The YMCA PineCrest camp is located near Gravenhurst in the Muskokas. With the date near the end of September, students need to be prepared for anything from hot and sunny to cold and wet. We often approach freezing at night.

It will take about 3 hours on the buses to reach the camp with one 20 minute pit stop on route. The drive up is a fairly busy one with some organised activities and a lot of meeting and socialising with new friends.

The camp is a large one and is designed to accommodate young people and has excellent food and accommodation facilities but at a camp level. All food restrictions can be accomodated and suitable for several religious groups.

With respect to vegetarian, the kitchen can and will provide every variation of vegetarians, Most snacks available are fruit such as apples etc. We have and have had, ChrIstians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, lacto-vegetarian, ovo-vegetarian, vegan, no fish, etc. etc. Do not bring your own food, absolutely not necessary.

It is not a luxury hotel! The cabins are unheated bunk houses with simple matresses and the wash rooms are typical of Ontario camp showers.

Based on the weather and temperatures during the last two years, we now recommend a FALL weight sleeping bag rated to at least zero degrees. A regular bag is entirely usable provided the student is prepared to bundle up with warm fleece pants and perhaps a hoodie. No designer silk PJs please.

The current weather in Gravenhurst, near the camp

There will be 6-9 adult organizers/chaperones (Senior Chaps) and very strict safety rules will be in effect.

We expect to have 3-6 Jr. Chaps (students who participated last year but are returning as organizational assistants ).

We will return Sunday late afternoon about 6pm but we will confirm this before leaving. This will be at the mercy of traffic and construction problems.

In 2009 we were delayed 2 hours by un expected construction delays.

We will attempt to maintain a central update through the Web Site but we have not yet tried this system.

PLEASE NOTE ANY OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION MIGHT CHANGE AS WE APPROACH THE ACTUAL TIME. PLEASE RECHECK OCCASIONALLY.