Last summer (2010) my son attended Camp Kawartha for the first time. He had just turned 9 in July and wanted to go for the 2 week residential program. I think I was more nervous than he was, as he did not know anyone at the camp and really other then family had never stayed without myself or his father. The first week went by and I had not heard anything from him and then the second week I finally got some letters telling me that he was having a fantastic time and had made lots of friends. I was so happy for him and knew that he had gained so much confidence and his self esteem was unbelievably positive when I picked him up. It was a wonderful experience for him and he cant wait for next summer to return!!

Camp Kawartha is the highlight of our childrens' summers! Our oldest child switched to Camp Kawartha in 2006 (after enjoying another camp for two summers) and couldn't stop talking about how much fun she had. In fact, she loved it so much that she became a counsellor last year, and her younger sister (who started attending Camp Kawartha in 2007) is hoping to follow in her footsteps.

My boys really enjoyed their week in day camp. Being from the city, they really enjoyed the varied outdoor activities, especially hunting for bugs in the swamp! The staff were wonderful with my young campers, helping them to be more independent and encouraged them to participate in all of the activities. They will be back next year!

My daughter attended another camp and was homesick. The way the activities are planned at Kawartha and the small staff to camper ration ensure she did not have too much unscheduled down time alone but had enough rest time. She loved camp last year and cannot wait to go back next summer. She loved the water front activities and the way environmental education was incorporated into the daily activities at the camp. She met new friends, learned about the environment as had a great time.

Camp Kawartha provides the perfect mix of fun and environmental education.

Our daughter loves Camp Kawartha. She loves making new friends, trying new things and the independence from home. I believe it helps build her self-confidence which is extremely important to me in raising a girl. There are also positive role models in the camp counsellors who help her have fun

My daughter has enjoyed Camp Kawartha for 5 summers. The staff is consistently exceptionally kind and an inspiration to young campers. My daughter could not be happier than she is at camp.

My kids come back from camp brimming with stories to tell. Over the years, Camp Kawartha has helped my kids gain self-confidence, independence and helped introduce them to new people, activities and skills. It was particularly useful in getting my picky eater son to try new foods.

Our two boys, aged 15 and 12, have attended Camp Kawartha for many years beginning with the day camp program and now the eldest is attending the leadership training programs in hopes of eventually becoming a camp counsellor. Both boys have benefited in ways too numerous to mention (i.e. independence, nature/wilderness knowledge, self-esteem, skills development, fun etc.) through their years at camp. The time spent at camp is one of the highlights of their year, every year. Camp Kawartha is awesome!

It's our daughter's first sleepover camp experience and the camp more than lived up to our expectations of what a camp should be.

My kids have been going to Camp Kawartha for years and it's been a huge part of their lives. They love it , especially the dynamic between the positive, energetic young counsellors and the kids. My kids see them as role models (though they wouldn't say it that way). Camp Kawartha lets kids experience camp, the outdoors, with a sense of fun without access to electronics etc. and allows for the kids to grow in a positive environment with little sense of authoritarianism. Camp is an opportunity for kids to problem-solve, create and have fun without their parents around which is refreshing for them.

We have sent 3 children to camp kawarthra over the last many years for just a 1 week camp. They have always enjoyed going and meeting and seeing all there friends they have met over the years.

The camp is a nice size - not too small, not too big - allowing for great activities, and a warm personal interaction between campers and staff. The kids develop a strong sense of accomplishment and well being from their experiences.

It was my daughter's first experience at camp and she wanted no part of it. Apprehensively I went to pick her up at the end of the week and after her bone crushing hug, I noticed her glow. She was happy, the kind of happy that permeates all of her. Words were tripping over themselves as she told me what a wonderful time she had, the games, activities and sing alongs were fun, fun, and more fun; but most importantly she said the staff and counselors were very nice and thoughtful and not once did she feel not at her ease. The ultimate test of course, was the question...."Do you want to come back?" A resounding yes was her answer. So thank you for taking such good care of her.

I would like to extend my thanks to your entire staff from the very top to the very bottom as I truly believe that you have all pulled together to make this a great camp, including the staff that keep the grounds and camp looking lovely, neat and clean.

