July 7, 2026 | By: Jennifer Stitt in For Love of the Game
Last week was one I’ll never forget.
For the first time ever, my son, Lyle, got to experience Field of Dreams.
Not quite as a full camper, (he spent half days at camp with me while I worked behind the scenes), but for the first time, he got to experience the community that I’ve spent the last 16 years trying to build.
Like so many children on their first day, he was nervous. On Monday morning, he insisted he didn’t want to come.
Then something incredible happened.
Within minutes of arriving, one camper walked over, took Lyle by the hand, and brought him into the group.
That was all it took.
But it wasn’t just that one camper. Every single child welcomed him with open arms. They invited him into games, cheered him on, talked with him, laughed with him, and made him feel like he belonged from the very beginning.
By the end of the first day, he didn’t want to leave.
Now, camp is all he talks about.
Every night before bed, he asks, “Are we going to camp tomorrow?” Every morning, the first words out of his mouth are, “Is it camp today?” He talks about the campers, the counsellors, the games he played, and the friends he made. He can’t stop talking about camp.
That is the power of camp.
Sixteen years ago, I started Field of Dreams Baseball Camp with one simple goal: to create a place where kids could just be kids. A place free from the social pressures they often experience elsewhere. A place where every child felt welcomed, supported, included, and surrounded by others who simply loved playing baseball. I wanted every camper who stepped onto our field to know they belonged.
As the owner of Field of Dreams, I spend most of my days working behind the scenes now: answering emails, organizing registrations, planning all the camps and programs, solving problems, and making sure camp runs smoothly (among 1000 other tasks). Since Lyle was born, I haven’t spent nearly as much time out on the field as I once did.
When I built this camp all those years ago, I never imagined that one day my own son would get to experience the very culture we had worked so hard to create. Watching him laugh, make friends, gain confidence, and genuinely not want the day—or even the week—to end reminded me exactly why I started Field of Dreams in the first place.
The camper who reached out and took Lyle’s hand on Monday morning will probably never know the impact of that small act of kindness. Neither will the counsellors who encouraged him or the campers who made room for him in their games.
But together, they changed his entire week. They gave him confidence. They gave him friendships. They gave him memories that he’ll carry with him long after this summer ends.
As the owner of Field of Dreams, I couldn’t be prouder of the community our campers and staff have created.
As Lyle’s mom, I couldn’t be more grateful that he got to experience it.
This week reminded me that camp is about so much more than baseball.
It’s about kindness.
It’s about belonging.
It’s about confidence.
It’s about community.
And sometimes, changing someone’s world is as simple as reaching out a hand. ❤️
With love and gratitude,
Jennifer Stitt