After a tough year socially at school, having experienced some exclusion from cliques, our daughter came back from a week at Camp Kawartha happy and full of self-confidence. The atmosphere is inclusive, and most of all-FUN. She loved every minute of it. Thanks Camp Kawartha for encouraging kids to be their best selves, in a healthy, beautiful and supportive environment!

This was our 13 year old daughter's first year at Camp Kawartha in the Leadership Training Program. Having attended 3 other camps, she came home with negative comments and did not want to go back to any camp. After a friend's rave reviews, she thought she would give camp one more try and decided to attend Camp Kawartha. Her Camp Kawartha experience proved to be quite different. from all before. When we picked her up after 3 weeks she talked non-stop about all she experienced and learned with great enthusiasm. She loved every aspect of camp and raved about the staff, the food, the activities, canoe trip and the many new friends she met. Most importantly she shared with us what she learned about being a 'leader" and seemed to have matured and grown as an individual. She can't wait to return next season and now aspires to become a Camp Kawartha councellor. We feel it was an invaluable experience and couldn't be more pleased.

My 9 year old daughter kayaked and jumped out of a boat into a lake. This is something she never would have done with us. I liked that she stretched her limits. She will definitely be back next summer.

My son loved Camp Kawartha and can't wait to come back next year. He really enjoyed all of the activities that he doesn't get to do at home, such as rock wall climbing, archery, and the flying squirrel! He's been talking about it since he got home.

When I see our daughter hugging all of her new and old camp friends goodbye, and glowing with happiness, I know this was time and money well spent.

Class act from start to finish. Staff go out of their way to make kids feel comfortable from moment the car pulls up. Every activity has a fun/wacky component to it - the mundane come to life, and our kids are still talking about these little camp quirks. Both of our kids loved it!

Bug enjoyed her first time at overnight camp very much. The evening before camp she was very apprehensive, but upon arrival the staff welcomed her and made her at ease. It is a big adventure being away from home the first time and she enjoyed the swimming, the games, the fun with the staff and other campers. She still has on her green string from her swim test and on our door at home, she has mounted the Iroquois cabin sign she brought home with her. Looking forward to registration in October!

You Could Be You: A Tribute to Camp Kawartha, By: Tonya-Leah Watts, Age: 14
Seeing the new and familiar faces, All the "Hello"s and the happy embraces.
Getting to know your cabin mate’s names, Playing the endless co-operative games.
Surfing and sailing out on the lake, Always remembering to re-hydrate!
Listening to the crickets, the squirrels, the loons, Competing for the all famous golden broom.
Cleaning the cabin during rest hour, Waiting for your turn to take a much needed shower.
Running around from dusk 'till dawn, We’re not surprised to hear each other yawn.
Watching the sunsets so beautiful and bright, Walking to the washroom in the middle of the night.
Singing and laughing by the fire, Our voices rising higher and higher.
Learning new facts and making new friends, Trying new things until the day camp ends.
We’ll remember the moments the fires, the races, All the "Goodbye"s and the sad embraces.
And yet there were so many awesome things to do, The best thing about camp was that you could be you!

Our 2 children have now attended Camp Kawartha for 2 years. They had attended another camp before this and both RAVE about how much better Camp Kawartha is. I think what sets it apart it the attitude and enthusiasm of the counsellors and their focus on developing self esteem.

Camp Kawartha is an outstanding camp! My daughters attended a few other camps but never found one they wanted to return to. That changed when they went to Camp Kawartha! The first thing they said was how sad they were that it was over and how they wished they could go back again this season. They have definitely found the best camp and will return for many years to come.

Camp Kawartha is a place where kids find themselves and life long friends. An experience they will have for a lifetime.

Camp Kawartha was a wonderful experience for our young grandson (5 yrs. old). He is normally quite shy but the counsellors made him feel so at ease and welcome that his shyness was not an issue. You are to be congratulated for running such a wonderful camp. Well done and rest assured that we will be back. Don & Sheila Judson

Another fabulous summer at Kawartha! I think what sets Camp Kawartha apart is that so many of the staff return year after year. Their love of CK can be felt by each camper and creates the sense of belonging and community. From what my daughter said, it sounds like she spent the whole summer in the lake which she loved. She is proud of all she accomplished this summer which has given her more self confidence. She can't wait to go back next summer and perhaps one day be a counselor.

