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 March Updates from Camp Kawartha! | |
Scroll down to get all caught up on Camp Kawartha's latest news! | |
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We've Opened Up New Summer Camp Sessions: B1 and B2!
Looking for more one-week spaces to sign your children up for Summer Camp? You're in luck! Our Session B now has a new option: you can either come for one week or two!
Session B1 will run July 7th to 13th, and Session B2 will run July 14th to 19th. For more information, please email our Summer Camp Register, Serhii, at serhii@campkawartha.ca.
Sign up your camper before spots run out!
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It's World Migratory Bird Day on May 11th! | |
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Let's band together to protect bugs and birds!
World Migratory Bird Day will be nationally celebrated on Saturday, May 11th, but it can also be celebrated through the whole month of May.
As Nature Canada puts it:
"Our love of birds comes with a responsibility to act in their defence. Bird populations are in decline and their habitats are in peril. This year’s World Migratory Bird Day theme addresses the link between insect populations, their decline, and migratory bird populations."
Events will be held all across Canada in recognition of this day, from Guided Birding Hikes in the Minesing Wetlands to Bird Friendly Toronto's Spring Bird Festival.
In whatever shape or form you choose to celebrate, don't forget to find a moment this month to appreciate all the cheery chirps and melodies we so often take for granted!
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Spring Activity: Listen to the Sap Rise!
Did you know that you can use a stethoscope to listen to the sap rising in the Spring?
Give it a try - listen carefully for a low rumbling sound with pops and crackles.
This easy citizen science experiment will work best after a cold night and on a sunny day with temperatures above zero. A smaller sugar maple will do the trick, but with larger trees with thicker bark, it'll be harder to hear. When you place your stethoscope on a flat part of the tree, stand still and listen carefully.
There's no better way to open your ears to the soundscape of Spring!
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Not to Worry - The Whole CK Team is Lifesaving First-Aid Certified!
Halfway through March, all of Camp Kawartha's departments, from the Kitchen to the Office to Maintenance, came together to renew their Lifesaving Standard First-Aid and CPR-C training over a two-day course.
The certification course was run by Camp Kawartha's previous Health Care Coordinator, Cathy Romano, who kept us informed, engaged, and entertained with her insights as a registered nurse!
This mandatory course ensures that our entire team is fully certified in preventing risks and promoting safety for campers throughout the Summer Camp season. Although the outdoors can have its risks, it certainly doesn't need to be unsafe!
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Summer Camp Throwback - Back to 1927!
We recently came across some decades-old editions of the Grassroots Review, and boy, does Camp Kawartha ever look different!
In a copy from June 1995, a past camper named Doug Cruthers submitted an article describing his camp experience from way back in 1927, when the site was called Kawartha "Y" Camp for Boys.
In the bottom left picture, Bill recalls his memories of staying hydrated with a water barrel: "Refreshments were cheap and available anytime." Needless to say, our water coolers today get the same job done with a little less hassle!
On the right, another previous camper, Kate Taillon, submitted a letter to the Review detailing her experiences from the camp's tripping program in 1993.
Kate remarks: "We were proud of ourselves and our accomplishments in the park. We experienced a whole new way to live and it taught us a lot about our lives... There were so many things to use when we came back that we had found we didn't really need - but I suppose that goes for life as well."
If you have any throwback memories or photos from Camp Kawartha that you'd like to share, we'd love to hear them! Send along your stories to mira@campkawartha.ca to be featured in future editions.
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Updates From Our Environment Centre: | |
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Dear Teachers,
Are you looking for an engaging, educational trip with all the benefits of a healthy, fun day outdoors this Spring?
The Environment Centre has a few Spring Dates still available.
Spring Program Highlights:
- It's A Bug's Life (K to 3)
- All Things Green (K to 3)
- Sensorama (K to 2)
- Wetland Wonders (K to 4)
- Aquatic Biodiversity (Gr. 4 to 6)
- The Magic of Felting (Gr. 2 to 5)
- Water Conservation Pentathlon (Gr. 4 to 12)
- Cooperative Games (Gr. 3 to 5)
- Teambuilding (Gr. 6 to 12)
- Renewable (Alternative) Energy (Gr. 5 to 12)
- Living Sustainably (Gr. 9 to 12)
- Nature Sculpture (All Grades)
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And more...
