As the leaves fall from the trees and the sun begins to set earlier, we like to reflect on the many incredible moments from this past summer. One event that stands out in particular is the Momma Moments camping trip to Terra Nova National Park. For the second year in a row, our Momma Moments Program partnered with Parks Canada for this initiative, and once again it was a weekend steeped in laughter, creating new memories, and offering new, positive experiences to moms and kids alike.
Momma Moments is a no-barrier, peer-to-peer support group for at-risk, pregnant and parenting young women. This program prides itself on supporting moms to live healthier lives that will help create more stable lives for their families. Momma Moments Program Coordinator, Jeannie Piercey, has seen the program grow and evolve over the years, but the core goal of the program remains the same. A key part of Momma Moments is to offer experiences and opportunities to participants that would otherwise be unattainable, like an overnight camping trip in Terra Nova National Park.
For the second year in a row, Parks Canada offered their Learn To Camp initiative, and Momma Moments was excited to participate. There were 13 moms and 18 children that took part in the trip to Terra Nova National Park, which featured support on camp site set-up, an AdventureSmart session, PaddleSmart demonstration, Indigenous Culture presentation, nature walk, fireside concert, and more. Moms and kids learned multiple new skills, gained knowledge about the outdoors and our environment, and had so much fun camping under the stars. The variety of programming that was offered gave every person the chance to learn something new about camping, the outdoors, and themselves.
This exciting weekend could not have been such a success without the support of Rovers Ground Search and Rescue, Terra Nova National Park, and Parks Canada. We are so appreciative of the many volunteers who gave time and energy to impart their own skills and passion onto our Momma Moments group – without them, this adventure would not have become a reality. The Learn to Camp initiative was once again an outstanding experience for Momma Moments, one that provided the chance for families to build new skills, create positive experiences, and make lifetime memories for moms and kids alike.
Photos courtesy of Ritche Perez.