It seems to be an age old tradition in Canada and the United States, something every youth or teenager hoping for a tiny glimmer of freedom looks forward to; their first overnight summer camp experience. Summer camps can take many different forms, nature camp, dance camp, sports camp, arts camp, music camp and even general camp. The one thing all summer camps have in common, or so it would seem, is the "no parents" rule.
And yet as times change and traditions evolve even this simple right of passage is slowly becoming obsolete. It would seem many summer camps are creating family camp weeks and or weekends filled with activities for not only teenagers and youth but also for their parents.
Family Camp at Camp Manitou
Camp Manitou in Whitefish Falls Ontario has the family camp program down to a science. In fact they have been hosting family camps for generations. In addition to their regular boys and girl’s weeks, Nature Camp and Youth Synod Camp the facility offers an array of family camps simply titled one through four. Each camp has a different atmosphere from laid back and program light to intensive, activity packed.
Family camp is run much in the way a youth camp would be including activities for families together or apart such as kayaking, canoeing, hiking, swimming, campfire, rock jumping, wine and cheese evenings and arts and crafts. Meals at family camp are eaten together in the rustic dinning hall, chores are a family affair (even cleaning the outhouses) and parents are responsible for their children, no matter the age, at all times.
Benefits of Family Summer Camp
There are many benefits to attending family summer camp, most importantly the opportunity for the whole family to spend time with each other away from the distractions of the outside world. Camp Manitou goes to extreme lengths to ensure this is the case.
The only hydro at Camp Manitou comes from solar power and is available only in the kitchen and dinning hall as well as the nurse’s quarters. Water is pumped via a generator to the dining hall, showers (wood fire heated) and washstands and there are no radios, televisions or computers unless brought in by the campers.
There is an emergency phone and cellular reception however campers are asked to refrain from bringing electronic devices, which may inhibit interaction with other campers. Trying to walk out of camp is a futile effort since it is a 25-minute boat ride into camp.
Finding Out More About Family Summer Camp
Many great locations are offering family summer camps, which offer the opportunity to participate in activities together, apart and with other families. These camps offer a great opportunity for children of all diverse backgrounds, educational systems and skill levels to learn from one another, socialize and form lifelong bonds of friendship.
Some widely known camps offering family camps are, The Canadian Ecology Center in Mattawa, Ontario, Camp Nominingue in Nominingue, Quebec, Camp Wanakita (a YMCA Camp) in Haliburton, Ontario and Camp Manitou in Whitefish Falls, Ontario.