THANK YOU, especially to Zappa and Elton who were wonderful camp counselors! Danielle had a great time. She came home tired and happy; glad that she went. My hat goes off to Zappa and Elton as her main counselors but also to Kandi, Eurika, Coco and all the others that she interacted with. Living and directing young teens, being their friend as well as their commander is a very difficult job. Not only did Danielle have fun, but she came home with more confidence in herself and her abilities to make new friends and try new things on her own. While having great fun she also learned many valuable life skills from physical survival skills to team working skills. Keeping the campers well fed and watered (so to speak) with good quality food and healthy snacks always available just re-affirms that you are delivering a quality camp. The availability of many different types of good fruit available at any time was wonderful and enjoyed!

Again, the good food, great counselors, well thought out and organized programs and professional level of delivery all need to be recognized. I would also like to thank the administrators at Camp Kawartha. Your prompt, courteous, professional responses to any and all of my enquiries and requests, helped instill in me, great confidence that Danielle would be safe and well looked after. It all starts at the top and trickles downwards. I truly believe that any organization or business is only as good as its captain. While the captain must be good, so must all of his people be good. In my opinion, Camp Kawartha is like a well run ship! I speak on behalf of my husband too. Thank you!

Patti Gibson
(parent of child in Session D, 2009)

Our son had such a great time on the junior canoe trip last year, he wanted to go again this year and he also wanted to stay in the residential camp. He loves it so much, he wants to work at Camp Kawartha in a few years!

Camp Kawartha is the perfect summer camp for kids. It's small enough to be cozy and warm but big enough to have all the amenities children could want. It's in a gorgeous location but not hard to get to. Every year my daughter makes more friends, tries and learns new things, and stores up precious memories. She truly loves camp and feels a strong sense of belonging at Camp Kawartha and she can't wait to go back!

The activities are fabulous and well geared to whatever weather seemed present. My son had lots of great things to say...would have liked a cd or something with photos. This was good for day camp.

My son attended the day camp program the last 2 summers and this year he took part in the new Intro to Camp session and he loved it! He was a little bit homesick the first night but the counsellors were very compassionate and helped him through his first night away at "sleepover camp". He's already talking about being old enough to attend for the whole week next summer! Thank you for a amazing experience!

I would like to thank you again for the wonderful experience that our children, Aaron and Ryleigh had at camp this past week.  They have not stopped talking about all the great adventures they had and friendships that they have made last week.   I would especially like to give a huge "Thank You!" to "Loo".  I could tell from the moment we met that she was going to be excellent with girls of Ryleigh's age group.  Not only did she encourage them to have fun but when it came to bedtime she also read to them (Ryleigh says as many stories as they wanted!) but she also tucked them in, which I think is so wonderful.  This was Ryleigh's first big stay away from home and she was very apprehensive about going to bed there at camp.  Although they had a few rough evenings, Loo, Cara and Seuss made her really feel good.  Thanks to all!"

Kyle is very much looking forward to his session in August in W-CSD.

Sincerely, Michelle Klem (2009)

Our daughter's first camp experience at Kawartha was so positive, she can't wait to go back. We were worried about sending her on her own but she made so many new friends that, in the end, it worked out for the best. Next year she'll be going for a longer stay, and we've even been able to arrange it so that her camp "best friend" will be joining her again!

Camp was great. My daughter had a great time and she is now going for a 2 week session. She liked how there is a variety of activities on land or in the water

Just what camp should be. Fun, Sun, Fun, Water, Fun, Friends, Fun, Fresh Air, and more fun.

The Petrovsky's

Our two children, ages 14 and 15, have been attending Camp Kawartha for the past five years. Each year they attend numerous one and two-week sessions and have successfully completed leadership programs. They absolutely love attending Camp Kawartha and can't wait to go back in between sessions; the last session of the summer is heartbreaking for them as they don't want to leave camp or their summer friends. They have formed lifelong friendships with children from around the world and have experienced and learned things that will positively affect them for the rest of their lives. Every year we marvel at the amazing stories they tell of camp and the wonderful counsellors and staff that work at Camp Kawartha. Camp Kawartha is an outstanding summer camp and we highly recommend it to family and friends.

I am not sure new parents want to hear from a parent whose daughter sustained a major ankle injury while on a wilderness canoe trip. What I would want parents to know is that the staff have extensive training in what to do in a time of medical emergency and pulled together as a team (with the land staff back at camp) to ensure the safety of not just my daughter but also of all the other participants on the trip. Through great planning and execution, my daughter was transported safely to hospital and the other campers were able to finish their trip.

