OPCC 2026

 Last week, 10 representatives from Camp Kintail made the trek up to Muskoka to participate in the annual Ontario Presbyterian Camping Conference with fellow camps, Gracefield Christian Camp and the Cairn Family of Camps! The group spent 3 days doing professional development, sharing tips and tricks for camp programming, progressing their skills in supporting staff and campers, and participating in activities designed to nurture faith development in camp staff. 

For many of the Kintail attendees, this was their first time participating in OPCC, as well as their first time (or first time in a while) visiting the Cairn Family of Camps, who hosted the conference this year. The staff at the Cairn Family of Camps were fantastic hosts and met the Kintail staff with both enthusiasm and hospitality. 

During OPCC, staff enjoyed busy days full of sessions, skits, songs, and good fellowship. The weather in Muskoka was still quite chilly last week and so you could often find the staff with a warm drink in their hands or huddled together by the fire to cozy up. 

It was a blessing to get to spend time in such a beautiful place, and with such wonderful company. One of the most interesting things, was discovering how each camp does things differently. This was sometimes stumbled upon accidentally, when the different camps would start singing completely different lyrics halfway through a song we all thought we knew. Camp songs are a really neat way to see how each camp develops its own sort of language over time.

Another thing I found eye opening, was seeing the different ways in which each individual camp shines, while also observing how we can all come together and share ideas to make camp a great place for everybody. 

Overall, the experience was one that allowed for lots of perspective sharing, team bonding, and a sense of tangible growth for everyone involved. Can’t wait to do it all again next year!

- Shae "Bat" Irwin