Camp Wanapitei

Trip update and VII update Hi everyone, my apologies for the lack of blogs of late but all is well up here. I actually just returned from an overnight with the Juniors out on Lake Temagami. It was a lot of fun, great food and even better weather. It was so nice that we spent the better part of yesterday afternoon jumping off the rocks at Ferguson Point. I have to say I was impressed at how some of the campers can launch themselves off the rocks into the water all the while smiling and screaming for more. What happens to us as we age? Today we welcomed back 5 groups!!! Juniors, 4 week Cdb, 4 week Pioneer A (from the Dumoine River), Temagami’s and WLIT’s. All of them reporting great trips and amazing weather. Tomorrow both groups of 2 week Cdb’s and 4 week Pioneer B return to camp then on Thursday both Bay Trips and the 2 week Pioneers. It’s a busy few days prior to everyone leaving on Friday morning. We are looking forward to hearing about the trips and then seeing the trip skits Thursday evening. I also just heard that the Bay Trippers - at least one of the trips - saw a pair of Beluga Whales while on James Bay, fantastic. Our lone representatives in the wilderness this coming weekend (new campers arrive on Monday) are the VII’s. They just checked in and they are about two days from finishing their height of land, the point at which their travel turns from upstream to downstream, they are very excited. They are actually a couple of days ahead of schedule so they are looking forward to a 2nd rest day tomorrow. They sounded amazing and very happy to be where they are. Beyond beautiful according to the leaders. Tomorrow is day 25, almost the half way point of the trip. We are looking forward to the next few days as we bring session 2 to a close. I’ll put another blog up as the final few trips return to camp. Until next time, Woody and JJ, Directors, Camp Wanapitei

Well what a stormy night last night/this morning, thankfully it blew through while all of us were still in bed, happy to say though that we won’t be having a fire ban any time soon. Despite hot dry weather early on this summer we have managed to have the right amount of rain keeping things just wet enough. Today we bid farewell to four trips, Cdb A, Cdb B, WLIT,s and Juniors. Both Cdb trips are in the local area and will return in 8 days. Both trips looked great, the routes very interesting including one that is a bit of a Pioneering route for us (not to be confused with a Pioneer route). The Cdb B’s (David, Jesse, Sam, Austin, Elia, Paul and Alex) left before breakfast (they had an early breakfast) and travelled into Red Squirrel Lake, Red Pine Lake, Jack Pine Lake, Chambers Lake, then west to Kokoko Bay, from there they have two choices both of which involve some of Lake Temagami and some smaller lakes off of it, returning on the 28th. I am sure the campers will be very proud of their accomplishment when it’s finished. The Cdb A’s (Anna, Mildri, Elise, Nowlan, Nathan, Cooper, Anthony and Mathew) are travelling from camp, into Diamond, Lady Evelyn, Lady Eve River, Anima Nippissing Lake, Red Squirrel Lake then out to Ferguson Bay on Lake Temagami and finally under the bridge on the 28th. They two will be feeling proud of their accomplishments. The WLIT’s are starting their 7 day whitewater course today, complete with tandem and solo boats. The focus here is not on distance but on whitewater skills. They are on the Dumoine River in Quebec and they will paddle in on the 27th as the end of the first month draws to a close. The juniors left today and are camped at Ferguson Point on Lake Temagami for their first night. A few of the juniors are here for one week and some are here for two weeks. All of the juniors will travel tomorrow to Pickerel Bay on Lake Temagami where they will portage over to Whitefish Bay. Once the portage is done the two week juniors will continue on for two more nights while the one week juniors will return to camp as they will be going home on Friday – where does the time go. The two week Juniors will return to camp the morning the new Juniors are due to arrive, just enough time to get cleaned up and ready to welcome the new campers. We should mention that the Temagami’s will leave for 6 days starting tomorrow. They will travel from camp through to the Canton Lakes then down through Obabika and finally back up Temagami to camp. They are pretty excited tonight holding down camp all by themselves. Overall the other trips seem to be doing well. We do operate on the no news is good news philosophy. We do get from time to time a SPOT from the trips giving us their location and all of the trips are on schedule and where they are supposed to be, always nice to know. Well that’s all for this update. Until the next time, Woody and JJ, Directors, Camp Wanapitei

