It was a last minute decision to escape our hometown and drive 3.5 hours north to have a little fun in the Muskokas for Family Day 2013.  *Family Day is a fairly new Provincial holiday for Ontario, giving us a
long weekend in February, breaking up our long and cold Canadian winter.

My kids went to Ontario Pioneer Camp near Huntsville last summer for the very first time where they had an amazing time. When I saw on their Facebook page that they were opening up for a fun-filled winter getaway – I called up right away and made an overnight reservation in their lodge.

I was very impressed with the OPC staff right from the start.  We drove up to the property just shortly before the dinner bell rang. At the first check-in point, a camp counselor from last summer immediately recognized Jacob . She worked with him in Session 1, the very first week of summer camp. With the several hundred kids she would have seen all summer, to be able to remember my son… I was blown away!

Later that night she came up to me and told me what Jacob said to her the last day he was at camp. He said, “You know how I’ve missed my Mom each day? Tomorrow I will miss you.” Jacob (7) was smitten with her. 🙂

Dinner was followed up by a good old fashioned late night show, camp
style. You know what they say, “Laughter doeth good like a medicine,” I’m sure we cashed in on a year’s worth of medicine all in one night. After the show, the boys went tubing, Dave found his way to the
campfire and Emma and I made our way back to the dining hall to play
some games. 

The next day, it was like fun exploded all over the place. 🙂

Everywhere you looked, 150+ people were having a blast in the snow, it didn’t matter that it was a frosty -27 when we first woke up… There was tubing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skating, broom ball, educational tours and maple candy making, and more. For those who didn’t want to stay out in the cold, there were games, crafts, candle making and ginger bread house competitions going on inside, not to mention the everlasting supply of hot chocolate and snacks!

I am so happy this place is becoming a part of our family’s tradition.

Each time we make a trip to OPC, it’s like going home. After the kids went there for a week last summer (Emma’s OPC post & Quinton’s OPC vlog), I went up for a Woman’s Retreat last September (where I learned archery), our church hosted a Men’s Retreat there last October and then back again this Family Day Weekend.

This was OPC’s first Family Day event and I think they did absolutely fantastic job. You should really mark it on your calendar for 2014!! Ontario Pioneer Camp… we give you twelve thumbs up!! 

Jacob tubing

Q & Liam cross-country skiing for the first time

Emma skating

All you’re missing out on from this video… is me, in front of the entire camp… yup, my kids volunteered me to participate in one of the skits… dancing up a storm! 🙂

My kids are looking forward to going back to Summer Camp this year – it
can be a financial sacrifice when you have four kids… but it’s well worth the investment*!  

*There are many ways to help keep the costs down, one idea is volunteering at the camp while your kids are there. 

If you’re anywhere near the Muskokas… or don’t mind the drive… I
highly recommend this camp for your kids. It’s unbelievably awesome.  I’ve never met a more caring group of people ever.