My teenage son came home from camp Kawartha with a refreshed positive attitude toward life. This is good for starting a new school year!

My daughter just completed her fourth summer of fun at Camp Kawartha. She started slowly with the four day nature camp and now she goes for three weeks, possibly four next year. She loves the staff -- how warm and welcoming they are and the fact that everyone knows her and makes her feel like family. She sets goals every year in her favourite activities, like sailing and swimming, and revels when she reaches them. She is making lifelong friends and is still in touch with the very first friend she made at camp years ago. She says that Camp Kawartha is her second home and can't wait to go back!

Camp Kawartha for the last three years has given my son a wonderful, positive, camping experience. The staff are amazing, always encouraging him and are a lot of fun. He comes home always having tried new things and cannot wait to go back.

Our daughter has tried a few different residential camps but Camp Kawartha is by far her favourite. The great staff and fun program really make her stay!

Camp Kawartha played a huge part in my childhood and now I am excited to be able to share that experience with my children. Our girls have attended the day camp for the last 2 years and have been very satisfied with quality of activities, the staff and the whole camp experience. Our oldest is looking forward to her first session of overnight camp next summer!

Prior to sending my son to Camp Kawartha, I completed some research on various camps. I had met several people who sent their children to different camps and I found that Camp Kawartha had what I wanted my son to learn from. This is a very clean, well maintained camping area. I have a friend who introduced my son and I to Bob Gainey, he shared with us that all of his children went to Camp Kawartha and Bob's children are now grown up and they are well rounded. I do believe that Camp experiences help with the positive growth of our children and we all want the best for our children.

I have to say that being a single mom with three girls is very challenging and rewarding and being given the opportunity to improve and help my girls with there self esteem and independence is hard when your on your own as a parent so being able to give my girls the opportunity to experience new things in there lives that I may not be able to provide for them is very rewarding for me as a parent and for my girls they love making new friends and just the over all excitement in their voices made me realize that this was an incredible opportunity for every child to experience. My thanks go out to all camp counsellors and staff the excellent job that was and is being done!!!!!!!

Both our 12 and 8 years old daughters attended Camp Kawartha this summer. They equally enjoyed themselves and learned new things. Above all they had so much fun with the staff and cabin mates. Camp Kawartha is the one week of the summer they can't wait for. We're already counting down till next year.

Emelie felt warmly welcomed at Camp Kawartha - it was a great Canadian experience for our "Swedish" camper - she has many fond memories from the summer and Camp Kawartha shines as a highlight.

Overall it was a very good experience for my child. He enjoyed all of the activities they had to offer. It was his first overnight camp & all went well. He felt the grounds were nicely kept that it was a safe environment.

My daughter went to Camp Kawartha for the first time this summer for one week (2011). She was almost 8 years old and it was the first time that she would be without family for more then a sleep over at a friends house. I was so nervous for her to go, however I knew how excited she was for the experience as her older brother had gone last year and he was also returning to camp for a 2 week session this year but not during the same time as his sister. When I picked her up on the Saturday, she was beaming with joy and confidence. She was so excited to show me all around the camp and told wonderful stories that she experienced while she was there. Her counselor was very friendly, sweet and genuine and my daughter told wonderful stories about her as well. I really appreciated that I could email her anytime I wanted as well as snail mail!!

My daughter had a fantastic time at Camp Kawartha. There were so many options for activities, she can't wait to go next year to try the ones she wasn't able to try this year. The counsellors were fun, upbeat and supportive...

Our son thoroughly enjoyed his first overnight, away-from-home camp. The staff at Camp Kawartha made every moment so interesting and fun, he barely noticed that we weren't there (even though we got two new family pets the day he left for camp)! He had such a great time that he has asked to go to a 2 week camp next year!!

