Best friends, rain or shine, at Camp Big Canoe
Newmarket neighbours celebrate their friendship, enjoy the outdoor fun
FRASERBURG, ONT.— If it’s raining cats and dogs in the city, then it’s pouring kayaks and canoes at camp.
But besties Beatrise and Salena aren’t paying attention to inclement weather. No time for that. They’re having too much fun at Camp Big Canoe.
It was Salena, 12, who introduced her best friend and neighbour to camp “and all the amazing experiences here,” she says. “B — that’s my nickname for her — ended up loving it as much as I do.”
Two peas in a pod, the girls like many of the same activities, including arts and crafts, sports, swimming, canoeing and kayaking. It’s all in the “pivoting” when it comes to manoeuvring the latter, putting the control in the arms of the paddler. It’s a skill Salena and Beatrise have down pat.
A paddle to nearby Turtle Island is always fun, and the girls are really looking forward to the upcoming canoe trip to beautiful Cook’s Falls and the overnight camp out. Last year, they cooked shepherd’s pie on the camp fire. “I love the food at camp,” says Salena. Early morning polar bear dips in Hart Lake are invigorating and if they do a paddle around the dock, the girls and other campers earn themselves some yummy cupcakes.
“I came back to camp because I wanted to make more new friends and be where everyone is so nice and supportive,” says Beatrise, adding counsellors at Big Canoe are the best. “Camp is very inclusive,” and no one sits on the sidelines. “Everyone is part of everything.”
But everything stops on a dime when the music starts blasting and campers 6 to 16 years old kick up their heels and wave their hands for some wild and crazy dancing, says Salena, who’s at camp for her third or fourth time. “I can’t remember.”
The girls, who live in the Newmarket area, BAE (the latest acronym for "before anyone else”) when it comes to their fast friendship but not so BAE when it comes to getting up at 7 a.m. “That’s the hardest part of camp,” says Beatrise.
At home wake-up time is a lot later during the summer when they need their beauty rest, especially if the girls’ siblings haven’t slept well the night before.
Beatrise has a baby brother, Frankie, who will be a year old in August. Nextdoor neighbour Salena has a baby sister Paige who will be one in September.
Then again, early risers get a head start on the good times at the United Church of Canada camp.
And despite the rain that’s pelting down outside, the BAE just carry on and break out into their routine that involves some fancy handiwork — a 2015 version of patty cakes. “Best friends forever die together OMG — LOL.”
Laugh Out Loud indeed.