The journey began bright and early on Monday, November 9, 2009. Giving up our ped. day sleep in, our team—comprised of Greg Sigler, Noah Schouela, Elsa Schlemm, Chloe Collier, Tiffany Chamandy, Lauren Piccoli, Alysha Fedele and Blair Hardiman—arrived at the Mackay Center to pack up the bus and get the ball rolling. Once organized, we headed to the handicap-friendly Camp Massawippi in the Eastern Townships. From that moment on the fun did not stop. We were kept busy by the kids’ desire to remain active, bond with their new friends and experience nature to its fullest.

The activities that completed this expedition included multiple nature walks around the campsite and surrounding community, picking out our “Charlie Brown” Christmas tree and many diverse arts activities that we planned ourselves before our departure.

The weather was exceptional and although it was 15C outside, the lake was much, much colder! The fun continued indoors as well. The kids made picture frames around stunning dried leaves, painted pumpkins, blended smoothies, and even got to paint their own faces.

The Mackay kids, who were for the most part severely physically and mentally disabled, taught us so much about ourselves and our ability to help and make a difference. Perhaps this trip, although planned for the MacKay kids, touched and changed us—the forever busy and distracted LCC crowd—to be new people.
— Noah Schouela ’10 & Greg Sigler ’10