At Camp Carmangay we believe that safe, stable and healthy environments encourage youth to live in healthy ways.  OUR MISSION is to provide a cost free camp for disadvantaged youth and youth at risk between the ages of 12 -1 7. OUR GOAL is to reduce the amount of youth crime, educate youth on life skills and positive lifestyle choices, to steer them away from a life of crime and prevention of young people committing crimes in our communities.   We want to reach youth who are struggling on a daily basis, be it through a variety of social aspects such as drug use, abuse and distribution, crimes against communities, teen prostitution and pregnancy, bullying, suicides, gang recruitment or murder.   

It is a known fact that if you give alternate choices to drugs, gangs and criminal activity and show youth how to take a positive, active role in society then you give them the tools to make the decision to change.  It is very easy for one to say “just say no to drugs, or crime” it is quite another thing to give them an alternative to turn to.  This is what Camp Carmangay is giving: Alternatives.  Research also shows that the sooner youth are engaged after committing a crime, the more likely they will relate consequences to their offence.   Camp Carmangay provides youth with the process of being held responsible, thereby attaching a meaning to the process and to the consequence given.   We are a valuable resource to local Police Service, Social Services, School Boards and other Agencies as youth are often referred to our camp through these services.

Mentorship and focus on individual needs along with discovery through experience make up the text of our applied programs.  Tipis, campfires, wide open spaces and lots of horses create opportunities to expand imaginations and overcome obstacles.  This leads to an understanding as to how one might conquer real life challenges.  Making the most of who you are, where you are and what you are right now is our message.  Personal pride in yourself and your community, and the power of the team concept where everybody does his/her part inevitably leads to a young person who will understand the need/benefits in accepting a civic responsibility.  We offer up more than simple empty rhetoric. 

Camp Carmangay was started in 2002 and officially became a registered charity with Revenue Canada in August of 2003, since then we continue to help the youth of Alberta.  Camp Carmangay has never run at a deficit and has shown to be fiscal responsible since the organization was started.  Camp Carmangay prides itself on being transparent to donors and contributors and can provide all financial statements that we are asked for.  We have been through an audit with the Alberta Gaming Commission and Revenue Canada and have proven their responsibility and transparency by having no issues with either audit.  

Camp Carmangay was started by three members, Brian Nimijean, who is currently the Camp Manager, Paul Wagman, a member of the Calgary Police Service, and Christine Braun Nimijean, currently the Camp Facilitator.  Camp Carmangay is operated by a board of directors and only has three paid staff members as to keep costs and budgets to a minimum.  Camp Carmangay provides its facility, programs and volunteers to organizations, such as government group homes, law enforcement agencies, schools and individuals for no cost to participants or groups attending.  Since its inception in 2002 Camp Carmangay has seen over 6900 youth pass through its gates. 

We have found great success in introducing young people to police officers in our environment, away from uniforms and the cloud of authority; instead showing the young attendees that police officers are just regular people like all of us, the only difference is they have a unique job that allows them to work in the communities trying to make a difference.  It shows young people that police officers are not the enemy, but rather, a resource for stability, education and aid if they so need it.

We are providing youth with self esteem, job placement, education, and relationship building skills.  We are allowing the youth that attend an opportunity to just be kids, to enjoy the small things in life such as horseback riding, fishing and the outdoors.  We are showing them an alternative to TV, video games and hanging out on the street corner; we are encouraging them to strive to obtain the best that life has to offer them.  Our achievements have been to see the change in youth, to see the change that takes place when you provide them with opportunities and to see the impact that just allowing a young person to enjoy and explore themselves has.  We not only reach the individual youth, but family members, friends and their communities!  

This initiative will return to society a well balanced youth that will strive to achieve positive goals in their lives and that will give back, instead of take, from their communities and society. Camp Carmangay defines social change as work which: promotes a more equitable distribution of resources, wealth and power; gives people the tools to act together to affect change on a systems level; eliminates the social, economic, cultural, and political barriers that keep people from fully participating in society; and promotes respect for the environment and its sustainability.

Camp Carmangay’s Guiding Principals

•  Camp Carmangay strives to promote positive self awareness and to increase self-esteem in youth

• Camp Carmangay will always be accessible to any youth between the ages of 12 - 17 years old in Alberta that may be disadvantaged or at risk of criminal behaviour.

• Camp Carmangay is committed to a leadership role in providing youth with the mentorship, education and opportunity for positive lifestyle choices.

•  Camp Carmangay strives to intervene before youth turn to negative lifestyle choices and to present them with opportunities to change their lives.

• Camp Carmangay is committed to working with other agencies in collaboration and partnerships to enhance the lives of youth and to strengthen the communities in Alberta.

• Camp Carmangay believes that volunteers enhance our programs and encourage volunteer participation.

• Camp Carmangay values our staff and volunteers and their individual contributions to Camp Carmangay.

• Camp Carmangay strives to maintain its credibility and reputability.

• Camp Carmangay is financially responsible and accountable.

• Camp Carmangay is striving towards making Alberta the best place in the world to raise our children.  These children are our future!