CHAPTER 4: VISITORS DAY 

At Manitou we have one Visitors Day, a few days prior to the end of the first session.

WE WELCOME ALL VISITORS, INCLUDING PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES, FRIENDS, AND CAMPERS OF SECOND SESSION!

Please limit food brought into camp and nothing in camp can contain nut/nut traces!  We serve a wonderful lunch at camp so no food is needed.  If you do decide to bring a favourite food of your child’s, please bring in a little bit of food that can be consumed for sure in one day.  No cases of pop or packages of cookies, WE WILL TAKE AWAY THE CASES OF POP AND LARGE FOOD QUANTITIES!  IT IS NOT NEEDED AND UNFAIR TO THE PARENTS AND KIDS WHO OBEY THE RULES!  Please leave your child’s cellphone at home for the day.

PLEASE NOTE CAMPERS CANNOT LEAVE CAMP ON VISITING DAY.  NO exceptions unless by special arrangement. An alternative visiting day on the day before can be made available with specific situations if approved by the Directors.

END OF VISITORS DAY

As the day ends, go to Camphouse Field and for the official goodbye and instructions of where campers will go from there to ensure each camper is reunited with their counsellors.  There will be a specific meeting spot for each Unit.  For FRESH KIDS AND SOPHOMORES EACH COUNSELLOR will then take the entire cabin from the meeting spot to a special activity just for that age group – “usually the famous slip-n-slide”. 

OTHER VISITING TIMES

This is our one and only visiting time.  Over the years we have tried a number of methods to show camp to families and although we love to show off our camp, you have to understand that having parents walk through camp on a daily basis can cause issues for campers.  The most obvious example is when a homesick camper has to witness a parent walking with their child in camp, each day.  This is why camps created Visitors Day.  They limit to only one day the issues of:

• Homesickness
• Issues of parents being unable to visit
• Dealing with trips out of camp
• Disruption of a cabin group or activity

Visitors Day is a day that we look forward to. It is an opportunity for us to talk to you, and an opportunity for you to see camp in action.  That is why we have tried to make it a more special day, with activities going on and with parent involvement. We also serve a wonderful buffet lunch that we have to admit is a tad more sophisticated than our typical lunch.

Do not worry if you can not make it to camp for Visitors Day!  Because many of our campers come from long distances, not all of our campers have visitors and we make sure campers without visitors are given a special trip out of camp or are assigned to a camper with a visitor if they choose.  

TIPPING

Our staff agrees with the camp administration that “tipping” at Manitou is inappropriate and unnecessary.  Please avoid an embarrassing moment by refraining from the practice.   If you feel it is necessary, some other form of expression of your gratitude may be employed such as a small token or better yet, a letter of thanks is still the nicest way to show your appreciation.

 PLACES TO STAY

In and around Parry Sound (about 20 miles from camp) there are a number of spots.  We recommend making reservations as early as possible as they will fill up:

 

            Motels:

Log Cabin Inn                            www.logcabininn.net      (705) 746-7122

Comfort Inn                              www.choicehotels.com/ontario/parry-sound/comfort-inn-hotels

Quiet Bay Inn & Cafe                www.quietbayinn.ca     (705) 387-0115

Parry Sound Inn & Suites          (705) 746-7200

Glenn Burney Lodge                 (705) 746-5943

Harmony Outdoor Inn               (705) 771-9555 www.harmonyoutdoorinn.com

            Bed & Breakfasts:

Seguin Country Inn                   (705) 746-5911

            Resorts:

Rocky Crest, Mactier, Ontario    (705) 375-2240 / 1-800-461-4454   www.deltahotels.com

45 minutes from camp and 20 minutes south of Parry Sound.  A great family resort.

Whitestone Lake Resort            (877) 430-0034

If you need any other assistance contact:

The Parry Sound Chamber of Commerce Information Bureau

2 Louisa Street, Parry Sound (705) 746-4213

IF YOU KNOW OF A GREAT SPOT TO STAY FOR VISITORS DAY LET US KNOW SO WE CAN PASS ON THE INFORMATION TO OTHER PARENTS!