Camp Kawartha's mission is to inspire environmental leaders and stewards of all ages through dynamic, accessible, year-round outdoor programming and powerful partnerships to create meaningful change. | |
Your May Updates from Camp Kawartha! | |
Check Out Our New Website!
We’re super excited to share some big news with you all – with the help of Frolic Design, we’re finally ready to launch our brand-new website!
The new site is designed to make it easier for everyone to find all the information they need about our mission, programs, and resources.
We can’t wait for you to check out all the changes we’ve been making to help share more about all that we do here.
Visit www.campkawartha.ca and join us in celebrating this exciting new milestone!
| | |
The Planting Hope Project
|  | |
For over 100 years, Camp K has helped children and youth learn to care for the Earth and for each other.
But with the cost of living on the rise, more parents than ever before are requiring assistance to help with the cost of their child’s summer camp experience or class trip, despite keeping our program prices as low as we can.
That is why we’ve started the Planting Hope Project.
We are on a mission to help children and youth from low-income backgrounds attend summer camp or outdoor education programs.
The Planting Hope Project helps both children and nature thrive. For every donation sponsoring a disadvantaged child to visit Camp Kawartha, we will plant a tree on Camp grounds to help replenish the forest.
Supporting the project means opening doors for children and youth from low-income backgrounds to develop new skills and self-esteem, enjoy healthy, delicious meals, and build lifelong connections.
It also means more native trees are planted; from apples to oaks, to aspen, to sugar maples, we will bring back the natural tree variety in our forests while teaching children the immense value of protecting our local ecosystems.
So - are you willing to work together to help children and trees grow?
Here are two easy ways you can help support the project:
1) Vote for our project to win the McDougall Community Contest!
Voting closes at the end of today, so if you've got just 20 seconds to spare, cast your vote at this link!
2) Support the Planting Hope Project by making a donation!
Large or small, any gift will make a huge difference in helping kids from low-income backgrounds afford the opportunity to benefit from engaged, outdoor programs alongside their peers. To donate, visit our online donation form at this link.
So get your gloves on - it's time to plant some hope!
| | | |
Just A Few Spots Remain at Summer Camp! | |
|
A story we recently received from a parent:
"Our usually 'preoccupied with electronics' 11-year-old LOVES environmental camp. He has been 4 times now over the last few years. When he gets home he still doesn't go straight to the computer. We love he is getting active, enjoying the time spent with the counsellors and new friends, and being interactive with the outdoor physical games he can play."
| |
|
At the Main Site, several sessions can accommodate more campers!
Camp Kawartha (CK) still has some spaces left in our 3-night session, Session N (August 25th to 28th), Session B1 (July 7th to 13th), and Session D (July 28th to August 9th).
To inquire about three-night or two-week sessions, please reach out to our registrar Serhii at serhii@campkawartha.ca and he'll be happy to tell you more about all that CK has to offer!
For more information, visit our website.
| |  |
|
At our Environment Centre, a few spaces are also available!
Below are some of our open sessions:
- EC Day Camp Week 5 (Ages 7 to 12)
- Woodland Adventures Camp (Ages 12 to 15)
- EC Leadership Program (Ages 14 to 16)
Families can register their campers through our website or email serhii@campkawartha.ca!
| | |
Meanwhile, Over At Our Environment Centre... | |
|
Psst! A message from a teacher visiting the Centre this year:
"We had an exemplary day at the centre. We knew from the moment we arrived that our Kindergarten students would be engaged. From the first moose song to the pond exploration to foxes chasing deer. The children were delighted with their day! Thank you!"
Hey Teachers,
Are you looking for an engaging, educational trip with all the benefits of a healthy, fun day outdoors this Spring?
The Environment Centre is fully booked up for the Spring, but there are still a few spots left for Fall 2024 and Winter 2025!
A class trip to the Environment Centre starts at 9:30 am, ends at 2:30 pm, and includes two program periods.
Each program typically lasts 1½ hours.
These day trips are at our Peterborough location, one of Canada's most Sustainable Buildings, at 2505 Pioneer Road, Peterborough (at Trent University Nature Lands).
Visit our website or contact us to book a day field trip or for more information.
| |
|
|
|
Say Hi to Our Subsidy Bear!
Guess who just arrived at the CK Gift Store - our new friend, the Subsidy Bear!
$10 from the sale of every bear supports our Subsidy Fund, which helps children from low-income backgrounds attend our summer camp and outdoor education programs.
Click here to learn more about him!
Meanwhile, we're also all stocked up for Summer Camp pre-orders. If you're a Summer Camp Parent and want to purchase a care package for your child to enjoy while they're away at camp, check out this link to view the collection!
| | | |
At the Environment Centre: | |
|
Environment Centre Office Assistant
The Environment Centre Office Assistant will be responsible for assisting in the administration of Camp Kawartha Environment Centre’s summer camp programs.
Contract: June 25th – August 30th, 2024 (9 weeks).
Location: Camp Kawartha Environment Centre, Peterborough
Please email a resume and cover letter identifying the position you are applying for to craig@campkawartha.ca.
Deadline for Applications: Friday, June 7th, 2024
Find more information at this link!
| |
|
Camp Leader (Environmental Education Assistant)
The Camp Leader (Environment Education Assistant) will be responsible for assisting our Environmental Education team in delivering our award-winning nature and environmental programs during the summer of 2024 at our Environment Centre location.
Contract: June 25th – August 30th, 2024 (9 weeks).