Quick VII update Today we received a SPOT from the VII’s. They are on day 15 of 52 and right where they should be. Currently they are on Braine Creek getting ready to move through Braine Pass as they make their way to the Wind River. For those who don’t know, a SPOT is a transmission we receive from a portable device which has a pre recorded message on it. The message is received by our computers here in the office with a direct link to Google Maps showing the current position of the trip. All is well here; slightly over cast today abut comfortable temperatures. Woody, Director, Camp Wanapitei

Arrival Day session 2! It is fantastic to have everyone here at camp for the start of our 2nd session of the summer. All of the campers have arrived and are now running around camp in their first evening program, called Scavination. The weather is really comfortable right now, not too hot, a nice breeze and some really nice clouds and colours as the sun begins to set. The first trip to leave this session will be the two week Pioneers and they are off to the Dumoine River in Quebec. They will leave Monday when the bus picks them up at camp and drops them off at Lac Ross (located west of the town of Kipawa, in Quebec). From there they will paddle and portage their way to Lac Dumoine, returning to camp July 29th – which is one day more than usual but due to very low water we have had to add an extra day to the trip. As the rest of the trips get ready we will let you know when and where they will be going. In addition to new campers arriving today, we have 65 campers who are still on canoe trips. The VII’s (out for 52 days and currently in the Yukon) are on day 14, both Bay Trips are on day 12 of 24, one month Pioneers group A and group B are on day 10 and 9 respectively of 20, the month long Cdb’s are on day 9 of 19. Last but not least, our WLIT’s are on day 2 of their 3 day solo’s, tomorrow they will paddle under the bridge. Tomorrow the campers will do their swim tests, visit the camp nurse, chat with the directors and get in some canoeing. They will also be busy getting to know their groups and getting ready for their trips. It will be a full day tomorrow hopefully they’ll get some sleep tonight. I hope you rest well tonight as we happily look after your children. Until the next time, Woody and JJ, Directors, Camp Wanapitei

Hi everyone, We are happy to let you know that the VII’s have once again checked in with us using their SPOT locator. They are making good progress and looking at the map of where they are it looks beautiful, mountains all around as they make their way north through the Yukon. They are currently on day 10. We have received other SPOTS from various trips as well; everyone seems to be making good progress out there. More exciting news today, both our WLIT’s and Temagami’s returned from their trips. They looked good paddling under the bridge, the weather has been amazing. Lots of sun and calm winds today. Tomorrow we will welcome the return of the following groups; 2 week Pioneers who are on the Dumoine River and the 2 week Cdb’s, both in time for our end of session square dance. Thursday we will wrap up the session with our Regatta, followed by the banquet. Friday morning will be an early morning as we will eat breakfast at 7:00am in order to catch the bus south to its final destination of Toronto. Hard to believe this session is rapidly coming to a close. Thanks for tuning in and if you have any questions you can always drop us an email or give us a call. Until the next time, Woody and JJ, Directors, Camp Wanapitei

