Community Knowledge Centre - Toronto Community Foundation

About this organization

Mission

At Moorelands, we recognize the inherent value of all children and youth. We work with Toronto children and youth affected by poverty, to provide them with positive and fun experiences to help strengthen their confidence, competence and character.

History of Organization

Moorelands Community Services (formerly the Downtown Churchworker’s Association) was founded in 1912 to address the needs of impoverished families living in downtown Toronto. By the mid 1990’s, Moorelands chose to focus exclusively on its work with children and youth living in poverty. The organization’s name was changed in 2001 to reflect the independent, multi-cultural, multi-faith, and multi-ethnic community service it has become. Today Moorelands provides programming for 1,500 children and youth from some of Toronto’s poorest neighbourhoods.

Accolades and Accomplishments

For almost 100 years Moorelands has been a part of the charitable landscape of Toronto, helping shape brighter futures for our city’s children and families affected by poverty.

Under the patronage of Governor Generals Adrienne Clarkson and Michaëlle Jean, Moorelands has introduced structured, evidence-based programs for children in some of Toronto’s most under-served neighbourhoods, including Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park. These programs consistently receive high scores from all the stakeholders involved, including parents, participants, TDSB staff and City of Toronto agencies.

Based on a Positive Youth Development model, our programs are built around helping children develop the four “C”s (Confidence, Competence, Character and Connections) and are often referred to as “The Moorelands Way” by participants and their families.

“In my opinion…Moorelands … represent(s) best practices for ensuring that people at risk are cared for and that they integrate fully into Canadian society.” ~ Robert Oliphant, M.P. Don Valley West

Moorelands has operated a Wilderness Camp since 1917. Beginning in 2000, we completely rebuilt the camp infrastructure using camper input to guide us. Our dining hall won the 2002 Governor General’s Award for Architecture. All this has dramatically improved the camping experience for our children, resulting in a high (60%) return rate.

Programs

>BLAST: Budding Leaders After-school Program
>YOUTH LED (Lead Excel Demonstrate)
>Moorelands Wilderness Camp

After-School Programs

• 360 spaces for children aged 6-12
• Offered in Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park, programming includes homework help, crafts, outdoor activities, sports, cooking sessions, literacy activities, educational workshops and special theme days designed to help children develop new skills, build confidence, practice positive character traits and make connections with caring adults.

Youth Leadership Programs

• 42 spaces for youth aged 11-15
• These small and focused programs prepare and motivate youth to become leaders in their own lives and in their communities. Through games, workshops and discussions, participants are challenged to explore and establish values, critique social issues and develop strong connections with their communities.

City Summer Day Camp

• 448 spaces for children aged 6-12
• This exciting summer program offers field trips, sports, arts and crafts, cooking, drama and much more to broaden children's summer fun and experiences. In a supportive, caring environment, children are exposed to a wide range of activities, learn teamwork, cooperation, and develop friendships.

Wilderness Camp

• 600 spaces for children and youth aged 8-16
• Away from the blistering city streets, Toronto boys and girls experience a fun filled and challenging summer in a wilderness environment where they swim, canoe, kayak, hike and participate in high ropes, sports, drama, and arts and crafts. More importantly, campers learn important life skills such as communication, teamwork, problem solving and consideration of others.

Christmas Sharing

• Children and youth 0-16 (250 families)
• This unique program supports children and families with toys, grocery gift cards and clothing at Christmas.

Baby Bundles

• 300 newborns
• This one of a kind Toronto outreach program is delivered in partnership with Toronto Public Health and other social agencies and supports families in need with new baby clothing, blankets and toiletries.

BLAST: Budding Leaders After-school Program

The school day's over, the playgrounds are empty, the hours before dinner and bedtime stretch on... to be filled how? Moorelands After-school Programs fill them with structure, stress-free learning, adventure and play.

In these enriching programs, kids between the ages of 6 and 12 discover self-confidence, creativity, and new skills in a wide range of activities. An emphasis on cooperation, self-control, and teamwork helps build life and leadership skills that will serve these children well as they grow.

Our After-school Programs are offered in the high needs, under-served, low-income communities of Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park. In these challenged communities, we offer activities such as reading circles, sports, science, games, cooking classes, field trips and crafts.

Funding and Program Partners
Since 2001, our programs successfully obtained seed money from funders who typically target program expansion, such as the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Michael Young Family Foundation. We continually add new partners and diversify our funding sources. With minimal (4%) government support, we rely almost exclusively on individuals, foundations and corporations. For 2011, HSBC Bank of Canada has confirmed sponsorship of our Thorncliffe Park After-school program.  Additional funding partners include Mackenzie Financial Charitable Foundation, TD Bank Financial Group, The CIBC Children’s Foundation, General Mills, Tippet Foundation, Nelson Arthur Hyland Foundation, Sir Joseph Flavelle Foundation, Sony Music Entertainment Canada, The Christina Mary Hendrie Trust. We are continually looking for new partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations.

