About YMCA Wanakita

• Special needs: Yes, mild support. A few of our campers have special needs.

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Accommodations

Sleeping Accommodations

Amenities

Washrooms Facilities

More details about accommodations: Cabins each have bunks or single beds with vinyl mattresses for which linens are not provided, as well as simple wooden shelving. Lights and outlets are provided in all cabins. Some cabins have washrooms and showers, while most access washrooms and showers from the wash houses throughout camp. Winter and Spring Family Camp/Women's Weekend programs use the washroom cabins which are winterized and outfitted with heating.

Are meals provided? Yes

Is YMCA Wanakita technology free? Yes We live in an age where technology plays a very important part in our lives. Technology is used every day, for learning, communicating & often to make our lives easier. Although technology is an important staple, we want to help people step away from technology and communicate in-person, learn hands-on and have fun. By disconnecting from technology like smart phones, we can focus on our time at camp. For Kids Camp programs, we have a no cell phone policy and we discourage anyone from bringing electronics (aside from wrist watches & flashlights) to camp. For Family camps, we discourage frequent use of phones. Cell reception is spotty and wifi internet is not available.

Property Details

Sports facilities

Landscape

More details about property: YMCA Wanakita boasts a beautiful 1,000 acre site, situated on the shores of Koshlong Lake in the Haliburton Highlands. Features include: • 25 km of trails for hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing • 1 km of sandy shoreline on Koshlong Lake • Two full service dining halls • A large variety of comfortable, rustic cabins with bunk beds (many winterized) • A variety of indoor and outdoor recreation facilities and equipment including basketball, pickleball and broomball courts, play fields, and waterfront activities.

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In the News

October 28, 2021
Registration Opens November 15th!
Registration opens November 15th for all year-round 2022 programs. There's something for everyone!... Read More

Stories

• The benefits of Family Camp

  In addition to our long tradition of residential camping, we are also proud of over thirty years of Summer Family Camp at YMCA Wanakita. This past summer, one of our Family Campers shared a thoughtful and touching letter with our Director. "Thank you for a most wonderful week at Family Camp- truly the best one we have had in 4 years. Before camp, we were talking about directing our resources elsewhere for family vacations and making this our last year. By the second day of camp, Ken and I had both (independently) decided to review this choice! We will definitely be back - hopefully for many more years. We had forgotten the magic of camp. We particularly enjoyed watching our girls try out new skills - archery, kayaking, and swims to the island! We saw them grow in confidence and become more of their true selves. The week gave us, as adults, a break from the mundane things that so often consume our thoughts (what's for dinner, do we need to pack lunches for tomorrow, when was the last time the laundry got done...) and reminded us of who we were and what was important to us before life became more complicated! It was so reassuring to discover this part of us still exists and we are thinking of ways to bring our true selves back into our lives now even though we have lots of responsibilities. With gratitude for the week and the life lessons beyond..." Thanks to all who make our programs a success, and we look forward to making more memories next year!

• Facing your fears at camp

  Wanakita is open year round and we want to share one of our stories from one of our alumni Outdoor Center Directors. Over the years the YMCA Wanakita Outdoor Centre has welcomed a number of schools, teams, and special interest groups. We love being able to share our winter wonderland with children, youth and adults from across the province. One memorable even occurred a few weeks ago, when we welcomed a group of grade 11 students from an inner city Toronto school. This group spent one afternoon tobogganing, and the majority of the students had never experienced sliding down a hill before. Our staff were amazed to see that the seemingly toughest student in the group was noticeably afraid to go sliding. He hesitated at the top of the hill, and then screamed the whole way down. Despite his initial fear, he loved the ride and immediately ran up to the top of the hill to go sliding again! This young man learned to face his fears, overcome an unfamiliar situation, and experienced success because of it. We at Wanakita are fortunate to be a part of these incredible outcomes of play every day.

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