Parent’s Guide

Please click on one of the following options for more information about the topic.

For additional information, why not check out our FAQ

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Stayover
Program

Packing List

Additional Options

Transportation

Camp Store Credit

Cabinmate Requests

Cell Phone Policy

Lice Checks

Special Diets

Additional Support

Schedule for Camp Arrival and Departure

Drop-off & Sunday Arrival

Join us at camp on Sunday during your arrival window – we look forward to seeing you and your family!

Weeks 1 to 8.
Gates will be open 3:00 to 4:45 PM

CEO guests arrive according to the window for their last name for Sessions 1 and 2.

Week 9 Classic.
Gates will be open 4:00 to 5:30 PM

As you pull in the gate, you will be greeted by our friendly staff. If your child has any medications to drop off, you will be directed to our medical tent. We will direct you to each cabin you need to stop at, and you will drive right up to the cabin! Our amazing

Counsellors and Welcome Experts will be there to help your child with their bags and get them settled in their cabin. Guests may be dropped off by boat or float plane at our boathouse dock during the same arrival times.

After dropping your child off at their cabin, our staff will direct you back onto the road for your trip home. All guests will enjoy dinner with their new cabinmates shortly after arriving and getting settled in.

Please note: We are not prepared to receive early arrivals on Sundays, as we are busy preparing the property for an amazing week for your child! Please be aware that a police officer may be at our gate to direct traffic for safety reasons, and you are not permitted to park alongside the highway.

Pick-Up & Departure From Camp

Weeks 1 to 8.
Gates will be open 9:00 to 11:00 AM on Saturday morning.

Week 9 Classic.
Gates will be open 9:00-10:00 AM on the morning of Friday, August 30th.

Weeks 1 to 8 finish on Saturday morning; Week 9 Classic ends on Friday, August 30th.
As you arrive to pick up your child at the end of their stay, our staff will direct you to our upper parking lot where you will park and head to your child’s cabin. After walking to the cabin and gathering your luggage, your child can say their goodbyes! We recommend taking a look at the lost and found tables outside of the office, and the Camp Store will be open for one last visit from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Saturday morning in Weeks 1 to 8.

For CEOs and their parents, a graduation ceremony begins at 9:30 AM on their final Saturday morning of each session. Departure for CEOs begins after the graduation ceremony.

Stayover Program

Children registered in consecutive weeks at camp will participate in our stayover program which serves as a bridge from one week to the next. In the stayover program, guests participate in even more activities, meet new friends, and enjoy a slower-paced evening program on Saturday night – because even kids need to rest between weeks at camp! Our stayover program is only made available to guests staying consecutive weeks and it is free of charge. If your child is staying with us for consecutive weeks and you would like to pick them up and take them off property (instead of participating in the stayover program), please contact our Guest Relations team.

Packing

Getting ready to come up to Muskoka Woods? Check off the following list to make sure you don’t forget anything. Remember to label all clothing. Download our printable PDF packing list.

  • Labeled water bottle
  • Small backpack
  • Hat
  • Watch
  • Toiletries
  • Deodorant
  • Shampoo
  • Sunscreen
  • Jacket, raincoat and rubber boots
  • Closed-toed Running Shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Soap
  • Insect Repellent
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Underwear and socks
  • Bathing suits
  • 2-3 tops, long sleeves, and shorts you don’t mind getting messy
  • Several shirts/tops and shorts
  • Athletic attire
  • Several sweatshirts and/or sweaters
  • Jeans and/or sweatpants
  • Pajamas
  • Pillow
  • Blanket/Sleeping bag/Single fitted sheet/Single Bed Sheets
  • Several Towels (both for the beach and shower)
  • Flashlight

…as all activity equipment is provided, please leave your own at home!

*We do not recommend bringing valuables such as tablets, jewelry or cell phones, as Muskoka Woods will not accept responsibility for lost or stolen items.

Additional Options

For an additional cost, these options are available for purchase in your account:

Kraken Waterslide Lunch/Dinner Pass – $64.99 (limited capacity)
Available for guests in our Venture, Junior High, Senior High, and Crew age groups, guests with this pass can use the Kraken Waterslide during lunch and dinner time on Monday – Thursday.