Camp Kawartha is a fun, down to earth and healthy camp for kids of all ages. All 3 of my children have attended and come back bubbling over with tales from their wonderful experiences at camp.

Camp Kawartha was a fun and rewarding experience for my son, especially as an introduction to over-night camp. The staff was fun, caring and considerate and made it a great week of self-discovery. Thank you

This was the second year that my son has attended the one week residential camp. This year he knew what to expect and he really embraced the whole camping experience. The variety of activities that he gets to try is amazing and he has already made lots of lasting friendships that he is able to rekindle every summer. Thank you for being a part of my son's fondest childhood memories!! See you next summer!

Our 10 year old daughter had a fantastic time at Camp Kawartha again this year - following in a fine family tradition. It is wonderful to see how she grows and develops as a person at camp. I'm envious of her canoeing, archery and sailing skills - as well as the daily swims! Thank you to all the great staff at CK - we couldn't be happier with our choice of camp.

It was an experience that I will remember for a lifetime. All the campers got along really well and the councillors were amazing.

We like the camp because it is rustic and not fancy. Just play outside and have fun. The kids eat - breath - and - sleep camp all year round. They just love it all. We are happy when they are so happy and that 3 weeks gives them so much experience and plain old fun.

Camp Kawartha has been the highlight of my son's summer vacations for over six years! He always returns from camp in a great mood with renewed energy, new friends, new skills and confidence. Thanks to the staff and campers at Camp Kawartha, a "city kid" has developed a lasting enthusiasm for canoeing and camping in a great environment.

My girls love the camp! They talk about it all year and can't wait for the summer. The staff and councellors are warm, caring and give the girls a warm welcome each year when they return.

My son, at 14, did the Wilderness trip. He had an absolute Great Time! He talks about the route and the scenery they paddled thru. I know it was tough at times, carrying the food and lugging the canoe's over to the next lake, he got sunburned, and bitten by bugs. But he still says he wants to do it again, and that in itself tells me what a great time he had! Adam, you were the best CD, you took my concerns into account and always made sure you sent me an update. I love Camp Kawartha, you guys do an amazing job with my kids!!! Thank You.

For four years my daughter has been attending this camp. She started with a one week canoe trip, then two years of two weeks sessions and this year a 3 week PLC session. Every year, before she even gets in the car, she is asking if she can come back next year for longer. She comes home empowered with stories, experiences and relationships that are just unattainable anywhere but at an overnight camp. This camp may not offer motorized vehicles to play on or dirt bike tracks but it has what we feel is what camps should have, canoeing, sailing, out door activities that respect the environment and the people around you. The level of programming and activities is amazing. The leadership and energy in the counsellers is demonstrated year after year. For us, we want our daughter back to us healthy and happy and Camp Kawartha has produced that every time.

Having visited Camp Kawartha with school as a child, I always knew I wanted to send my kids one day. My daughter's first week of Day Camp exceeded our expectations!!! So many exciting and unique activities were offered every day. I know she will carry these memories and experiences with her, and we can't wait to go back again next year!!

I loved learning so much about nature.

When I asked my daughter how camp was this year, she said it was the best summer she's ever had in her life. Her brother agreed! Best summer ever! It seems to be that camp gets better every year!

The camp is just overall fun! Elliot H.

We will be back and we will send our younger son next year. From a parent, our willingness to send siblings too is testimonial enough. Great camp with excellent staff. Keep up the good work.

Excellent environmental programming, my kids loved the experiences that made them feel one with nature.

James was apprehensive about attending day-camp as it was his first time. He's a reserved kid and we tend to only get snippets of information from him as it may "drop" to us during another unrelated conversation. We were pleased to discover experiences of the wetlands, sailboating, "flying" and archery as each evening unfolded. What a range of activity to expose a 5-year-old kid to! The photo-CD of the week's adventure really helped with furthering our conversations too. Thanks Camp Kawartha. We'll be back next year.

Our son had never attended summer residential camp before. Therefore, when we asked our 14 year old what he thought about his one week camp experience he said "It was so much fun. I'm going back!" Enough said.