summerside's community connections takes over revitalization, care of camp tamawaby
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community connections staff john smallwood, left, and nathan desroches say that taking over camp tamawaby provides the organization's clients with an opportunity to get out and enjoy nature.
kristin gardiner
/
journal pioneer
wellington centre, p.e.i. — two years ago, the province was looking for someone to take over camp tamawaby, a former campground and demonstration woodlot in western p.e.i.
excited, the team at summerside’s community connections leapt at the opportunity — particularly, its manager of programming and housing, nathan desroches.
desroches lives nearby and walks the camp’s trails frequently with his family and dog.
“i’ve always had a passion for this property, and when it came available, i asked john (smallwood, executive director) and our maintenance co-ordinator … to come out and take a look,” he said.
“that’s when we really got excited about the possibilities and opportunities that it would raise for our organization.”
community connections is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities and assistance for people with intellectual disabilities. it offers a lot of local initiatives and programming for its clients, but not much outside of the city.
having this camp would provide clients with new experiences they might not have otherwise. campfires. fishing. spending a night in a cabin out in nature.
community connections has signed a 20-year lease agreement with the province to take over the care of camp tamawaby.
kristin gardiner
/
journal pioneer
around early 2025, the province responded to community connections’ interest. it took more than a year of conversations and working out the details to finalize the deal.
in april, community connections was, at last, able to announce that they have signed a 20-year lease agreement with the province to revitalize and care for the campsite at camp tamawaby.
“it’s really special for our group,” said desroches.
“we always say we feel like we’re one big family at community connections, and this is just an area where i know there’s gonna be a lot of pride within the organization, that we have this honour of taking care of such a great piece of property.”
the space hadn’t been utilized since 2020 and experienced damage from post-tropical storm fiona.
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“it’s a big undertaking,” said smallwood. “but our goal for this year is just to have it be something that we can use for the summer for programming and then start looking for funding options for down-the-road projects.”
community connections staff nathan desroches, left, and john smallwood say that taking over camp tamawaby provides the organization’s clients with an opportunity to get out and enjoy nature.
kristin gardiner
/
journal pioneer
rejuvination
before the seven-acre property can become the camp the organization imagines, there’s much work to be done.
there are cabins to fix up, a septic system and well to test, and bathrooms to upgrade for wheelchair accessibility. the landscaping needs work, and perhaps a trail built from the cabins to the water; smallwood said he would love to make the dock accessible and buy some accessible kayaks.
the larger of the cabins on the site, they plan to turn into a building for day programming for their clients. long-term, the property could also become a social enterprise for community connections, earning income through rental to outside people or groups.
“the first little bit’s gonna be a struggle because it’s so bad right now,” said smallwood. “but once we get past that first initial part, it should be good.”
any money raised would go back into supporting the camp and paying the clients for any work they do, such as cutting the grass or cleaning the cabins.
the clients, smallwood and desroches added, are excited for the first day they get to enjoy what camp tamawaby has to offer.
“we have lists of great ideas from the clients,” said desroches. “i’ve seen some arts and crafts that need to come out here. it’s a very exciting time for community connections.”
community connections staff john smallwood, left, and nathan desroches take a walk through camp tamawaby.
kristin gardiner
/
journal pioneer
giving back
for desroches, the campsite is more than just a piece of property. it’s something special for people in the area.
“i think with us now taking it on, i think it means a lot to the people that i’ve talked to already in the community, that it’s gonna be cared for, and hopefully back and running to what it used to be,” said desroches.
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“i know there’s a lot of people around p.e.i. that have great memories of camp tamawaby. we just want to increase that and create some more memories for our folks, as well.”
smallwood added that since word got out about their takeover of the camp, he’s heard from people who are likewise excited to see it get new life.
“since taking it on and people finding out we got it, you start to hear stories of people’s memories,” he said.
“memories like boy scouts, 4-h, i think girl guides maybe used it at one point, ground search and rescue. there’s a lot of community involvement up here, and we don’t want to see that stop.”
while it will primarily be a space for community connections and its clients, smallwood would love the opportunity to offer it up to other families and organizations who might not otherwise get a chance to experience the outdoors.
“that’s just us wanting to give back to the community that gives to us, right?” said smallwood. “that’s what’s kind of exciting about the whole thing.”
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kristin gardiner is a reporter for the journal pioneer in prince edward island. she can be reached at kgardiner@postmedia.com.
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