Kraken & Wibit Combo Pass – $79.99 (limited capacity)
Available for guests in our Venture, Junior High, Senior High, and Crew age groups, guests with this pass can choose between the Wibit inflatable waterpark and the Kraken Waterslide throughout the week during each activity’s operating hours (Monday – Friday lunchtime for the Wibit and Monday – Thursday lunch and dinner time for the Kraken).

Laser Tag Lunch Pass – $49.99 (limited capacity)
Guests with this pass can play Laser Tag, one of our most popular activities, during lunch time Monday – Friday.

Camp Essentials Kit – $234.99 (limited capacity)
For an additional cost, you can purchase your child a Camp Essentials Kit that will be waiting for them on their bunk when they arrive at camp. The kit includes a sleeping bag, pillow, pillowcase, fitted bed sheet, beach towel, gym bag, water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, toothbrush and toothpaste.

Mid-week Care Package – $64.99 (limited capacity)
Delivered to your child’s bunk on Tuesday to remind them you are thinking of them! Includes a Muskoka Woods stuffed animal, cube puzzle, colouring book, pencil crayons and sharpener, and a sweet treat, all in a Muskoka Woods tote bag.

Coach Service One Way – $174.00
Chartered transportation to/from The Sports Village (Vaughan) and Muskoka Woods.

Airport Service One Way – $429.95
Ground transportation to/from Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Muskoka Woods.

Laundry Service – $49.99
When purchasing this service, your child will be given a laundry bag that will be picked up by an external company, taken offsite to be laundered and then will be returned the next day. We do recommend labeling your child’s clothing. PLEASE NOTE: Laundry service is only available for guests who are registered for multiple consecutive weeks. Laundry is done on the SUNDAY of your child’s subsequent weeks.

Yondr Pouch Rental – Mandatory if Bringing a Cell Phone – $15.00
At Muskoka Woods, we strongly encourage all guests to leave technology at home for the week in order to make the most out of the camp experience. However, if you are choosing to send your child to camp with a phone this summer, we will be offering a mandatory rental pouch called Yondr. The Yondr pouch will provide a safe way for guests to access their phones at appropriate times as outlined on our website. Guests will always be able to have their phones but will be encouraged to leave them in their bags until the pouch is unlocked each day. This will allow usage for a limited time on a daily basis while also ensuring they don’t miss out on experiencing the best that Muskoka Woods has to offer.

Rental Fee: $15. This includes a personalized pouch for the week, which will be collected at the end of your child’s stay. If your child is bringing a cell phone to camp, you are required to add this item to your registration. If your child is not bringing a cell phone, then it is not necessary to rent a Yondr Cell Phone Pouch.

Transportation

For your convenience, we offer optional transportation services to and from camp. We service two locations: Coach Service to/from The Sports Village in Vaughan and Airport Service to/from Pearson International Airport (YYZ).

COACH SERVICE
Our staff create a fun and welcoming experience, kick-starting the fun with games and movies before arriving at camp. Travel to/from Muskoka Woods and the Sports Village in Vaughan (2600 Rutherford Road) in chartered air-conditioned coaches with washrooms.

Weeks 1 – 8
Taking the bus TO camp on Sunday: Check in at the Sports Village is at 12:30 pm.
Taking the bus HOME from camp on Saturday: The bus will arrive at the Sports Village around 11:45 am.

Week 9 – Classic
Taking the bus TO camp on Sunday: Check in at the Sports Village is at 2:30 pm.
Taking the bus HOME from camp on Friday: The bus will arrive at the Sports Village around 11:45 am.