Program Impact

• 360 spaces of After-school programming provided
• 250 individual children served each year
• Currently Moorelands can only serve one in eight children who qualify for this program

Poverty is a strong predictor of children’s development and there are significant links between low income and poor academic achievement and behaviour problems.  A growing body of research has linked structured extra-curricular activities such as those offered by Moorelands with positive outcomes including improved academic achievement and school engagement; higher self-esteem and lower rates of depression; reduced problem behaviours such as delinquency and substance abuse; and improved leadership and increased civic engagement.

“I must tell you guys that whoever thought of starting such a program for low income group families is an angel (along with all the staff and whoever is involved with these projects) otherwise a lot of people including myself would have been unable to work and be dependent on the system.” ~Saadia Salman, parent

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“After-school programs make a critical difference in safety and skill development: The hours between 3 and 6 p.m. are a high-risk period for unsupervised children. During these hours, children are more likely to engage in gang-related or delinquent behaviour, or become victims of crime. Children in mid-childhood (6-12 years old), who spend time in safe and supervised after-school programming are less likely to experience academic problems, engage in delinquency or be assaulted.”

“The seven neighbourhoods with the largest number of 6-12 year olds (15% of the total), located in Toronto’s inner suburbs in the northwest and northeast of the City, are the least able to provide after-school programs. Just 5% of the neighbourhood’s children have an after-school program to go to” (Toronto's Vital Signs ®, 2009)

(Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Participant Vignette

"I wasn't popular at school", says Angela. "I was the tallest; I had curly hair, buckteeth and acne. The Moorelands After-school was a place I could go where I wouldn't be judged. It was a place where you were free to be who you are, a loving place, a safe place. I wanted to make sure the After-school program was the same for others as it was for me. The people there are the best."

Angela attended a Moorelands After-school program when she was 11. At 22, she was a program leader at one of our After-school programs and also worked at our City Summer Day Camp during the summer.

YOUTH LED (Lead Excel Demonstrate)

Experientially driven, the goal of our Youth Leadership Programs is to help young people become leaders in their own lives. Participants develop skills in interpersonal relations, communication, decision-making, teamwork and conflict resolution, and apply them to a broad base of community activities.
Program participants take part in role-playing, workshops, discussions and a variety of other activities. Specific workshop topics include the mechanics of communication, power, pressure and influence, understanding others, and teamwork. Certificates in first aid/CPR and babysitting are also offered. The design and implementation of a project of benefit to the community is also part of the Moorelands Youth Leadership Program.
The culmination of the Leadership Program is a retreat at Moorelands Camp, located on Kawagama Lake near Dorset, Ontario. At camp, participants have the opportunity to practice the skills they learned all year through activities such as the high ropes challenge course and wide games. The competence they have gained helps them to work collaboratively, confidently lead activities, and demonstrate their ability to peacefully resolve conflicts. Each leadership program runs once a week, each working with 14 registered participants.

Funding and Program Partners

Our Youth Leadership programs are an attractive partnership opportunity for many corporate and foundation supporters, such as Mackenzie Financial Charitable Foundation, TD Bank Financial Group, Sprott Assett Management, Great-West Life Assurance Company, Carolyn Sifton Foundation, The Norman and Marian Robertson Foundation, McColl-Early Foundation, McLean Foundation, Hope Charitable Foundation, and Conn Smythe Foundation. They exemplify Moorelands’ commitment to helping youth develop their full potential.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

”The Toronto District School Board saw suspension/expulsion and absenteeism rates drop in 2008, in each of the 7 middle schools in its pilot Model Schools for Inner Cities initiative. The project includes keeping schools open and engaging young people from inner city neighbourhoods in educational and healthy after-school activities, making them less likely to be involved in gang-related activity. ”
(Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Moorelands is not a partner in this pilot project but has been aware of this programming gap for over a decade. We use the best available research regarding positive child and youth development and education to guide our programming decisions. 

There is strong evidence that structured out-of-school activities such as those offered by Moorelands are linked to positive outcomes including improved academic achievement and school engagement; higher self-esteem and lower rates of depression; reduced problem behaviours such as delinquency and substance abuse; and improved leadership and increased civic engagement.

Participant Vignette

“When I was in Grade 9 I was too shy to join the Moorelands’ Leadership program, but the next year I felt I could be the sort of person who might take charge of things one day, so I signed up, says Ammar Javed, a recent graduate of our Leadership program.

I wasn’t sure it would work because I didn’t know anyone else there and we were really different. Marc Garneau’s a huge, diverse school, about 1,800 kids, more than half from different countries, and they’re pretty cliquey.

The first exercise we did in our Leadership course was an ice-breaker. We split into three groups, 4 kids in each and had to work together to help one person put two elbows, a nose, an ear and two legs on the ground at the same time. It helped us make friends with different kinds of people. I tried not to miss a single class.

When I was in Grade 11, I ran for Student Council I had to give a speech in the auditorium. I put on a crazy wig and spoke in the third person in a weird accent all about “Ammar,” what a great guy he was, how he would improve things. Then I went behind the podium, took off the wig, came back and said, “My name’s Ammar, and I approve this message.” This year, I’m Council president.