Just a quick update about our phones - AGAIN - we did just email you all yesterday. Now we have another number that is an internet phone number which has become more reliable than the updated one we gave yesterday. The main thing is to update the 705-202-1019 to 647-478-2967. We are no longer taking messages or calls at the 202 number. Please don't let the Toronto exchange of 647 fool you, it does ring here at camp. Of course you can still call us at 705-237-8830 although the internet phone is much clearer, despite the delay when speaking. Ok on with the good stuff.... Yesterday and today we bid farewell to three trips. Tomorrow we have three more trips that leave. Yesterday our two week Cdb's hit the trail mid morning as they make their way toward Maple Mountain. The trip will be run as a loop and they are out for 8 days. Today the 4 week Pioneers departed (group A), their leaders are Morgan and Holly and the kids are (I'm telling you the names of the campers in this group as we have two, then you will know if your child is in group A or B): Max, Erin, Connor, Piper, Emma, Caleb, Cori-Anne, Harry and Keira. This trip left camp and is paddling its way toward and down the Dumoine River. The trip is 20 days. Also leaving the canoe dock today was our mighty Temagami's who are on a local 6 day trip - they looked amazing paddling out to Lake Temagmai! The month long Cdb's who leave tomorrow will be paddling from camp, toward the Sturgeon River down to the French River and ending on Georgian Bay. This trip is 19 days. Also tomorrow the second month long Pioneer group leaves from the town of Kipawa, from there they will paddle toward then down the Coulonge River in Quebec. This trip is 20 days in length. Lastly the WLIT's begin their 5 day flat water trip in the local area with the focus on leadership and each of the WLIT's being leaders of the day. Should be a great trip. The weather up here is still quite muggy and hardly a drop of rain. AS I write I can see beautiful thunder clouds forming as the setting sun shines from below, its a beautiful here. Til the next time Woody and JJ, Directors, Camp Wanapitei

I am happy to report to you that the VII canoe trip sent us a SPOT yesterday (a means by which we can see where they are) as they work their way through the Yukon. It is not two way communication but still nice to see their progress. Yesterday, our 2 week Pioneers began their trip down the Dumoine River. They were bussed from camp to Lac Ross which is near Lac Watson and west of Lac Dumoine. Their trip is 10 days long and we will be picking them up on July 14th at Grand Chutte at the end of the Dumoine. Today both Bay Trips departed first thing this morning. One group (A) is on Kessagami River and the other (B) is on the Kattawagami River, both in the same area, both finishing with a Bay paddle. If you have a child in the Bay Trip program and you are actually reading this blog I will list the first names of Group A so you will be able to deduce which trip your child is on. Group A is Fraser, Emma, Kyla, Julia, Alex H, Nicole, Robert, Alex M, Christian and Harris. Group B is everyone else:-). Tomorrow we wish the 2 week Cdb’s a great trip. They are travelling through the Canton Lakes route of Temagami, a less travelled and very beautiful place. One of two groups of one month Pioneers depart on Thursday as do the Temagami’s . Friday the remaining trips leave, month long Pioneer’s, month long Cdb’s and the WLIT’s . We’ll give you more details in the next day or two. On a side not for the WLIT’s, they are wrapping up a two day wilderness first aid course today, they have really learned a lot. All is well up here and very hot. Today and tomorrow are above 30, we are drinking water and swimming like crazy, thank goodness for a lake to jump into. We hope you are having a good summer so far. We’ll be sure to blog shortly. Woody and JJ, Directors, Camp Wanapitei

We are so pleased to tell you all that the campers have arrived and are doing really well - including our VII campers who are in Whitehorse getting ready to depart tomorrow morning for their 52 day canoe trip.

Campers began arriving this afternoon and our staff were more than ready to  welcome them, having just completed their staff training.  Our bus arrived about 5:45 full of campers ready to get off the bus and into camp.   The weather today was excellent for arrival day, no rain and lots of sun.  Shortly after arriving we sat down to a great dinner of pasta and now the campers are playing a game called Scavination, where they are running after leaders to ask them questions to which they need answers, by the looks and sound of things they are having lots of fun.

As I mentioned tomorrow the VII's begin their journey.  They will drive a few hours north of Whitehorse to a place called Mayo, from here they begin paddling and portaging their way to and through Brain Pass.  From here it's onto the Wind River then eventually the Peel and finnishing up in Inuvik.  Truly amazing.

The rest of the campers will be doing a variety of things tomorrow as we begin the first session, including a swim test, meeting with the directors, visiting the doctor and going canoeing.

JJ and I will endeavour to keep you up to date as the summer proceeds, including giving you the general routes and dates that your campers are out on trip.  It's nice to know where your kids are on their canoe trips.

I hope all of you are going to sleep well tonight knowing your children are in good hands here at camp.

Take care,

Woody and JJ, Directors, Camp Wanapitei