Location: Camp Kawartha Environment Centre, Peterborough
Please email a resume and coveri letter identifying the position you are applying for to craig@campkawartha.ca.
Deadline for Applications: Friday, June 7th, 2024.
Find more information at this link!
| |
|
Maintenance Assistant
We are seeking a motivated youth with an interest in maintenance and working in the outdoors.
The Maintenance Assistant will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the camp's infrastructure including landscaping, painting, and basic repairs.
The position would be from June 24th, 2024, for 10 weeks, with a possible opportunity for extension.
If interested, please email a resume and cover letter to jacob@campkawartha.ca.
Deadline for Applications: June 10th, 2024.
| |
|
Eco Gardener
Are you passionate about gardening, local food, sustainable agriculture, and education? If so, you may be the perfect addition to Camp Kawartha's summer team!
We are seeking a motivated youth with an interest in horticulture, organic gardening, and education.
The Eco Gardener will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the camp’s organic gardens, enhancing the camp’s biodiversity and teaching gardening to campers and visitors.
If interested, please send a resume to emma@campkawartha.ca.
| |
|
Shoreline Restoration!
On May 15th, a group of Environment Council volunteers very generously helped clean up our Shoreline Gardens. The goal: to bring back pollinators and continue protecting Clear Lake’s water quality.
These volunteers were hard at work removing withered and invasive plants so that we can plant native species like Sweet-Joe-Pye-weed, cardinal flower, and common milkweed.
Thank you so very much to the Environment Council for all their help and hard work!
If you're looking for a fun, easy way to learn about restoring or naturalizing your own shoreline, come to the Environment Council’s Shoreline Restoration Talk & Tour at Camp Kawartha, Saturday, July 27, at 2 pm.
To sign up, please email Lois Wallace, c/o tina.warren@mac.com with full contact information. If you wish to arrive by boat, please note this when you register.
It's never too late to restore and naturalize the land!
| |
|
Call for Outdoor Volunteers!
Are you looking to gain experience at an environmental non-profit, fill your high school volunteer hour requirements, or simply lend a helping hand in the community?
Come join the CK team as a volunteer gardener or maintenance helper!
Volunteers make all that we do here at Camp Kawartha better. You can be a vital member of our dynamic team of volunteers & staff, all committed to helping children, youth, and adults learn from & engage with the Earth we all share.
You can help out in Maintenance, which involves everything from lawn mowing to plumbing repairs.
Or, if you've got a knack for gardening, we have 6 gardens at the Clear Lake site and 3 gardens at the Peterborough site - so you know we need lots of hands!
You can learn more by visiting our website - www. campkawartha.ca - and send in your inquiry.
Email sramey@campkawartha.ca with any other questions!
| |
Pictured: sprouts beginning to grow in the gardens just outside the office. | |
Outdoor Learning in Beautiful Banff!
On May 9th, our Executive Director Jacob Rodenburg attended the Banff Outdoor Learning Conference to present on nature engagement to educators from across Canada and the U.S.
The overarching theme for the 2024 Outdoor Learning Conference was “Place and Pedagogy: Where Learning Happens.”
This year’s Conference also focused on Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Health and Wellbeing, and Environmental and Climate Change Education.
The event was attended by a mix of both rural and urban educators, practitioners, volunteers, students, and elected officials.
Click here to read more about it!
| | |
|
Many Thanks to the OTF!
With the generous support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, we've installed a brand new wastewater management system at the Main Site!
The new system maintains the cleanliness of Clear Lake while minimizing the impact on the surrounding ecosystem. The upgraded wastewater management system also helps protect the natural environment by limiting the potential for nitrates and phosphorous to pollute Clear Lake or spread harmful bacteria through increased blue-green algae growth.
Because of the invaluable help of the OTF, the Williams Wilson Sherport Foundation, and many other donors, this wastewater management upgrade represents a huge step forward in our mission to inspire and create the environmental stewards of tomorrow.
| |
|
Staff Highlight: Sarah Van Ryn!
Meet one of our outstanding staff members, Sarah!
Sarah's been a vital part of our Housekeeping department at CK for nearly 2 years.
What's more, is that she has an incredibly keen eye and sharp talent for photography!
Based in Lakefield, Sarah does family and event photography, although she's also very skilled at capturing stunning shots of the nature, architecture, people, and products and Camp Kawartha.
Sarah's been an invaluable help in offering her skills to share snapshots on our social media platforms and new website.
To check out her website or inquire about working with her, visit https://www.sarahvanryn.com/!
| |
|
Becky Rogers Community Partner of the Year!
.
On Thursday, May 30th, the New Canadians Centre (NCC) awarded Camp Kawartha the Becky Rogers Community Partner of the Year award.
The award is dedicated to the memory of Becky Rogers (1955 - 2017), a tireless advocate for immigrant integration, diversity, and multiculturalism in our community.
CK has worked together with NCC for a number of years, from inviting new Canadian families to experience maple sugar tapping at the Clear Lake site, to collaborating on the Family Literacy in Peterborough Program to help newcomer families enjoy camp for a day.
NCC writes:
"By welcoming newcomer families and giving them a taste of Canadian outdoor life, Camp Kawartha is not only providing them with fun experiences but also helping them feel a sense of belonging in their new home. Thank you Camp Kawartha - you are the very best at what you do!"
| |
Mini Nature Finds of the Month | |
The following finds were spotted across the Clear Lake Site by our Office Staff during our little ventures around the Camp. Which ones can you spot in your own backyard? | |
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | |
|
|
~ You made it to the end! Thank you very much for reading - Until next time! ~ | | | | |