AWESOME JOB!!!

My children LOVE Camp Kawartha. When they come back home, they are already talking about how "AWESOME" it was and how they want to stay for longer next year. Kudos to the whole camp staff -- the kids love it there -- even with all the rain this year!!

Camp Kawartha is such a great experience for my kids. It has given my guys many gifts: appreciation & respect for nature / animals / people, independence, interdependence, self reliance, "out doorsie - ness", camaraderie, and it goes on and on.

The big one I notice upon their return is their self confidence in making it in the real world without mom and dad. Since going to camp they are more willing to do things away from home they never would of considered before. They also know the value of everyone chipping in and helping because interdependence is a camp reality.

I don't camp, portage, know how to light a camp fire real well, know how to survive in nature if I had to, windsurf, rock climb, canoe, or have archery skills, but my kids do. And that opens up many more doors for many more opportunities for them.

Jonathan and Catherine want to be counsellors some day. There is a whole host of skills they'll need to develop in order to do that which is great. It will assist them in figuring out their place in the world and give them confidence to pick something that will challenge them.

Sorry, I know I go on and on about it but I am truly pleased that we did this for them. My old neighbour was the one that spoke so highly about it to us (for that I'm grateful) and I'm glad we did it. He used to go as a young child, became a camp counsellor and he still talks about the experience and all the skills he developed. He developed a real sense for people and instinctively knew how to connect with and work with many personality types. He also told me that when he went away to University for the first time he could tell the kids that never went to camp. They took much longer to adjust to the whole living away from home thing and had a much harder time. So I suppose in a sense we are preparing them for their inevitable depart. But I'm confident that the camp experience is one more thing that will assist them in managing the transition well.

Tip....book early. Spots go fast. We book January or February to ensure we get the time slot our kids want (same kids as last year). Put a note in your calendar.

If you want them to go, remember to not reveal any of your own hesitations as that will stunt their interest. They pick up on the subtleties.

Susan Gucciardi

Dear Jacob,

With the kids back to school, my husband and I are reflecting on what an incredible summer it was for them and how Camp Kawartha is largely to thank for this.

Our daughter was an August LIT and our son attended Session D. It was our daughter's sixth summer and our son's fifth, having chosen to go to a renown camp in the Muskokas last summer. Being a skateboard enthusiast, this particular camp appealed to him. What we discovered is bigger and more expensive does not mean better! A larger camp lacks the warmth and caring of a close community found at Camp Kawartha. For example, our son is a vegetarian and we were assured last summer that meals would be readily available to him. This was not the case and he would often have to wait 15 min. or more for a meal, only to discover his cabin had long eaten and left before he had a chance to eat. To avoid this, he opted for salad and bread for the remainder of the week and returned home a few pounds lighter! Not so at Camp Kawartha. Upon arriving home, our son raved about the vegetarian meals and being treated "like a king"! I tried in vain to duplicate the stuffed peppers and various other delicacies served to him. Even while on Trip, Vila was very considerate of our son, letting him dip into the hummus before it was "contaminated" by the meat eaters! He was appreciated for his uniqueness and individuality and returned home with a new found self confidence and high self esteem.

Our daughter's experience was equally memorable and life enriching. The very afternoon we brought her home, she built a fire, caught grasshoppers, boiled water for cedar tea and sat down to a commemorative feast. ( A menu learned in Eco Skills) Her brother declined the offer of fried grasshoppers (being a vegetarian), I managed to chew but not swallow one while our daughter happily munched away! We all enjoyed the cedar tea as the two of them shared camp stories.

Another skill our daughter learned during her volunteer time at Nature Camp was from you Jacob: The Loon Call. She put this to good use while we were at our cabin on Baptiste Lake. During a boat ride, she spotted a loon searching for it's dinner and called out to it, clasping her hands over her mouth as you had shown her. To our astonishment, it replied, dropping it's fish in the process. This continued for some time while the loon followed our boat within 15 feet, returning her call every time. What an experience!

These are just a few examples of how Camp Kawartha has so positively impacted our children's lives. We just had to take a moment to thank you Jacob, Adam and everyone at Camp Kawartha, for another amazing summer. We are so fortunate to have an organization of such a high caliber in our area.

Thank you again,
Most sincerely

Corina and Paul Chester (2006)