About - A Timeline of Our History
Identified need from one family’s experience
Camp Triumph began as an idea. An idea that was born out of the experience of one family with a terminally ill father and a mother with mobility issues and chronic pain. Living with the unpredictability and effects of illness, the treatments, and its outcome gave a mother and a son, Kathi and Jordan Sheriko, an idea and an opportunity to create something great out of hardship. To create a place for a unique, overlooked group of children: Camp Triumph.
2005 - Our first camp
In our pilot year, 41 kids attended camp which was held at the old Great Island Science and Adventure Park in Cavendish, PEI. Campers and staff slept in two big wedding tents packed in like sardines. But not a complaint was voiced. Then kids went on field trips to Rainbow Valley, Avonlea Village, and Cavendish Beach. They had new experiences in kayaks, shooting on the archery range, trying new foods and meeting kids who truly understand their challenges for the very first time.
2006 - Our first leadership camp
The very humble beginnings of our leadership program were tents in the backyard of the Sheriko cottage and an overnight trip to camp on the beach. The inaugural leadership camp would be the foundation for what has become an empowering, eye-opening program for so many youth. One that pushes them to strive for their full potential and challenges them to learn new skills. Coming right after that first leadership camp was a week of camp at Camp Keir on the south shore of PEI.
2007 & 2008 - The Camp Triumph family grows
We spend the third and fourth year of camp on the south shore of PEI at Camp Buchan. In a setting with beautiful vistas and our own private beach, the Camp Triumph family and programs really started to take shape. We held three full weeks of camp for the first time in 2008 along with the Leadership camp and had more than 60 campers each week and a waitlist. This told us loud and clear that we needed to expand further and find a permanent home.
2009 - Putting down our roots in Malpeque, PEI
Knowing that after four years of successful camps behind us, many families were counting on Camp Triumph each year. So feverish preparations were started to ensure a smooth transition to our permanent home and that it would be ready for the 2009 summer. Phase one was constructing the dining hall, kitchen, and washroom facilities. With the Canadian Forces providing tents to sleep in, we had the basic building blocks of camp facility. The process of building our facility was a challenging one that had many obstacles along the way, but true to Camp Triumph, we persevered. Many volunteers from the local community and the Maritime community poured their energy into the project to ensure it was ready for campers in just two short months. The beginnings of our facility, all future building projects, and their maintenance would never have been possible without the work and generosity of Mike James and Spring Valley Building Centre.
2010 - The Centrepiece is built
Following an online competition and judging process, a grant from the Aviva Community Development Fund gave us the basis to build our main lodge. Construction began on the lodge in May. In order to have the lodge completed in time for camp, the building crew worked sun up to sun down. Supported by a generous grant from Peter Kohler Windows and Door (now KohlTech), we also renovated the dining hall to alleviate the design flaws that existed previously. This renovation improved the integrity of the building, to withstand harsh winter storms. We now have good ventilation and views allowing for a much more pleasant eating experience for our campers.
2010 - Cabin Fever
Cabins built by the students in the Holland College Carpentry Program are moved out from their campus and installed in their permanent homes. Each gains a name of a Maritime university. They continue to look like they did in 2010 thanks to the respect our campers have for their second home.
2011 - Growth in Programs
A significant growth of our programs took place following the 2011 summer. We added another full week of camp and soon after, a second leadership camp to bring in more worthy children. This formed the basis for our operations for many years to come.
2012 - Climbing to new heights
We were fortunate to be able to build something fairly unique to East Coast camps: a high and low ropes challenge course. Designed and built by Rich Klajnscek with assistance from Scott Hennigar and Rich Johnson. It features eight high elements including four faces on the climbing tower, and a zip line. It helps our campers challenge themselves individually and within a team environment. It, along with nine low elements, is the catalyst for building self-esteem, communication skills, team work, improving group dynamics, sparking positive encouragement, and expanding one’s comfort zone.
2012 - Courting Some Fun
Another dynamic of activity was added in the form of our paved multipurpose court. This opened up the possibilities for introduction of more varying activities into our programs.
2012 - A place to retreat
Phase 4 of development for the facility saw the addition of another campers' cabin to meet the growing demand, as well as a staff cabin. This staff cabin houses our summer-long core staff and provides a place for staff to relax in their off time. The staff cabin is named Ryan’s Retreat in honour of Ryan Rogerson. Ryan was supportive from the beginning of Camp Triumph and instrumental through the building phase. He led his team of students at Holland College in building our cabins. He was also a key part of the lodge building team. Sadly, he passed away suddenly. He will always be remembered at Camp Triumph for his big heart.
2013 to Today
With all our major projects completed, we set as a priority to continually improve our facility and the atmosphere it omits. We work hard to maintain our facility so that it still looks like new each year our campers cross the threshold.
We have seen dozens of our former campers grow up to become staff members both as core staff and volunteers each year. They have continued the cycle of investment in this population.
Or programs are refined and tweaked every year to make sure they’re fresh, engaging, and serving the needs of our campers. We continually work to find ways to better support our campers in their everyday lives.
