The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) was created in 2018 to give the youth a voice in decision making. Giving young people a say in how we operate helps us stay relevant to the kids and communities we serve and ensure we are growing forward as an organization.
So far, we have consulted with our Youth Advisory Council on decisions related to gender-inclusive cabin groups, camper application process, camper support programs, camper feedback, staff recruitment, branding and fundraising.
The current YAC is comprised of regionally representative former campers who are passionate and enthusiastic about what we do. Learn more about their stories below!
AJ
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER
Pronunciation: Ay-Jay
Pronouns: He/him
Location: Sarnia, Ontario
AJ joined the Tims Camps YAC at the beginning of 2024 and is currently a student at Great Lakes Secondary School in his senior year. AJ also is a member of student council, Key Club, President of the Tabletop Club, and an executive in the Theatre Club. .
AJ completed the Tims Camps program in 2023, and when asked about his advice for current and future campers, AJ shared,
“You're in a new environment, but that isn't a bad thing. This is a life memory and an experience to meet people you'll still talk to ten years from now, a chance to try so many new things, and see so many new places.”
AJ remembers that camp was all about just being a kid. He shared memories of “Playing cards with my cabin mates and getting to know them, sharing a space in the cabin, and just being kids with them.”
Ultimately, AJ hopes to continue working with the YAC and improving himself and his relationships. He hopes to attend a Police Foundations program in college and pursue a career in policing.
Bisi
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER
Pronunciation: Be-see
Pronouns: She/her
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Bisi attended two of our sites across North America in Manitoba and Ontario. When she first arrived at camp, Bisi found it challenging to make friends. She noticed others making connections and wanted to join in but didn’t have the confidence to approach people. But with each camp activity, Bisi’s confidence grew, and she felt more comfortable opening up to her peers. She stopped worrying about what other people thought and noticed her confidence and self-esteem started to flourish. Bisi finds it easier now to create friendships with her peers, and she still is working on creating long lasting friendships by understanding what her friends’ interests are, and how they relate to her own.
Bisi joined the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) to meet new people and contribute to the Foundation that helped her excel.
Bisi has many hobbies she enjoys! This includes learning new languages, writing and drawing, dancing and photography. Writing and drawing is a great outlet for Bisi to help articulate her emotions, and she uses it to practice writing in new languages she learns.
Currently, Bisi plans on attending university or apprenticeship but she’s mainly leaning towards university.
Cordell
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER
Name pronunciation: Kor-Dell
Pronouns: he/him
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Cordell began attending camp in 2019 and experienced one summer in-person before the COVID-19 pandemic started. Cordell admits that the quarantines during the pandemic affected him negatively and that he was anxious to come back to camp. After just a few days at the Ranch in Alberta, he felt so much better; in fact, by the end of session, he didn’t want to leave! He attributes this change to the “healthy and productive environment” at camp. Cordell shares,
“Tims Camps is one of the most inclusive, friendly and welcoming places I have ever been.”
His “incredible and perspective altering experience” at camp meant that when it came time to apply to join the YAC, it was a no-brainer! During his time on the YAC Cordell was to ensure that his perspective can improve camp for all future campers.
Cordell recently graduated high school and is currently working as a porter at Alberta Health Services. In his free time, he plays on a sports team with his mom and is learning sustainable fashion design and music production. In the coming years Cordell hopes to have created hundreds of reworked, recycled, and upcycled fashion garments and to be making a name for himself as a music producer. His unique and edgy style and passion for all creative arts makes Cordell stand out!
Emelda
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER
Name Pronunciation: Em-El-Duh
Pronouns: she/her
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Emelda’s time at Tims Camps showed her the importance of persevering and goal setting.
“Camp really showed me how important it is to push yourself and keep improving, even when things don’t go as planned. I learned that progress isn’t always immediate, but with dedication and effort, you can get better over time.”
One of the goals she focused on from camp was learning archery. After her cabin lost an archery challenge, she decided to set a goal to get better at this skill. She returned home and joined her school’s archery team to practice throughout the year and to return to camp where she was able to excel at archery.
Currently a high school student, Emelda is part of her school’s Black Student Alliance, she plays and coaches basketball, and volunteers at her church. She was excited to join the YAC in 2025.
“The YAC is focused on building a strong, supportive community for youth, which really stood out to me. It’s about making a difference in the experience of campers. This is a great opportunity for me to bring my experience into a setting where I can help create a positive space for youth.”
In the near future, Emelda hopes to obtain her coaching certificate so she can continue to work with youth in sports and her long-term goal is to get her law degree and work in family or corporate law.