I came to Canada from Pakistan with my Mom and younger brother to join our Dad in 2000. Honestly, I love this country. I never intend to go back. I joined the Canadian Immigration Council and helped arrange a swearing-in ceremony in Valley Park School so neighbourhood people could watch.

Academically, my average is between 85 and 90. There are doctors in our family, but my parents understand I’m interested in animation or graphic design. They see I’m really good at it. But I don’t want just a job. I want a leadership position.

I see Moorelands as the first step to all my leadership ambitions. It was here that I honed my skills, learned what I could and couldn’t do, how to interact with people. All kinds of people.

It was awesome.”

Moorelands Wilderness Camp

Tucked away on 45 acres of sandy beaches and dense forests, accessible only by boat is Moorelands Wilderness Camp. A gem in the Algonquin Highlands, Moorelands Camp is a safe, caring, positive environment centred on the healthy development of children and youth. It is our goal to see each child enjoy nature, gain social skills and experience personal growth.

Our campers, aged 8 to 16 years, attend Camp in eight-day sessions. From July to August, we offer six sessions every summer, accommodating 100 campers at a time.

Moorelands Camp offers challenge and adventure activities as well as other traditional camp programs such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, arts and crafts and sports.  We are purposeful in our use of these activities to help children develop mastery, inter-personal and friendship making skills, self-esteem and character (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, citizenship and caring).  Staff are trained to use an “intentional fun” paradigm in all programming and there are opportunities provided throughout the day and evening for discussions and processing with campers about lessons learned.

After a session at Moorelands Camp, campers have made new friends and important discoveries about themselves. They are more confident, independent, adventurous, and willing to try new things. Campers will also have found role models in their cabin leaders and strengthened their sense of self worth. Moorelands campers return home with their new skills which transfer into family life, school and employment, and are fundamental to their future.

Funding and Program Partners

The Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund has supported our camping programs since 1912. Other valuable partners include: Tippet Foundation, Harry E. Foster Charitable Foundation, KBSH Spirit Foundation, The A&A King Family Foundation, Audrey S Hellyer Charitable Foundation, BMO Employee Charitable Foundation, Charles H. Ivey Foundation, Conn Smythe Foundation, Donald F. Hunter Charitable Foundation, Franklin Templeton Investments, Gartley Family Foundation, Geoffrey H. Wood Foundation, George Weston Ltd, J.P. Bickell Foundation, Lee & Patrick Howe Family Foundation, Marion Ethel Kamm & Frederick John Kamm Charitable Trust, Miller-Cammidge Fund, Patrick & Barbara Keenan Foundation, S.M. Blair Family Foundation, Sir Joseph Flavelle Foundation, The Aubrey and Marsha Baillie Family Fund, The Charles and Rita Field-Marsham Foundation, The Charney Family Foundation, The Lowidt Foundation, The Max Clarkson Family Foundation, and WB Family Foundation.

One of the most important sources of funding is our annual Send-a-Kid to Camp campaign, appealing to individuals and small foundations and generating over $140,000 each year for camperships.

Program Impact

Moorelands Wilderness Camp serves 600 children annually and has been operating since 1917.

Since 2000, in association with Dr. Ann Marie Sorenson, Associate Professor, Dept. of Sociology at the University of Toronto, Moorelands has been committed to careful self-study. Our most recent study, conducted in 2008 with 500 campers, shows that one session at Moorelands Camp increases children’s self-esteem and these self-esteem gains continue over time.  Moorelands Camp makes a measurable positive difference in the lives of disadvantaged children. This year the results of our study were presented at both the Ontario Camps Association’s and the American Camp Association’s annual conferences.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“One third of Toronto’s young children are living in poverty in the City’s poorer Neighbourhoods.”

 ”Child poverty is unevenly distributed across the City’s neighbourhoods. Almost half (46%) have child poverty rates at or above the City average (compared to 38% in 2001), clustered in a horseshoe around the wealthier central and south-west neighbourhoods. One quarter of all neighbourhoods saw child poverty rates rise significantly (by as much as 45% between 2001-2006).”

(Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Moorelands Wilderness Camp provides respite from the city and a wide range of stimulating activities and experiences that help bridge the opportunity gap. A session at Moorelands Camp is often the only vacation a child will have all year.

Participant Vignette

“I am a child of Moorelands. I first became involved with Moorelands as an inner-city child of a single mom in Toronto,” says former camper Karen Fudge-Jensen. "My mom received support and a number of services through Moorelands and when I was six years old, I had my first experience of "sleepover" camp at Moorelands Kawagama. This first experience turned into many. Every summer I spent the first two weeks of July at Moorelands Camp. By the time I was 16, I had attended 14 different schools...but there was one constant...Moorelands. I became one of the youngest counsellors at 15 and spent the full summer of my 15th and 16th year at Moorelands. To say that Moorelands had an impact on my life is an understatement.”