Stratford youth lead summer camps focused on community and purpose

Through children’s classes and junior youth programs, campers are learning how to foster moral clarity, build friendships, and lead with kindness through the Stratford Summer of Service camps.

A group of Stratford high school students is making a difference this summer through a youth-led service initiative designed to foster community connection and moral development.

Their “summer of service” includes a series of camps held at Forest Hill Education Centre and Nancy Campbell Academy. The programming focuses on empowering youth through moral education, critical thinking and relationship-building.

The next camp, hosted at Forest Hill Private School, is geared toward children aged five to 10 and follows a pay-what-you-can model, with a suggested fee of $50. Organizers say the approach ensures financial accessibility for all families.

In collaboration with local residents and organizations that share similar values, the youth have planned structured camps and events aimed at creating spaces for meaningful dialogue, reflection and service.

“The program is for students aged 11 to 15 who want to become more engaged in their community and explore how contributing to the world around them can give a sense of purpose and belonging,” said Phoenix Birch, one of the youth organizers.

Birch said the programming also helps participants understand how to bring about positive change – socially, emotionally and materially – through critical conversations and community engagement.

“At this age, you're becoming more aware of the world around you and the injustices in it,” said Birch. “It’s about beginning to understand how engaging with the world around them can foster a sense of purpose and belonging.”

Workshops are designed to challenge media messaging and encourage youth to become discerning readers and thinkers, with an emphasis on applying a moral lens.

“At this age, you're growing more and thinking more deeply about things,” said Birch. “You're able to see the world around you more clearly – and the injustices too – but you may not yet have the words to express it. So it’s really about developing that power of expression.”

For more information or to sign up, visit their Instagram page @StratfordSummerOfService or email stratfordjy@gmail.com.