Hunter
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER
Name pronunciation: HuHn-Tuhr
Pronouns: He/They
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Throughout Hunter’s final summer at camp, they had an amazing time. Their motivation for joining the YAC was to help improve camp for all. They shared,
“I wanted to bring light to deeper struggles that campers face and how we can improve our staff’s responses to those issues.”
Hunter also believes camp is a place of cooperation and recognizes that the YAC works together to make important changes at Tims Camps.
Hunter is currently a high school student in Edmonton. They are community focused and are very busy volunteering with different youth groups. Hunter also has a passion for films and theatre, participates in improv, and is a theatre director in their city.
Ultimately, Hunter wants to continue helping and guiding people by supporting others - just like how camp leaders did for them when they were at camp. “I feel like it’s something I needed at a time where I didn't have it, so being able to support someone helps me find that closure.” For Hunter, it’s all about giving back.
Layla
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER, FORMER STAFF MEMBER
Name Pronunciation: Lay-Luh
Pronouns: They/them
Location: Windsor, Ontario
When Layla first came to camp, they weren’t too sure about it. Looking around at the campers in their group, Layla was a bit skeptical and even nervous about having to spend so much time with these people. But every summer at the end of session, Layla would leave with a new group of friends they still keep in contact with! Tims Camps helped Layla learn not to judge a book by its cover. People and experiences can surprise you!
“Tims Camps is so much more than a sleepaway camp. It’s a community, it’s a space to learn and grow, it’s a place to make lifelong friendships, and it’s a place full of opportunity.”
The opportunity to join the Youth Advisory Council was appealing to Layla for so many reasons. They explain that Tims Camps has done so much for them, including helping them grow into the person that they want to be. Because of this Layla jumped at the opportunity to join the YAC and share their experiences to improve camp for future campers. They said “I want nothing more than to be able to give that same experience back to a new generation.”
Layla currently attends the University of Windsor and is studying visual arts. They also work for the City of Windsor as a Recreation Program Instructor, leading after school programming and teaching art, drama, cooking and baking classes.
Lucian
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER, CURRENT STAFF MEMBER
Name Pronunciation: Loo-Shin
Pronouns: He/him
Location: Cape Coral, Florida
Lucian joined the Youth Advisory Council in 2025 after attending and working at Tims Camps since 2018. Throughout his time at camp, Lucian has learned to be proud of who he is and to embrace himself wholeheartedly. He shared,
“Camp was the first place I felt truly comfortable with being myself. Everyone is different and leads different lives and there’s no shame in that! The best version of you is when you are open and honest about who you are and people will see that! You will find your people when you find yourself.”
Lucian continued with Tims Camps as a staff member, but his favourite memory at camp was during the overnight experience in his last year. Staying up late, watching the stars and being with new friends is a lasting memory. He said,
“It was a moving moment because we all knew it was our last year as campers before we had to go home and get ready for college and our future careers. It felt like our last big moment as kids. It’s really what tied us together as a cabin.”
In the future, Lucian wants to go to school to become a teacher and work with high school students, specifically in musical theatre! Right now, he’s enjoying working at camp, listening to music, crocheting, and eating the best food in the whole world – his mom’s cooking!
Maddy
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER, CURRENT STAFF MEMBER
Pronunciation: Mad-ee
Pronouns: She/her
Location: Moncton, New Brunswick
After attending three summers of in-person programming and two of digital programming, Maddy graduated from the Tims Camps Summer Program in 2022.
Tims Camps taught Maddy how to step out of her comfort zone in more ways than one. While one of her fondest memories is reaching the top of all six rock climbing walls at Tim Horton Memorial Camp in Parry Sound, Ontario, she also recalls challenging herself to make new friends.
“Being put in a new setting with new people and having to become social with them right away was something I dreaded. But as the years went on, it became a little easier to do as you would just bond over something small, leading to friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. The 10 days at camp each summer go by so fast sometimes you just need to take a step back and take it all in, the memories, the people, the life changing experiences.”
Maddy has served on the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) since 2022. She is a full-time student at St Francis Xavier University, studying Human Kinetics with hopes of becoming a teacher. She volunteers to coach minor football in her hometown and plays football for her local women's team. Her goal is to play football for Team Canada.
“Camp challenged me to communicate, work with others, as well as take leadership roles in unfamiliar situations. Tims Camp challenged me to become a better version of myself each and every summer.”
Tims Camps made such an impact on Maddy, she is heading back to camp this summer but this time as a camp counsellor. She hopes to make camp feel even more special for campers than it already does!
Mary
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER
Pronunciation: Mair-Ee
Pronouns: They/them
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Compassion, understanding, and adaptability – these were the most important things that Mary learned at camp. They said,
“Because I met so many different people from so many different walks of life, it was impossible to treat them all the same way. Everyone had their skills, knowledge, and understanding, and I learned to accept every person as they were without trying to change them.”
