Camp Easter Seal: The Saskatchewan summer camp that embraces disability

In a world that too often tells people with disabilities what they can’t do, there’s a place in Saskatchewan that starts every day with one simple word: yes.

Perched on the edge of Manitou Beach, Camp Easter Seal isn’t just a summer camp; it’s a sanctuary of possibility.

This simple sign marks the start of something big. “You walk in the door,” said Christian, “and every barrier we could possibly remove is already gone.” (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Since 1956, it’s been a haven for campers of all ages with disabilities, offering the full summer camp experience — minus the barriers.

Listen to Brittany Caffet talk to Camp Easter Seal staff and participants:

Once a swanky hotel from the 1930s, the site has transformed into Saskatchewan’s only fully accessible camp, lovingly maintained and operated by SaskAbilities.

Camp Easter Seal’s main chalet rises like a postcard from the edge of Manitou Lake — historic, grand and unlike anything else in Saskatchewan. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

And make no mistake: this isn’t a watered-down version of camp.

“If you’ve ever been to a summer camp yourself or sent your kids away to a sleepaway camp, we’re the same,” said Jennifer Christian, Camp Easter Seal’s office administrator. “We have arts and crafts, sports, archery, an indoor warm pool, a rustic outdoor education area and even a waterfront with a boat.”

The only difference? “Everything is accessible,” she said. “It’s adapted. And we’re flexible. If something doesn’t work for one of our campers, we find a way. There’s no ‘no’ here. Everything’s a yes — as long as it’s safe.”

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Jennifer Christian, Camp Easter Seal’s office administrator, says there’s only one rule at camp: if it’s safe, the answer is yes. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

That spirit of “yes” is the heartbeat of Camp Easter Seal. Every detail is thoughtfully designed to give campers a sense of freedom, belonging and joy.

“It’s just so magical that they don’t want to leave,” Christian said with a smile. “There’s campers that have literally told us that this place is better than Christmas and Disney combined. That’s a pretty high bar.”

This antique deer mount, a remnant of the chalet’s hotel era, watches over new generations of campers. A quiet symbol of how history lives on at Camp Easter Seal — in every wall, and every welcome. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Where history meets hope

Camp Easter Seal sits on land steeped in history. In the 1920s, Manitou Beach was a booming tourist destination. “They had three big pools, saloons, hotels — 15,000 people a day down here,” said Steve Grove, camp manager. “You can find a picture in the Heritage Center — bumper to bumper black Model Ts. It’s pretty hilarious.”

Then came the Great Depression, and tourism fizzled out. In response, the government launched make-work projects and built six provincial parks, including the grounds that would eventually become Camp Easter Seal.

Seen from across Manitou Lake, the historic chalet that houses Camp Easter Seal feels more Banff than Saskatchewan. Once a swanky 1930s hotel, it now holds generations of memories and possibility. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

By the mid-1950s, the site was underused. That changed in 1956, when it was reborn as a camp specifically for people with disabilities.

“We moved here in 1956 with two priorities, make the camp fully accessible, as well as keeping the heritage piece of it,” Grove said.

Today, the camp remains true to both, blending rustic charm with modern accessibility.

At Camp Easter Seal, even tenting is accessible. Raised platforms, wide entryways, and sensory-friendly design mean every camper can experience sleeping under the stars. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

A camp like no other

Camp Easter Seal serves over 600 campers each summer, ranging in age from toddlers to 80+. They stay in cabins, participate in talent shows, roast marshmallows and end the week with matching tie-dye shirts — just like many other summer camps. Except here, the staff-to-camper ratio is nearly one-to-one, and every single activity is adapted to be accessible.

Take archery, for instance: “One of the bows is actually attached to the board, so a person in a wheelchair doesn’t need that two-handed strength to pull the bow,” Grove explained. “We’re trying to make sure their needs are met while providing a kind of activity that other people wouldn’t think twice about doing. We can do it. So let’s do it right.”

Camp manager Steve Grove’s passion for his work runs deeper than logistics. “Some of our worlds might be a little bit smaller because of limitations,” he said, “but that doesn’t change the humanity in us all.” (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

And while other camps might struggle with funding for inclusive programming, Camp Easter Seal’s model is built on removing every possible barrier — financial included.

“We have no fees,” Christian said. “The minimal amount of money you would need is maybe $30 to go for ice cream and have things from the canteen while you’re here. And if you don’t have that money, we have a donor for that. A beautiful family has been giving every year so that no camper goes without.”

Grove added, “I run a $1.1 million deficit every year. SaskAbilities takes it upon itself every year to raise that to send kids to camp. That’s unique.”

