"Q" AND "A" WITH BRIGADOON

1. WHAT IS BRIGADOON VILLAGE?
Brigadoon Village is a non-profit, year-round recreational/camp facility dedicated to children and youth with chronic illness.  With the capacity to serve existing special programs in the region, as well as assist in addressing the un-served need, Brigadoon will create great economies of scale and bring together dedicated expertise and focus within one organization.  The concept of Brigadoon is unique for our region.

2. WHEN WILL BRIGADOON OPEN?
The first programs will be offered in the summer of 2011.


3. WILL THIS BE A YEAR ROUND FACILITY?
Yes. There is no year round facility for special needs populations in the Maritimes that delivers experiential based programming or space for families and support groups. There are many possibilities and opportunities for programming in our various seasons, from sailing to skating; nature hikes under the fall colours, to sleigh rides.  Living with a chronic illness is 365 days a year; it would be amazing to serve the need year round. 

4. WHAT IS BRIGADOON'S LONG TERM STRATEGY? 
Brigadoon intends to raise the entire cost of building the facility within its capital campaign.  At a key stage within the campaign, Brigadoon will commence its development of a restricted endowment fund to offset operating costs in the future.  The Brigadoon business plan is conservative and respectful of the ideals of sustainability and fiscal responsibility.  The plan anticipates modest increases in registration over a period of years until full capacity is achieved.  Partnerships through our MoUs create a strong foundation of users of the facility on which to build.  As a superior and accessible facility, it is forecasted that rental space will be well used.  The endowment fund, revenue from rental fees, as well as periodic fundraising within the community makes Brigadoon sustainable and financially sound.

5. WHAT IS THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION COMPONENTS?
Again, preliminary interest from academic and health care institutions has been very strong.  One academic faculty has offered to change its curriculum to offer students more opportunity to attend and work at Brigadoon. In almost all cases, Brigadoon Village is simply acting as a facility or venue for existing programs and providing opportunities for expansion and evolution.

Currently, Brigadoon has relationships with the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, the Nova Scotia Community College, and various faculties at Dalhousie University. The affiliations will allow for student learning opportunities (via coop, intern, practicum, and residency) within the pediatric chronic illness faculties.

6. WHAT IS THE EXISTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ALLIED HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CAMPS THEY CURRENTLY USE?
Each camp has a unique relationship with the facilities they currently use. Sometimes it is through informal personal contact.  Rarely is there a multiple year contract that incorporates opportunities for evolution and growth. The majority of faculties within pediatric chronic illness currently have no programming and hence no relationships.


7. WILL BRIGADOON TAKE OVER ALL SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS? 
No.  The Maritimes is home to a number of programs that have grown and evolved richly in culture and traditions.  Established programs, such as Camp Goodtime (a program of the Canadian Cancer Society, Nova Scotia Division) will use Brigadoon’s facility for its camping program.  Brigadoon will offer a menu of the best programming to its users.  Users may choose to accept and integrate all, some or none of Brigadoon programming.  We are very sensitive to the culture of each of the established camps that may use our facility wishing only to enhance and strengthen programming that rests on established and strong foundations.  For new programs, Brigadoon will have a small staff (i.e. core staff of experts within our programming offerings – see below) that can be consulted and assist with development of programs.  Depending on sustainability and the success of the Building Brigadoon Capital Campaign, Brigadoon may offer original programming in the future.

8.  HOW WILL BRIGADOON SERVE THE NEEDS OF CHRONICALLY ILL CHILDREN NOT REPRESENTED BY AN ALLIED HEALTH ORGANIZATION?
Brigadoon, with guidance from the IWK Health Centre and community, has been investigating un-served populations.  With its partners, Brigadoon will work to enable these groups in organizing and developing their own, customized, programming.  Brigadoon will share with these developing programs its expertise in experiential based programming, administration, medical protocol, fund development, financial and strategic planning, policy development and measurement and encourage development. 

9.  WHY CAN'T THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ATTEND OTHER CAMPS?
There are a wide variety of considerations to make when dealing with any chronic illness.  In fact, many young people living with a chronic illness do attend other camps not related to their condition.  However, many young people with a chronic condition cannot attend camps without proper medical supports and protocols.  Many children and youth who are un-served are so because their condition requires acute support and supervision.  One of the great benefits special programming offers is to allow a child to meet others with a similar diagnosis, experience or condition – this is especially true for children who live in rural settings.  Allowing young people to come together, to form relationships and friendships, to discuss their experiences, coping techniques, frustrations, etc. is part of what special programming facilitates. 


10. IF BRIGADOON VILLAGE IS NOT BUILT- WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
If Brigadoon Village is not built, the current absence of economies of scale and infrastructure issues will continue to threaten and erode existing programs and essentially eliminate hope for addressing the stated unmet need.  Loss of articulated learning opportunities and placement will also occur (co-op, intern, practicum, professional development, etc.).  It is not a matter of remaining at status quo – it is a matter of addressing a significant and growing deficit of services to young people living with a chronic illness.  It is difficult to live with a chronic illness.   Because of the lack of programming offerings, it is worse to live with a chronic illness in the Maritimes.  Brigadoon aims to change this reality.