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.
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Spring Nature School Programs at the Environment Centre! | |
Dear Parents,
Would your child love a weekly immersive experience in Nature with highly experienced, caring educators and mentors?
Nature School Programs at the Environment Centre give kids the 'too rare these days' opportunity to connect deeply with Nature and to develop a rich understanding of the Land that sustains us.
We offer programs for children and youth (ages 4 to 18) and some programs have weekly and bi-weekly options.
Registration is now open for our Early and Late Spring Nature School sessions.
From Forest Explorers to Woodsy Wednesdays, Nature School offers all kinds of environmental learning for all ages!
Our weekly schedule is outlined in the chart below.
These programs are at our Peterborough location - 2505 Pioneer Road, Peterborough (at Trent U).
Visit our website to learn more and don't hesitate to contact us with questions!
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Environment Centre Nature School Schedule: | |
Facility Rental Opportunities:
Are you planning a retreat, meeting, or nature-filled adventure in the coming months? Consider renting Camp Kawartha’s award-winning facilities for a weekend!
We can welcome groups of 25 to 100 people between Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. CK provides a perfect spot to kick back, soak in the beauty of the natural environment, enjoy delicious meals cooked by our amazing kitchen staff, and bond with your colleagues or peers over a campfire!
With sustainable buildings, a beautiful waterfront, over 185 acres of forest and fields and 6 kilometres of nature trails, you’ll be delightfully refreshed and energized!
Our available weekends include:
- April 5 - 7
- May 3 - 5
- May 10 - 12
- June 7- 9
Visit our website today to learn more about planning your stay!
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It's Not Too Late to Sign Up for Summer Camp! | |
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At the Main Site, spaces are still available in sessions B, D, and N!
Camp Kawartha still has some spaces left in our 3-night session, Session N, which runs from August 25th to 28th, and some remaining in our 2-week sessions, Session B (running from July 7th to 13th for B1 and July 14th to 19th for B2, or July 7th to 19th for the full 2-week B session) and Session D (running from July 28th to August 9th).
Two-week sessions are a great chance for campers to form a deeper connection to their camp experience. Campers will have the opportunity to develop their skills in our activity areas, make stronger bonds with their cabinmates, engage in more theme days, and build upon their leadership skills.
Meanwhile, our introductory 3-night session at the very end of our summer season, Session N, includes all the action-packed fun of a regular session but is specifically designed as an introduction to camp for those looking to give it a try for the first time.
To inquire about three-night or two-week sessions, please reach out to our team and we'd be happy to tell you more about all that they have to offer!
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At the Environment Centre, spaces are still available in the following sessions:
- EC Day Camp week 1 (Ages 7 to 12)
- 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 can inquire about registration and programs at office@campkawartha.ca!
Be sure to grab your spot before it's gone!
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The Wild Path Home Gets Nominated for 7 Awards!
The documentary film The Wild Path Home, produced by Anne-Marie Jackson, has recently received seven award nominations from the Hollywood North Film Awards.
The film describes the Pathway to Stewardship Program (www.pathwayproject.ca), led by Camp Kawartha in collaboration with our local school boards and over 50 organizations.
The idea behind the Pathway Program is to provide every child in the Peterborough community with age-appropriate stewardship experiences (called landmarks) throughout each age and stage of their development.
Our hope is that this can serve as a model for how communities over time, can build an ethic of stewardship and caring for the Earth.
The nominations include Best Canadian Short Doc, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design, Best Colour and VFX, Best Director, and Best Original Score.
To watch the trailer, click here.
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Call for a Canoe Tripper! | | |
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It's not too late to join the CK Staff team this summer as a canoe tripper! We're looking for experienced wilderness staff with a current NL certification to take on the role of a lifetime through leading our wilderness trips in Algonquin Park and the Kawartha Highlands this summer!
If you think you're interested in this role, please email emma@campkawartha.ca to find out more!
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Credit: Gary Varel, Indystar, Creators.com, 2017. | | | | |
