Centering Land, People and Place at Sasamat
Intergenerational Connections
As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to fall, many of us are reminiscing about the summer months. This time of year brings on familiar feelings of excitement, nostalgia and nervousness, even for those of us long removed from the back-to-school season. This is especially true for the campers, leaders and volunteers at Sasamat Outdoor Centre. The dining hall is now empty, the canoes have been pulled out of the lake and the 100s of campers are back to school after a long beautiful summer at Camp Sasamat.
Some folks from ANHBC Central Services had the honour of going to camp for the day in July and getting to experience the liveliness and tranquility of Sasamat, which is situated on the ancestral and unceded lands of the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and Stó:lō (Stolo) Nations, colonially known as Belcarra. We went to camp not just to eat their delicious lunch and practice our archery skills (although we did both!), but to learn more and get to know the volunteers of the Wise Owl Older Adult Volunteer Program.
Bev Bakka is the lead organizer and innovator of the program, and was our guide for the day. In 2022 Sasamat received a federal government seniors grant, which is when Bev began having a vision for what would soon become the Wise Owls.
“I had just retired from BC Cancer and the Provincial Health Services Authority, where I worked with volunteers for many years,” shared Bev as we walked through Sasamat’s trails. “I met with Kristen (Executive Director) and Ben (Senior Director) when they had just received the New Horizon Grant, so this was a chance for me to be with what I love - children and the forest.”
Together they came up with the idea of the Wise Owls, a program that recruits older adult (50+) volunteers to share their skills and passions with the campers (6-12) and leaders (youth) alike. From gardening to archery, watercolour painting to astronomy, every Wednesday throughout the summer camping season, the volunteers contribute to Sasamat in profound ways.
Leading up to July, Bev recruits volunteers in her own community of Port Moody, close to Sasamat. She looks for people who are committed to volunteerism and have an altruistic perspective when giving of their time.
“I ask the Wise Owl volunteers - what are you wise about and what brings you joy? What would you like to share with the campers and leaders, and what would you like to learn from them? I look for kindred spirits who love kids and want to be in the forest.”
The volunteers are encouraged to join the intergenerational community at Sasamat by taking a canoe out for a paddle after their shift, join the team for lunch and by enjoying the trails that circle the lake. The Wise Owl Program believes that the sign of a healthy society is one that is intergenerational, prioritizes connection and works together in reciprocity. The campers, leaders and Wise Owl volunteers all learn from each other, through painting, stargazing, archery and conversation. The program not only lives the values of the Camp, but also ANHBC neighbourhood houses - centering their work in land, people and place.
“I didn’t imagine something like this could happen to me in my retirement,” shared Bev as we were getting ready to leave Sasamat. “We’re all here because we’ve found a purpose. A place like this is full of dreams and it does something to the campers and volunteers that frees them up so they can dream together.”
Thank you Bev for sharing your Sasamat story of Dreaming Together - it is a privilege for every camper and leader to get to learn and be in community with you and the Wise Owls.
Visit anhbc.org/donate to help our camp and neighbourhood houses continue to Dream Together.
