I. and nationally it continues to grow, said Gallant.
“Prior to last year, we were reaching about 10,000 participants across the country (annually), but as of 2017, we’re reaching 100,000 a year.”
The program typically take place in the National Parks, but Gallant said there will also be Learn-to-Camp hubs held in bigger cities, including Montreal, Vancouver and Halifax.
“It’s really about reaching new Canadians, urban Canadians – people who might find it out of the ordinary for them to come out to a National Park,” Gallant said. “It’s all about taking the time to connect with nature; having that experience within a National Park actually camping, setting up a tent, sleeping outside at night.”
Those looking for more information on the program can visit Parkscanada.gc.ca.