At Camp Easter Seal, even archery is accessible. With adapted gear, campers of all abilities take their shot. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

The impact of the camp runs far deeper than canoeing or crafts.

“It’s often the first place someone gets to pick what they want to do, or the first time they’ve gone swimming,” Christian explained. “They gain a little independence, they learn, they grow. Our friends don’t get a lot of choice in their lives. We give them as many as we can. It’s really cool.”

Heated and fully accessible, the indoor pool often marks a milestone for many campers: their first swim. “We’re often the first place where they’ve been allowed to try,” said Christian. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

After a week full of newfound freedom and confidence, the reality of saying goodbye hits hard. Grove captures this bittersweet moment perfectly: “Sunglasses go on Friday morning,” he said, “because they’re crying. They don’t want to go home. Campers, staff. Nobody wants to say goodbye.”

That feeling lingers long after the week ends. “I’ve had a dad tell me, ‘You know, on the way home, he’s going to talk about coming back. And he’s not going to stop until we’re in a car coming up next year,’” Grove laughed. “I said, ‘That’s the most wonderful, annoying thing I’ve ever heard.’”

Paint covers the tables, the walls — and sometimes the campers — in the art room, where self-expression is the real masterpiece. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

It’s easy to see why. In a world that often draws lines between “us” and “them,” Camp Easter Seal breaks down those barriers and simply invites everyone to be themselves.

“One of the biggest issues we have in society is an us, them mentality. We do that even with, probably unintentionally, with the disability sector,” Grove reflected. “But they’re just like us. They have their hopes and dreams and they’re just trying to live their best life.”

One camper’s story: Meet Izzy Cross

Izzy Cross, 17, spent a week at Camp Easter Seal this summer — and by all accounts, she made the most of it.

“I went to Camp Easter Seal. I was in cabin 13!” she said, beaming.

17-year-old camper Izzy Cross loved her week at Camp Easter Seal. From belting out Let It Go at the talent show to pulling off pranks on the boys’ cabin, she made every moment count. (Submitted)

Her favourite part of the week was the Friday talent show. It’s the grand finale of the camp experience — everyone in their tie-dye shirts, staff and campers alike, gathered to sing, cheer and celebrate. Izzy stood proudly on stage and sang Let It Go from Frozen, belting it out with confidence and joy.

But of course, no summer camp story is complete without a little mischief.

“We pranked cabin 9. It was the boys cabin,” Izzy confessed with a grin. “We put toilet paper all over the place. We got them good!”

Every cabin is climate-controlled and completely accessible. “Extreme temps can be dangerous for some of our campers,” Grove explained. “So our cabins have A/C and heating.” (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Izzy does admit that not everything at camp was perfect.

Her top two complaints? Oatmeal and early mornings.

“It has blueberries,” she said, wrinkling her nose at the memory of the classic camp breakfast. Crisis averted, though — she had a backup plan. “Instead I just had oranges.”

From pontoon rides to the thrill of the speedboat, Camp Easter Seal offers a waterfront experience many campers have never had. Izzy said she enjoyed spending time on the pontoon boat, finding the activity very relaxing. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

And then there were the morning singers, a beloved Camp Easter Seal tradition… for some.

“The singers came in the morning. I hate the morning song,” she said with exasperation. “They came every morning in our cabin and they tried to wake us up!”

Her solution? A classic Izzy prank.

“I faked sleep the whole time!” she laughed.

Names of campers and past staff coat the walls of the craft room in joyful color — a living scrapbook of memories made and friendships forged. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Still, when asked if she’d go back, she didn’t hesitate to say yes.

For Izzy — like so many others — camp was more than just a week away from home. It was a chance to be herself, try new things and make memories she’ll carry for years.

A rock snake and a legacy

Before heading home, many campers take part in one final tradition: adding their mark to the camp’s growing “rock snake.” Started in 2023, the colourful serpent winds its way through the grounds, with each camper painting and placing a rock of their own. No two stones are the same — each one as unique as the camper who created it. But together, they carry the same message: you were here, and you mattered.

The Camp Easter Seal rock snack weaves its way through the camp, hundreds of hand painted stones left as a reminder of those who made them. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

“Some of our worlds might be a little bit smaller because of limitations,” Grove said. “But that doesn’t change the humanity in us all. That common hope and desire to live life as full as we can. That’s what camp is all about.”

Camp Easter Seal isn’t just a camp. It’s a celebration of possibility. A place where “yes” is the default. Where no one is left behind. Where tears at the end of the week just mean you’ve found a place worth coming back to.

And you’d better believe they will.

Inside the chateau, accessibility and heritage exist side by side. Every doorway, ramp and corner tells a story — from the building’s hotel days to its transformation into a sanctuary of inclusion. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)