From meeting their cabin mates and trying new things to climbing the hardest rock wall challenge and earning 25 points to help their team secure the all-camp Tims Cup award, Mary says that Tims Camps is so much more than “just camp”. It’s about new experiences, learning about yourself, and making lasting memories.
Mary knows that the YAC impacted their time at camp and so they jumped at the chance to join this group in 2025. They want to play a part in making sure other youth have the same impactful experience.
Mary is a busy person! They play field hockey, lead the garden club and grad club at school, and are a member of the student advocacy group. In their spare time they enjoy painting and learning new languages. Already fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), they want to improve their French skill and learn Mandarin next!
Nicole
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER, CURRENT STAFF MEMBER
Pronunciation: Nih-Kohl
Pronouns: She/Her
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
“No matter how hard things get, and if you feel like you aren’t enough, there are people who can see how many amazing things you are going to accomplish.”
That’s one thing Nicole learned at Tims Camps.
During her fifth and final year at Tims Camps, Nicole had a special moment with her cabinmates. ”We were on our overnight trip and a couple of campers and I stayed up talking that whole night about our lives and just having great conversations while looking at the stars.” It is special moments like these that made Nicole want to be a part of the YAC.
Nicole is currently a nursing student at Niagara College. When she is not busy studying, she loves playing volleyball, strumming on a guitar, singing, and working out.
Ultimately, Nicole plans to graduate nursing school and transition into a career as a travel nurse. She is also hoping to one day to work at Tims Camps!
Peyton
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER, CURRENT STAFF MEMBER
Pronunciation: Pay-Tuhn
Pronouns: She/Her
Location: Hampton, New Brunswick
Peyton decided to apply and ultimately join the YAC to stay connected to Tims Camps. She shared that as camp taught her so many valuable lessons, staying connected and helping others have a positive experience became important to her.
During Peyton’s time at camp, she remembers a special moment at the Tim Horton Children’s Camp waterfront on Tatamagouche Bay.
“One of my personal favourite camp memories was a day that it absolutely poured rain, and a small group of us still went down to the waterfront to listen to music and just enjoy the environment. I’ve always loved the ocean, but something about this moment strengthened my love for that part of it, and that camp.”
She feels that it is moments like these where campers can really connect with one another.
Peyton is currently a high school student in New Brunswick in her last year. She spends her time outside of school working at a local Tim Hortons and volunteering her time at church or in her community. Peyton was an avid dancer for 11 years and has been a stage manager for her school’s drama productions.
Ultimately, Peyton wants to continue on a path where helping others is at the forefront, “For post-secondary, I definitely imagine doing something that is directly helping people.” She then hopes to join the workforce, meet new people, and make many new friends. As an animal lover, Peyton knows that wherever her future takes her, she will have a lot of pets, too!
Yamina
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER
Pronunciation: Ya-Me-Nah
Pronouns: She/her
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Though Yamina is bilingual and had the opportunity to attend French and English speaking Tims Camps, she said participating in programs delivered in English opened her mind to the challenges Canadian immigrants may face.
“This experience allowed me to better understand those whom English and French is not their first language - the frustration, misunderstanding, and withdrawal.”
Yamina graduated from the Tims Camps Summer Program in 2022, the same year she started serving on the Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Along with her twin sister Yasmine, the pair are the only two Francophones on the council. Yamina hopes to elevate the challenges campers face whose first language isn’t English or French.
“I felt it was important to represent all the Francophones and Quebecers who are part of the Tims Camps program, so they feel respected and listened to. I have many ideas and proposals to make the camps even better and more inclusive for everyone.”
Yamina is currently involved in many clubs and activities and hopes to continue her studies and eventually work in the medical field.
Yasmine
FORMER CAMPER, CURRENT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER
Pronunciation: Yass-Meen
Pronouns: She/her
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Tims Camps taught Yasmine that even during challenging times, she is in control of her mindset.
While Yamine was camping overnight on an island with her cabin mates, a thunderstorm erupted, extinguishing their campfire and soaking their tent. Instead of getting frustrated, Yasmine took a deep breath and changed her mindset. While laughing uncontrollably, the group worked quickly to pull tarps over the tent and protect themselves from the rain.
“It was an unforgettable experience and I learned to smile at life even in moments that are difficult. Stay positive, and your life will be too. I learned to not let despair get the better of me. Just look at your goal and don't give up.”
Yasmine is a screenwriter and a dedicated project manager, an athlete and a member of the track and field team, a nature lover and a travel enthusiast, an avid reader and amateur photographer, and a passionate volunteer in many activities and organizations protecting human rights.
Yasmine has several careers in mind and is interested in a variety of fields. Although she is not sure what specialty to pursue, she is up for whatever the next adventure may be.
