Shine a Light on Youth Homelessness Campout 2023 (Overnight Friday)

We are very excited to announce the launch of our 2024 Campout To End Youth Homelessness Campaign. This is the 8th annual event to raise funds and awareness around the issues of youth homelessness. The event takes place December 13th 5:00pm to 8:00am on December 14th. We will be camping out in person at the brand new Katherine’s Place and virtually on Zoom! We are very excited to see as many people as possible in person and welcome anyone to join in to take part in this special event. We are also excited to continue to offer the online option to increase accessibility and make it possible for people to join who are out of town.
This year, our fundraising goal is $200,000 and all proceeds will be going towards AWHK Scattered Sites and Life Skills programs that support youth in Kamloops. We are looking for both campers and sponsors for the event.
History & Meaning of Campout
The Campout to End Youth Homelessness was started in 2017 by A Way Home Kamloops Founder Katherine McParland and local business owner Rocky Hunter. They started Campout to shine a light on youth homelessness by raising awareness and funding for programs to support youth.
Youth Homelessness can look like many different things, and can often be classified as hidden homelessness; youth who are homeless can be living in unsafe spaces because that is all they know or can afford. Youth who are homeless are often couch surfing and going between many different homes. Many youth who are homeless have experienced government care. Katherine often called the foster care system the ‘Super Highway to Homelessness’, and with her personal experience she knew well the challenges youth face. The original goal of Campout 2017 was to raise funds for the Safe Suites Program. That unique supported housing program has now been operational for over 5 years and has provided many youth with a safe home and 24/7 wraparound supports. The Safe Suites Pilot project will now become “Katherine’s Place” and we are excited to take campers on a special tour of the new building. We will be camping in the parking lot and courtyard as the first people to utilize this new site. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for folks to spend time on the site before youth move into their units in January 2025. Once youth move-in this will be their home and Campout will return to McDonald Park in years to come.