AIRPORT SERVICE
Travel to/from Muskoka Woods and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) with staff supervision. This service can be provided to guests whose flights land or depart within the following time windows:

Weeks 1 – 8
ARRIVALS to camp on Sunday: Flights must arrive at Toronto Pearson Airport between: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
DEPARTURES from camp on Saturday: Flights must depart from Toronto Pearson Airport between: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

Week 9 – Classic
ARRIVALS to camp on Sunday, August 25: Flights must arrive at Toronto Pearson Airport between: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
DEPARTURES from camp on Friday, August 30: Flights must depart from Toronto Pearson Airport between: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

We service the above arrival and departure times to help reduce wait times at the airport and at camp. In certain circumstances, it may not be possible for you to book a flight within these time windows. Before booking a flight outside of these windows, contact us at transportation@muskokawoods.com or at (705) 732-4373 to discuss if your flight can be accommodated. All flight itineraries (flight time, flight number, electronic itinerary, and booking reference number) must be provided to Muskoka Woods at least two weeks prior to travel. We are unable to accommodate the transportation of guests flying standby. Any fees charged by the airline(s) for overweight baggage and/or Unaccompanied Minor services will be at the expense and responsibility of the parent.
Should your child require the Unaccompanied Minor service as stated by the airline you are choosing, the flight must be scheduled to arrive/depart on your day of travel before 6:00 pm – no exceptions. Please inform us if your child is flying with the Unaccompanied Minor service when providing your flight itinerary to transportation@muskokawoods.com. Contact information for the Muskoka Woods staff member in charge of your child at the airport will be provided to you the week the flight is scheduled. All airlines have policies regarding children; carefully check with your airline to confirm their policy for further details.

HOW TO BOOK TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
You are able to select the Coach or Airport transportation services during or after the registration process. Please note: the fee for the airport transportation service will not be added to your invoice until the flight information has been received. You may request the use of either transportation service up until two weeks prior to the date of travel. After this time, we can accommodate requests only as space allows. If you need to cancel either transportation service, you must do so at least 7 days in advance to obtain a refund.

Camp Store

The Camp Store is full of treats and merchandise your child can purchase as a memory of their time at camp! We offer branded Muskoka Woods merchandise including sweaters & hoodies, t-shirts, sweatpants, hats, water bottles, mugs, bracelets and more. The average cost of a t-shirt in the Camp Store is $25 and $50 for a sweatshirt. In addition to merchandise, the Camp Store also features extra snacks & treats like ice cream, slushies, candy, chips and pop. Our Coffee Can location near the main office offers Starbucks iced tea and coffee options too.

While younger guests in WILD and Venture are shopping in the Camp Store, our staff will help facilitate how many sweet treats they can choose daily, with usual limits being 2 small treats or 1 larger treat, such as an ice cream, per day. These suggestions are intended to help our youngest guests make healthy choices for themselves and budget their spending across the week. Although Muskoka Woods staff will try their best, we can’t guarantee daily limits are enforced for each child or that custom parental preferences can be facilitated.

 

SET UP & MONITOR YOUR CAMP STORE ACCOUNT

For convenience, we recommend families set up and monitor a Store Account for their child. No need to worry about carrying and keeping track of change; instead, their Store Account is connected to their age group wristband that our staff will scan when a purchase is made. You can even sign-in to your Muskoka Woods account to view an up-to-the-minute report of purchases your child is making while they are at camp. Any balance over $10 will be automatically refunded in September to your credit card on file.

 

Set up a Store Account in one of two ways:
a) Add money to your child’s Store Account as part of the registration process, or
b) Any time after you have registered, sign in to your account and select the week(s) you would like to add store funds to.

 

Instructions for how to add camp store funds in your account:
1. Login to your Muskoka Woods account

2. From your dashboard select the “Registrations” tab

3. Click on “Camp Store” followed by “Edit”

4. Add the desired amount and make the payment

Cabinmate Requests

Camp is about friendships; the ones you might come with, and all of the new ones you’ll make! Cabinmate requests are completely optional. We put a lot of care into creating cabins where all guests will make new friends and have an incredible week. Cabins are made based on age groups; please see our age groups to see where your child will belong this summer.

We guarantee only one cabinmate request, as long as: both guests have reciprocated the requested for only one another, both guests are registered in the same week and same age group, and requests are submitted at least two weeks prior to arrival. Our time and attention go towards creating cabin groups where everyone has the opportunity to join one friend, while still making a bunch of new friends in their cabin. This means we will not accommodate big group requests. NOTE: While we do our best to accommodate special requests, such as counsellor requests, we cannot guarantee these requests will be fulfilled.

