Never an Off Season

There can never be an off season at Camp Kintail when so much love is poured into this place and its people. - Grace "Koru" Jordain

It’s getting to that time of year where we get asked if camp is open year round. The short answer is yes, the long answer is that there is never an off season. 

When we don't have guests we continue to improve the camp. Whether it’s a day of clearing dead trees, moving gear over to the new maintenance shed, deep cleaning harmony house as the staff move out for the winter or revamping the Labyrinth- we are always on the move!

We continue to be blessed by the fact that at Kintail everyone does everything. From reprogramming the Geocaching GPS’, tying knots at High Challenge, focusing a camera lens, to picking up a tool you’ve never used before and cracking on with it. By the end of the winter we’ll all have many new notches added to all of our belts!

The staff at Kintail always have a tight knit community but this new season has brought everyone all the closer. On our days off some of us have picked up new hobbies like crocheting, learning an instrument, reading, wood carving and finally figuring out the technique to do more than one push up in a row (if you have any tips please let me know).

With our onsite staff now all living in one building the games nights, inside jokes and movie marathons are through the roof. There may be debates over who sits where when watching a Blue Jays game, but living in a community like this is a different kind of comfort to what I’ve ever experienced before. Messages with seasonal and past staff light up our phones as the skies get darker, regular visitors and returning groups like the Rustic Mamas, Girl Guides and Big Brothers Big Sisters help us continue to play in the rain, and Kirk at the Cedars and Sunday Suppers warm our tummies and spirits as the days get colder .

So yes, camp is open year round. We just change with the seasons as a lot of things do. I personally cannot wait for the basketball court to become an ice rink and to experience my first proper winter. Many of you have said, I will tire of the snow quickly but I was obsessing over squirrels for at least a month when I arrived so we’ll see about that!

There can never be an off season at Camp Kintail when so much love is poured into this place and its people.

Grace “Koru” Jourdain