Family Camp

YMCA Wanakita sits on 1,000 acres and 1 km of continuous shoreline on Koshlong Lake in the Haliburton Highlands. The closest town is Haliburton, 15 minutes away, with grocery stores, department stores, pharmacies, restaurants, a hospital and library. 

Each family is assigned to a cabin of their own. Cabins come in various sizes (from 3-12 beds), but all are outfitted with single beds or bunk beds with vinyl covered foam mattresses. Please bring your own linens (sheets and blankets or sleeping bags), pillows, towels, etc… Each cabin has electricity. Some but not all cabins have baseboard heating. If concerned about the temperature, please feel free to bring a small space heater for your cabin (or a fan if it’s going to be hot!). Washrooms are located in three centralized buildings around camp with private stalls for showers and toilets which are cleaned several times each day.

The food is great! We provide delicious and nutritious meals with lots of options that both kids and adults love. Coffee, tea, juice, hot chocolate, toast, fruit and other snacks are available 24 hours a day.  

Please let us know of any dietary requirements before you arrive at camp. We can accommodate many dietary requirements such as vegetarian, vegan and most food allergies and religious dietary restrictions, when notified ahead of time. If you have a food preference or a food you simply don’t like, we can do our best, but can’t guarantee it can be avoided. There are always lots of options at meals. 

Yes, you can definitely bring your own snacks, though we strongly encourage that they be tightly sealed and kept in your cabin or the trunk of your car, to avoid attracting critters. We also sell snacks, ice and other amenities in our Tuck Shop which is open twice daily. Please avoid bringing any products that contain nuts.

Throughout the day we run family-friendly programs as well as programs organized by age groups. You can choose to attend as many or as few programs as you please. Programs are run by enthusiastic and qualified staff members. In addition, many program areas are open to use on your own, such as our hiking and biking trails, waterfront, canoes and kayaks. Evening programs are scheduled every day, and include a mix of age-specific and family-friendly activities. Our programs run rain or shine (except during thunder storms or high winds). 

In addition, some other things to look forward to include: 

• At the opening and closing of every session, there are group campfires where staff share skits, stories and much anticipated traditional Wanakita songs. Every cabin section has a smaller campfire for you to enjoy in the evenings. Wood is available for purchase at our site. 
• We have a talent show every Thursday night. Brush up on your talents and showcase them for everyone’s enjoyment. 
• We have a theme dinner each week. Several weeks before your camp session, we will let you know what the theme will be so you can come prepared with costumes or table decorations if you choose. 
• You can look forward to our ever-popular arrival and departure day brunches with lots of delicious options. 
• And so much more! 

Sample Schedule

In an effort to ensure the opportunity for as many families as possible to enjoy YMCA Wanakita's Summer Family Camp program, families may register for only one week of Family Camp prior to January 1st.

After January 1st, should availability allow, families may register for a second week of Family Camp. Please note that unfortunately we are unable to accomodate families on Wanakita property during changeover periods between consecutive weeks of Family Camp.

Sure! Please contact us and we will discuss if there is room in the week or your assigned cabin. 

Please note there have been changes to the Family Camp Guest and Visitor
policy for Summer 2024. 

The purpose of these changes is to increase the safety and security of all Wanakita Participants. With this in mind our please review the updated YMCA Wanakita Guest and Visitor policies. 

Guests: We regret to inform you that we are no longer able to
accommodate guests or prorate partial week participants.
 

Registration: All Family Campers will be registered for the entire week.
Late Arrival: Registered campers arriving outside the standard Sunday
arrival must check in at the Family Camp Office at the Family Camp Dining
Hall upon arrival.
 

Orientation: Campers who arrive outside of the standard Sunday check-in
will be given a Family Camp Wristband and a detailed orientation of Family
Camp.Please contact the Family Camp Director Mercedes D'Almeida for more information about the Wanakita Family Camp Guest Policy. 

Please contact Family Camp Director Mercedes D'almeida for more information
E: Mercedes.Dalmeida@ymcahbb.ca 

p: 1 800 387 5081 x2239

Yes! We love dogs at camp. Our dog policy is as follows: 

• You must provide a current copy of your pet’s rabies vaccination record before arrival. 
• Your pet must be on leash at all times, or on a lead outside your cabin. The only exception to this is for swimming at a designated area of the beach, or playing in the archery/baseball field during designated times when programs are not running. 
• The only building that your pet is to be in is your own cabin. We don’t allow pets in any program buildings, washrooms or the dining hall. The exception to this is working dogs. 

Wanakita Family Camp defines a family as multi-generational, and preference is given to families fitting that description. If one or more adults wish to attend without children, there is the opportunity, assuming availability, for a registered family to invite you to stay as a guest in their cabin. 

We understand - past family campers have a strong connection to YMCA Wanakita. Our first priority is to provide this multi-generational experience to today’s families so they can develop these same strong connections with their family that you experienced. We do provide opportunities for adults to come to Wanakita during our Getaway Weekends and Work Weekends. 

Cell reception at camp is very limited. A short walk around camp to find a cellular pocket, or if needed, a drive into town, will provide you with better cell phone reception and/or access to internet. 

Family campers find that the more they disconnect from their electronic devices, the more they connect with their family and friends. We encourage you to enjoy the beautiful setting, have fun, take part in activities and relax in the company of family, friends, staff and campers around you. As such, access to internet is not available at Family Camp. We do however recognize that internet access is sometimes a necessity. There are several places in Haliburton (15 minutes away) that offer free Wi-Fi. 

We do not provide transportation service for Family Camp. 

We advise that you come prepared for all types of weather including hot, cold, wet, dry, sunny and cloudy, to make the most of your stay here. Don't forget your costume or props for our Theme Dinner. Details about your camp session's theme will be mailed to you before summer. 

Packing List