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By Parry-Sound Muskoka MP Scott Aitchison
Summer camp is a treasured Canadian past time.
Not only is camp fun, it also provides a unique environment for children to grow, learn, and experience the great outdoors. Nowhere do we understand and appreciate the value of summer camp better than right here in Parry Sound-Muskoka.
Gone are the days when camp was the exclusive enclave of the privileged. Today, three-quarters of all camps are charities and non-profits and one third of all children attending camp come from vulnerable populations.
For many such young people, camp is the primary learning environment for building relationship skills, learning to live in the moment, fostering an appreciation for diversity, perseverance, and self-confidence.
Camps are also big contributors to our local economies. Across the country, summer camps employ more than 70,000 Canadians each year, mostly made of youth and students building vital skills for their future careers. Thousands of those jobs are right here in Parry Sound-Muskoka.
In normal times, hundreds of local businesses serve our vibrant summer camp sector but today their future is in jeopardy. Like many of us, summer camps have been hit hard by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here at home, and all across Canada, camps are struggling with the impacts of a lost summer season and an uncertain future. Sadly, COVID-19 could have lasting permanent effects on the camp industry, preventing camps from continuing their valuable work to support children and families.
Here’s the stark reality:
Right now, more than half of Canadian camps face bankruptcy by December 2021. Ontario alone is home to almost 200 accredited camps. Many of those are right here in Parry Sound-Muskoka.
We need to save our camps.
Due to the huge social and economic benefits of the camp industry, I am calling on the federal government to provide the necessary financial support camps need to get through this pandemic.
We need this help right across this country;
We need this help right here at home;
And we need this help right now.
Please join me in this campaign to save our summer camps.
(Photo of Parliament Hill by festivio on Pixabay. Photo of Scott Aitchison courtesy of Scott Aitchison.)
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Don Keedic says
Scott, I am so in favour of helping our camps survive during the pandemic. It was sad to see Camp Mini-Yo-We void of campers this summer.
While you are putting this forward I’d like to know what you and your government would do if you were in power right now to help these camps. I don’t want spin. You are fully aware that is easy to say we’d do this and we’d do that but we all know that it’s easier said than done. What exactly and realistically would you do?
I am no fan of Doug Ford but I have serious doubts that any government could have or would have handled Covid differently in Ontario.
I’d like to know that your approach to this would be less along party lines and more along what could actually get done.
Dr D
Paul Whillans says
These camps are sitting on literally billions of dollars worth of land/assets. Most of this asset base was purchased at legacy prices of cents on the dollar.
While some of these camps add tremendously to the lives of urban children, many are drawing the campers from all around the world (notably Spain, USA and Mexico in our region) and charging thousands a week. Moreover, their business model is built on the backs under paid summer labour (often brought in from outside Canada)
It is clear that the costs of Covid to the Canadian taxpayer are rightfully going to be immense. It is just wrong to ask the taxpayer to subsidize summer camps before they have tapped into the incredible equity that they have in their assets/land.
This request is clearly based on your personal politics and less on any fiscal conservatism
Eric Smith says
Thankyou Don ! Scott, Kid-Camps should be mandatory for the Kids, (possibly managed through the Min. of Education) economy notwithstanding. I’m curious if the federal government even has the authority to step-into the Province beyond a “Gift” at this point.. If the Feds’ can only “suggest/wish” a National minimum for long-term health care, maybe Prem. Doug would be a quicker focus and reduce your partys’ complaints of Fed. Covid relief spending.
Eric
Bev MacWilliams says
Mr Whillans,
That’s a pretty narrow view in my opinion. Summer camps in many cases are year round businesses offering programs in all seasons. They create revenue, jobs, seasonal and year round in our communities and beyond. Some of the jobs may be at minimum wage and others ( management positions) I expect are market competitive and pay substantially more, the same as other businesses in our country. These businesses also pay corporate taxes, property taxes, buy goods and services and contribute to the economy, helping to pay for the provincial and federal services that we benefit from. I would guess that over the years their contribution to the local, provincial and federal governments has been sizeable.
In terms of what they charge, again that is market driven; if they charge too much, they won’t get campers, the fact that they are often full to capacity would tell me that they are priced competitively. These camps have already lost one fiscal year and could possibly lose another if conditions don’t change. They need the same kind of support that other businesses have received to date.
Catherine Beatty says
The lessons and friendships learned at summer camps cannot be understated. Children learn independence and self reliance, confidence and life long skills, one of the most important being how to get along with others in many different situations. There are too few opportunities for kids to be free from parental supervision but still guided by caring young trained adults, and in this day and age free from electronic devices. Camp encourages a life long love of nature and respect for the environment.
To lose these wonderful opportunities for children through to young adults would be a terrible tragedy and society will not be better for it.
