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November 2022

EARLY BIRD ENROLLMENT '23

Veterans & Alumni chose the 'Early Bird' discounts and gifts for Summer 2023. Early Bird closed Nov. 10 but there are still spots open for a simple tuition deposit. Click now or call Sladds to hold your camper's spot! Enroll Here

SUMMER 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

• The summer sessions and spring/fall program season were back to full capacity and maximum fun! Thanks for being part of the 109th Pathfinder Season. Check out photos, trip information, and a word from our Program Director below.

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TRIP POSTINGS '22

Trippperrrs!! See Pathfinder's 2022 Trip Postings. DOT Chris O'Brien sent 58 canoe trips this past season. Find your name and plan your routes for summer '23.

SOCIAL MEDIA, PHOTOS & VIDEOS

• Keep up with our Instagram feed for great content daily.

• View our photo albums current to full 2022 season!

• View our Vimeo page see terrific camp & trip videos.

Pathfinder Covid Headlines

• The Pathfinder roadmap to our 109th season. It's a Go!

• And health measures will be easier than ever.
Read our COVID Plan highlights.

Read our blog to stay updated

Get ready for an epic summer 2023

Watch Full Video

2022 Highlights

Pathfinder’s home island at Source Lake lies in the headwaters of the Madawaska River, traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg,– the original inhabitants and stewards of this land. Today, this land remains home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island.

This 109th Pathfinder season is another one for the books. With the relief of full enrollment and everyone able to attend, our campers got to experience all that Pathfinder offers in-camp and on trip.

Let us first talk tripping - Director of Canoe Tripping Chris O'Brien sent out 58 trips this summer. Here is a quick breakdown:

9 overnight trips

33 trips, 3-days to 7-days

11 trips, 8-days to 14-days

1 "Meanest Link" (18 days)

2 LIT trips - Kattawagami (16 days) & Lake Superior (10 days)

2 AA trips - Nastapoka River ( 39 days) & Ashewieg-Winisk (38 days)

Virtually all the staff led canoe trips this year. This included newly-minted CITs, rookie Secondmen, new Headmen, and veteran Headmen from 2 to 5 years' experience. Members of our swim staff, nursing team, Alumni-in-Residence, program and tripping directors - everyone got onto the trail with kids, what a feat!

Back to exploring the creeks, rivers and lakes of our Park and lands beyond, our campers were able to see moose, loons, cranes, foxes, bears, freshwater seals and even beluga whales. We had many a camper and staff catch and prepare freshly caught fish for their already-delicious trip meals.

In camp, the program was full of fun and adventure. Archery, ropes, swimming, kayaking, whittling, fishing, Source Lake explorations and more. The ballfield grass survived through heated games of turbo, incrediball and even a color-war or two. The canoe dock had boys out in the water everyday, whether they be helmets-on for a go at the new Canoe Dock favorite 'Can-U-Run' or practicing their best j-strokes, hoping to one day claim that level 4 Water Walker status.

Wonderful guest speakers joined us, day trips got us paddling, hiking and biking out in the Park. We even had a visit 2nd half from the Park's yellow float plane, and our pal Ben the Pilot.

Each half thee Canoe Regatta and Swim Meet gave campers the chance to fight for the win and show off their new paddling, swimming and tripping skill. Two 9-Old Men vs. Camper All-Stars games were rampant and wild, bringing together campers and staff in this favorite Pathfinder tradition.

End of summer closed with an electric Joe Lightning Race and a memorable Final Banquet. The singing, pounding and cheers echoed across Source as Best, Most-Improved, Tripping & Pathfinder Award winners were announced.

All in all, this 2022 Summer season will stick with us all throughout the chilly winter, and bring us all back together again for Summer 2023, the 110th Pathfinder year.

Thank you staff, thank you campers, thank you families for giving your boys this opportunity to spend another summer with us on the amazing Pathfinder Island.

Noonway,

Paige Clark

Program Director

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PATHFINDER COVID HEADLINES

Pathfinder managed the challenges of a Covid-adaptive Summer 2021. Camp remained entirely healthy throughout our season, with 45 canoe trips and a vibrant in-camp program. Our success gives us confidence for a terrific 2022 ahead. Here are some health insights into the coming year. Stay up to date with us on Covid news, our Covid plan, and how we're preparing for another great season.

ONTARIO HEADLINES

Ontario's Roadmap to Reopening plan guided the 2021 Pathfinder camp season. Our staff and medical advisors worked like mad to create a safe environment.
We did it! Pathfinder had no cases of Covid.

Looking to 2022, more of the same careful practice, with the bonus of widespread vaccination and boosting. Camp will use vaccination of our kids and staff, as part of another smart layered mitigation Pathfinder Covid Plan for summer. And, we will continue to set our policies in concert with Ontario's Ministry of Health.

As of April 1, 2022, Canada ended its pre-arrival testing requirement for the border, and Ontario ended its public health COVID guidance rules for children's camps.

While the new B2.A variant has caused increased cases, while gathering limits are lifted and fewer people are masking, health infrastructure is handling the diminishing number of severe cases. We remain watchful but expect another easing of cases in summer.

We will all be living with Covid and bringing it more under control, going ahead with daily life as much as possible. Camp's role in a return to more normal experiences for our kids is of paramount importance to their well-being. The summer months - and specifically children's camps - remain a Go! Pathfinder will be ready.

OUR COVID PLAN

The Pathfinder plan for Summer 2022 will include the successful steps of Layered Mitigation from this past summer, along with vaccination of our Staff and Campers. The single compelling reason for a multi-layered approach is our identity: a congregate living setting and rustic out-trip program, committed to protecting our members from the risk of serious illness or transmission back home.

Our US and overseas campers may join us again at last, entering Canada with vaccination. Continued pre-camp screening / testing routines will combine with some limited cohorting and monitoring measures at camp all season. Pathfinder plans always incorporate expert advice and partnership with our medical directors, health advisors, Ontario Health, and the Ontario Camps Association.

WHERE WE STAND TODAY

In a phrase, our traditional Pathfinder season is back for 2022! We can't wait for everyone's return to CPI.

Spring is emerging in the Park. The ice broke up on Source Lake in late April. We're off! While families remain vigilant, a bright spot is the full-speed-ahead planning for Pathfinder's upcoming 109th season. We invite all our families to join in!

Camp enrollment will be full this year. Camper and Staff recruitment is winding up. We'll continue to monitor health news regarding variants of concern, health guidance, and border policies. All expectations are for both the border and operation of children's camps to move ahead with the new-found confidence from successful 2021 camp operations. Ontario is impressed with and supportive of the performance of its overnight camps. Bravissimo! And, currently the border imposes no testing or quarantine requirements for vaccinated travelers into Canada.

An important note for our parents: As ever during this pandemic, Pathfinder protects tuition fees and provides full credit or refund for any camper who can not attend due to Covid-19 challenges.

CHIPMONK CHATTER

Download our March 2022 Chatter Here !

Chipmonk Chatter shares summer stories, season information, photos, rosters, bits of nostalgia, and more. Take a look at past Chatters by clicking the links below - Enjoy Chatter and Keep In Touch!