Bunk1 – Photos & Emails

Muskoka Woods has partnered with Bunk1 to offer an easy way to keep up-to-date while your child is at camp. Through secure online photo galleries with facial recognition and one-way emails to your child while they are at camp, you can feel connected with ease using your mobile device. Read more about the Bunk1 packages and how to stay connected here.

Cell Phone Policy

We continue to strongly recommend all communication devices stay at home. If your family reaches a decision that your child will come to Muskoka Woods with a device, you will need to rent a Yondr Pouch. There will be limited times when your child will be able to use the phoneClick here to read our cell phone policy.

Lice Checks

Head lice can be a common problem amongst children and is occasionally identified in our incoming guests. As a community living in close quarters, head lice can spread and be hard to eliminate. In an effort to prevent lice, we request all parents check their child’s head for lice before arrival.

We recommend checking for lice both one week and one day before arrival.

Upon arrival, guests will also be checked by our team of staff and health care professionals. If any lice or nits are found children will receive lice treatment at camp for the fee of $250 that will be charged to the credit card on file. This includes one on-site treatment and comb-out by a health care professional.

To avoid stress and disappointment, we strongly urge you to check your child’s hair prior to arrival.

Special Diets

Meals at Muskoka Woods are healthy and delicious! Guests enjoy a wide variety of nutritious meal options for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as an evening snack every day. If you choose to send additional snacks to camp with your child(ren), we ask that you ensure they do not contain nuts of any sort. We are able to provide gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan meal options. If your child requires one of these special diets, please make the appropriate selection in their medical form. If your child has special dietary needs or concerns outside of those listed above, contact us to discuss. Our Kitchen Team can be reached at specialdiets@muskokawoods.com if you would like to speak with them about your child’s needs in advance.

Additional Support

For guests who may need additional care or help while at camp, we invite you to reach out to discuss your child’s needs and how we might best support them. The support we can provide is limited; to avoid disappointment please contact us today!

MEDICAL NEEDS
Throughout the summer, The Muskoka Woods Healthcare Centre is staffed by our Medical Director, Healthcare Team, a Doctor, and two Nurses. We are equipped 24/7 to attend to the medical needs of our guests should they arise. Muskoka Woods is located approximately 30 minutes away from hospital facilities in the Parry Sound and Bracebridge areas. For guests with a medical condition requiring additional support such as epilepsy or diabetes, please contact our Medical Director today at healthcare@muskokawoods.com to discuss your child’s needs and our ability to match support to provide a safe and healthy week.

MEDICATION AT CAMP
If your child is taking medication, please send their medication in the original prescription bottle with the label intact. The label should indicate your child’s name, name of the medication, route, dosage, and frequency with which it should be taken. Please do not transfer any medication into a different bottle or daily pill organizer with your own instructions attached. This helps to ensure the safe delivery of proper medication to your child. When you arrive at camp on Sunday, our staff will direct you to our Health Care Centre tent if applicable for your child; please have your medications packed separately and paired with our medications form for easy drop-off. For questions about sending your child with non-prescription medications like allergy pills, please contact our Medical Director at healthcare@muskokawoods.com.

EXCEPTIONALITY PROGRAM (SPECIAL NEEDS)
Muskoka Woods provides an integrated and inclusive experience for all guests. Our exceptionalities program is designed for guests with varying neurodiverse and physical needs, which could include Autism, Down Syndrome, intellectual and physical disabilities. Support options range from 1:1 assistance during the day to check-ins throughout the week (overnight support is not offered at this time). We are proud to offer our Inspiration Garden for our guests in the exceptionality program. Our garden space is located at the centre of camp and encourages movement and activity through a combination of sensory activities, allowing for a quiet and calming break when and if needed. There is no additional cost for the exceptionality program, however, space is limited and fills up quickly. Please reach out to exceptionalities@muskokawoods.com prior to registration for more information.

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