I was lucky to go to Camp for many years, and then become staff at the same camp. I would definitely support the campaign to save summer camp. How do you suggest that this campaign be carried out and what support would you want from us? What is your plan to ensure this is achieved for today and tomorrows children?
Scott Aitchison says
In response to Don Keedic…
Thank you for the question Don. No spin here and no partisan politics. I have spoken with Minister Fortier about this issue on two separate occasions asking her and the Federal government to not forget summer camps in their various programs. In the Throne Speech, special mention was given to the tourism sector as an area particularly hard hit by COVID-19 – this is absolutely true and summer camps should be considered in the same manner.
I am not sure what the leadership of my party would be proposing if we were in government, but I can assure you that my advocacy for this important social, cultural and economic contributor to Parry Sound-Muskoka would be just as vocal.
I am working with the Canadian Camps Association on a non-partisan social media campaign and I have shared this info with MPs from all parties and with Minister Fortier. There is support from all parties to help summer camps.
I am also aware that not all camps will need any financial support and so would propose working with the Canadian Camps Association and the Provincial associations to best deliver support where it is needed.
Ian Mctavish says
Scott, thanks for this. The experience I had at Camp Big Canoe in Bracebridge shaped the person I am today. There are many non-profit summer camps that serve a valuable need for our youth.
Doug Austin says
Thanks Bev for your comments. I have no idea where Mr. Whillans data is from. I have been involved with a few camps as a volunteer where staff is all Canadian and many have sponsors supporting them to work at the camps. No offense intended.
Scott, Thank you for your effort. !
RICHARD DE GANS says
Thank you Scott, for taking on this cause.
I paddled by Camp Wabanaki a few weeks ago. It felt like a scene from a post Apocalyptic movie with the fallen trees, docks removed and seemingly abandoned buildings. The bay seemed quite forlorn without the laughter of campers.
These camps are a huge part of our economy in Huntsville , and the rest of Muskoka. They also help preserve huge tracts of beautiful shoreline on otherwise overdeveloped lakes.
Ensuring these camps are in a position to survive covid works on some many levels. Most importantly, kids will someday be able to enjoy the camp experience again. Our local economy wins in a huge way. These camps keep many local contractors, food and beverage suppliers, laundry, retailers, etc , etc busy during the camp season. And hopefully, the organizations which own the camps are in a position to not liquidate the properties to cover expenses, resulting in the construction of more oversize cottages and homes on our already stressed lakes.
Paul Whillans says
Bev MacWilliams
To date, the Canadian government has spent over $1 trillion in Covid relief. Obviously the government did not have $1 trillion (40% of GDP) sitting around. So this is borrowed money.
Within a couple of months, Canada will have literally 10’s of thousands of personal and business bankruptcies. The economic effects of Covid are likely to carry on for 9 months to a year more……These mean that further financial relief will be needed….All borrowed money.
Like all borrowed money it draws from future expenditures. Indeed we know that debt slows future economic growth.
As such this is a serious matter. The government needs to make (wise) choices, as not everyone can be saved. They need to know when to say no.
So if the government wants to support Parry Sound/Muskoka economically during these rough times with borrowed dollars, I would rather they fast tract Fairvern to the size that Huntsville will eventually need, or build 200 new affordable apartments or add to the health care infrastructure etc than simply bail out a camp that caters to wealthy foreign children when that camp can simply mortgage their million dollar muskoka lake waterfront.
Mary Spring says
Scott,
Thank you very much for addressing this very important issue. The camping industry has been severely affected by COVID 19. They lost 100% of their revenue when the pandemic hit and it is important that the federal and provincial governments provide assistance, just as they have done for other businesses in Canada.
I could write a book addressing the enormous benefits of summer camp for children and young adults. I spent eight summers at camp. Most people would not deny such benefits. It is time for the governments to recognize the economic benefits of the camping industry, especially in areas like ours. If this is not done quickly, the industry expects that 40% of camps will go bankrupt. This would be a tragedy.
So, what does the camping industry need? Camps need grants that will prepare them to fund COVID related items to ensure a safe season in 2021. Such items might include, amongst others, tents for dining so that physical distancing can be ensured. The food services will need to be modified to meet the COVID safety needs. There will need to be grants for sanitation products and cleaning. Sleeping arrangements will need to be modified. Camps will need rapid testing devices. Staff members will require a great deal of training to ensure a safe camping season.
I would love for my grandchildren to attend an Ontario day camp or overnight camp in the future. My years as a camper were blissful. Being a staff member at a camp was the most valuable job that I ever had, as it taught me how to live my life in the future.
Let’s not forget the kids. Help to save our camping industry,
Rob Millman says
I’m very torn; as Mary Spring is one of the finest people I know, and even if camping was only a small part of her development; I support it fully. There is also a growing malaise with urban children (tentatively called “nature-deficit” disorder). Without the calming effect of nature, many city-dwellers are anxious, and have difficulty focusing.
