Stanley nursing home hosts children's summer camp

A New Brunswick summer camp has found a novel approach to entertaining kids during their break — interacting with seniors.

The Nashwaak Villa in Stanley is hosting the camp through the next three weeks where residents and campers will spend their days with each other.

A nursing home might not fit with the memories of camp that many New Brunswickers, young and old, have, but that's the point.

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"I know that traditionally people have been taught to fear nursing homes, or fear aging, so that might be why I believe that people are kind of surprised by this and [wondering], 'Why would you want to have kids interacting with older adults," said Erin Jackson, a summer student working at the nursing home.

"I think that the reason why it's so important."

The residents and campers do many different activities with each other, from bowling, to making tie dye shirts to even throwing a pool party.

Jackson said that the kids are really enjoying their time at the camp.

"I have heard the kids saying, 'I love this resident,' and 'I love when they do this, can we go visit the resident's rooms.' So I know they really are gaining a lot of relationships and meaning making out of this whole process," said Jackson.

One of the campers, Sophie Lovelace, pointed to some of the outdoor activities as her favourite.

"I like the water activities," said Sophie, wearing her pink swimsuit at the pool party.

Grace Flynn, another camper, said she appreciated the heat-beating water activities as well.

But she also pointed to "fun and fitness" time as another favourite during the summer camp.

"We usually just do like the ball throwing. Yesterday we did bingo and I really liked that with them. That was pretty fun," said Grace.

It's only been three days and the kids are already growing quite attached to the residents, and the feeling is mutual.

"Even when we were playing bingo the other day one of the residents asked if one of the younger boys was going to be back because he enjoyed sitting beside him so much," said Jackson.

Gretta Spillman, a resident at the nursing home, said she has enjoyed the three days she has spent with the campers.

And Spillman said she is looking forward to the upcoming weeks as the camp continues at the nursing home.

"We think it's lovely. It's lovely to hear the patter of all these feet and the young people's voices and everything. It's very nice," said Spillman