By Stephanie Hauck

A few short days after starting with CAN, I headed off on a five hour bus-ride to Camp. With a bus load of families anxiously waiting to start their fun-filled weekend, you could imagine that the trip could not have gone any faster. However, upon arrival the smiles that displayed across many of the families faces made the long trip feel like only a few short minutes.

I have to admit, there is certainly something quite unique and special about the CAN camp that you cannot get anywhere else. Perhaps, it is the wonderful staff (who occasionally rise to the call of duty) to express their hidden chef like talent. Or, the team of volunteers who despite the endless running around, still get up the next morning ready for anything. Whatever it is – the CAN camp experience is a whirlwind of success, creating a chance for families and their children to escape the city together to experience, for many something entirely new.

Being the newbie out on the job, I occasionally felt a little anxious and nervous. But, I quickly realized that I was completely capable of handling the sometimes emotional ups and downs of providing camp to children and their families with autism. Because of this positive experience I encourage those volunteers already participating to continue – as well as encourage new volunteers to join the CAN experience.  

I think the highlight of the weekend for me, besides seeing my boss sing campfire songs and eating far too many sticky smore’s – was the feedback from many of the different families and how greatly they appreciated everything we had done for them. Especially the parent social which gave parents the opportunity to leave their children for an hour to socialize – something many of them had not done in a very long time.

There are not many jobs that allow you to feel and understand the importance of the work you do each week. Nor, are their many jobs that provide you with such an incredible unique opportunity that is sure to follow my memories for years to come.

Stay Tuned….

Journals of a CAN Summer Student

By Stephanie Hauck

The search and struggle for summer employment, especially in our current economy has proved to be quite difficult for students. Being a student myself, I completely understand the strain and frustration the so called “job hunt” can be. However, unlike many other students I searched for a job far beyond just the need for money. Instead I searched for a job that would be both beneficial to my education and emotionally rewarding, criteria not easily met. The day I walked into the Canucks Autism Network for an interview I knew I had found something sparking far beyond the typical organization. I had found a network of people so on fire with growth, establishment and enthusiasm that the entire Vancouver Fire Department could not extinguish them.  A few anticipating days later, I discovered I too would be engulfed in the growing success of the Canucks Autism Network.

It did not take long for me to experience the hype, the joy and the faces of the lives the organization changes on a day to day basis. Entering this position, I knew only the experience through books in relation to autism. However, now I understand that the uniqueness of each family living with a child on the spectrum.  I also realize that the need to provide assistance to these families will only continue to grow. Moreover, and possibly the most important thing I’ve learned thus far,  is that apart from the uniqueness of each family there is also a component of interconnectedness, that intertwines each family together. By reaching out to one family, eventually with time and dedication one can expand to change the lives of many.

Stay tuned…

I will be blogging once a week, throughout my term depicting my experience working at the Canucks Autism Network as their summer student.