Of course, the financial issue is enormous. As noted, the Feds are bailing out everybody; while the province is in cost-cutting mode.
On balance, the support is more than warranted; whether financial or in-kind, and only Ontario has the resources to assist.
Don Spring says
As an owner of a few businesses in town, the business that we received from summer camps over the years is significant. This spring when COVID hit, and our businesses had to close their doors for several months, this was devastating. However, we were fortunate enough to have support from provincial and federal governments to help us to get through.
Summer camps, however, were shut down and they lost their entire year of business. The lack of revenue from summer camps was noticeable this summer. Summer camps are a business just like every other business in town, whether it is a clothing store, sporting goods store, camera store or restaurant. Why should those business receive economic support while summer camps not receive such support?
Jack Goodman says
This article and the support of MP Scott Aitchison is both timely and greatly appreciated. As the owner of a camp operating in Muskoka for more than 60 years, I can speak directly to the generational values of camp and to the devastating effects COVID-19 is having on camps across Canada, particularly here in Muskoka. Others have offered insightful comments that eloquently express the personal impact that camp had on them. I suspect that the absence of camps this summer has greatly impacted local businesses, from hardware and building suppliers, bus companies to wilderness suppliers, food service providers and beyond. Thousands of students normally hired each summer were without work. The children took the biggest ‘hit’, only to see bright light at the end of their dark, tunnel last Spring, go dark when they needed it the most. More than ever, thousands of parents, children and young adults came to realize the enormous impact that camp has on the quality of their lives and the culture of our province and Canada.
I like to offer, with respect, some gentle correction to the comments offered by Mr. Whillam’s comments: Long before overnight camps lost their entire year’s revenue as a result of COVID-19, like most small businesses, many camps operated successfully but not without typical financial challenges, including mortgages and rising costs. The camp ‘model’ is not built on the back of free or cheap labour. The vast majority of camps pay their staff (most of whom are students), a fair wage, not to mention assuming their room and board. And yes, many camps benefit from the riches of multiculturalism, welcoming campers and staff not just from other countries, but from urban and rural areas across Canada. They join camps for the summer, or for Outdoor Education or Sport programs that are held at these very camps during the shoulder seasons, with a very few offering winter programs to schools and other groups! Fewer yet, will realize any relief from the so-called ‘incredible equity’ of their land and assets, and none would agree that they’re resting comfortably on assets purchased on ‘legacy prices bought using pennies on the dollar’. On the contrary, all would agree that camps invested many, many more times the camp’s purchase price on improvements needed to fight aging infrastructures and expected wear and tear. Unlike many seasonal or tourist businesses, overnight camps have lost an entire year of income, not just 2 or 3 months, nor did camps have realistic options to operate at lower capacity.
Obviously we welcome any consideration for Federal support, and thank Mr. Aitchison for championing these efforts. We stand beside our sister and brother seasonal businesses who have also suffered and sacrificed through these challenging months, hoping that creative financial solutions can be found, enabling our collective industries to survive in 2021 and beyond. Any assistance would be another step towards preserve a key part of Ontario’s culture: summer camp, where children and youth learn to become our future leaders.
Jim Boyes says
Ihave read this entire thread with much interest.
Firstly I thank Scott for his championing a unique and important part of the economy in Muskoka and Parry Sound and in many such parts of Canada.
I noticed Jack Goodman’s submission with great appreciation. Hi Jack. Long time no see!
In support of those who favour including camps in support of business ventures during this cricis I’ll endorse this whole-heartedly. It is simply a necessity during these strained business times in Muskoka. Camps are a big part of Muskoka’s economy. I have first hand knowledge of that.
I was very fortunate in being a camper as a child, spending cherished time at Camp Kitchikewana on Georgian Bay. A child living with other children away from parental influences for a few weeks is a developemental revalation. That child discovers who he or she is and can be. It is an unmatched opportunity for personal growth. In my case I learned to swim. I learned to sail. I learned leadership and about snakes and the bush. I learned to meet and deal with new kids and adults and the need to achieve goals. In those days there were no electronics so other than writing to parents there was no familiar contact with the outside. Total independence ! All a wonderful learning and growing experience for a kid.
My brother, father-in-law, my wife and her brother, our daughter and now our granddaughter have all been campers. For those who might think this indicative of wealth or privelidge I’ll point out that we all attended Y camps which still required some sacrifice on the part of most families. There are certainly camps which have no charitable dimension but they all provide the same transformative experience to children. And they all contribute in a big way to Muskoka’s economy.
I have been privileged to know and do buisiness with most of the camps in Muskoka, Parry Sound, Haliburton and beyond and know that while some are sucessful many struggle and depend on charitible support. All are dedicated to their kids and all contribute to our economy and the well being of our society. Let us endorse critical support.
Thank you Scott.