about

Dave Patten and Debbie Brake-Patten have been living back on the Island since 1994. After studying for 8 years Debbie brought her husband back to the beautiful West Coast and he fell in love with the area and the people. They decided they would make the West Coast their home.

Debbie was born by a midwife and raised with her 11 siblings on the site of Camp Evergreen. In fact, Debbie was born and raised in the house that stood on the land for close to 50 years which has been since restructured for other various purposes at the camp. Following 22 years of practice and raising three healthy children, Robert 20, Andrew 18 and Julia 15, Dave and Debbie decided they wanted to give back to the community. Dave and Debbie bought the old family homestead from Debbie’s older brother David in 2010 who lived there for over twenty years with his wife Monica and raised two beautiful children, Michelle and David. David and his family always raised animals on the land and Dave and Debbie remember how fun it was to visit them. In fact, this was merely an extension of her childhood where she enjoyed the adventures of outdoor fun and watched her parents raise pigs and hunt and fish to feed the family. It was always an adventure with lots of laughter and fun. Dave and Debbie wanted to bring that life back to the house and land by opening a Day Camp that would provide special programs for families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Debbie holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Masters in Post-Secondary Education from Memorial University and a Doctorate of Chiropractic from CMCC. Dave works for the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation. Together they operate a holding company as well as the registered charity Hope For Ryan Incorporated.

Dave and Debbie formed a foundation to provide fee day camps for families and children loving with autism spectrum disorder. We are a registered charity and can issue tax receipts for any donations greater than 10 dollars. Our camp supports the local businesses in bay St. George South from the various convenience stores to the tourist attractions, restaurants, parks, campgrounds and all other amenities. We are both licensed guides and can do hunting, fishing, camping and boating canoeing packages. Debbie is also a licensed marriage commissioner for the province of NL and can perform civil marriages while their foundation can offer wedding packages. All proceeds raised go back to provide the free camps.