By Joanne Rodgers, Bruce Peninsula Press Photos Courtesy of Camp Celtic
This year, Camp Celtic celebrates 40 years of providing instruction in sports and art for kids in a traditional summer camp setting. Actually 2024, marks 41 years of the camp’s existence but Celtic was unable to operate during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic. On 24 August 2024, the Camp will host a staff reunion and expects several hundred of their current and former staff members to return. The all-day event will include a dinner, dance and a concert.
Since its inception, over 100,000 kids have enjoyed their camp experience, with many returning year after year, and now even a second generation of campers and counselors are part of the Celtic family. “It’s a close-knit community”, says its co-founder Tim Matheson.
Celtic Camp is a two generation, family-owned Sports and Arts camp, and its 200 acre property is located in Stokes Bay. The camp also maintains a waterfront area in Black Creek Provincial Park. Cabins for accommodating campers are nestled among trees, and the facilities include a radio station, indoor basketball and tennis courts, outdoor playing fields, archery ranges, disc golf course, climbing walls and a vegetable garden using organic garden practices. On a yearly basis the Camp employs about 50 personnel including administration staff, counselors, nurses, and coaches.
The Camp was founded by Tim Matheson and Kris Matheson who, at the time, were both 24 years old. Many family members and friends made Celtic possible with their support of work and encouragement. “Celtic would not have thrived, without their help” says Matheson.
At Celtic, a traditional camping experience means “getting out of your comfort zone, away from parents, getting dirty, getting wet, singing, campfires, games improvisation and making friends. If kids enjoy nature they are more empathic to nature as adults”, says Matheson. The camp has remained true to its founding principles to this day.
Matheson recalls that it was a busy year in 1983, putting together a group of investors, getting a mortgage, construction of facilities, developing the camp programming and getting married. In the summer of 1984, the Mathesons hosted 91 kids over five weeks that first year, offering traditional programming such as campfires, singing, outdoor adventures and sports.
The Camp continued to grow gradually over the years. Original buildings have been renovated and re-renovated and more facilities and structures have been added. Today the camp can host 160 kids at a time. Almost 3,000 kids attend camp yearly.
Programming has evolved over the years adjusting to different demands and interests. Highland dance classes, photography classes and computer programming languages classes have been discontinued, but activities such as paddleboarding, canoe tripping, golf, disc frisbee, Planet Earth, and pickleball have been added.
In the early 1980s, it was a rarity for a new camp to start-up. “There was a steep curve to climb”, explains Matheson. For many new campers it was their first experience of going to camp, so there were the challenges of recruiting and educating campers.
Looking towards the future, Matheson says the camp will “keep on keeping on”. Enrollment in the camp has bloomed since the Covid-19 years; says Matheson “Families are still looking for the traditional camping experience which has not basically changed for decades.”
Succession plans are also ongoing as the ownership and management of Celtic Camp transition to the three Matheson sons: Adam, Scott and Ryan Matheson.
From May 1 to October 1, each year, campers can enjoy lots of activities away from their computer, “no cellphones allowed”. Matheson feels strongly that the no cellphone rule is a key ingredient to making the camp successful for kids.
There are sports, arts, nature, and specialty programmes including basketball, volleyball, tennis, soccer, disc sports, sailing, ropes and climbing, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, nature program, wilderness survival, archery and also drama, dance, radio broadcasting, and a theatre arts programme. There also is a wide variety of electives and, for older campers, wilderness canoeing, Leadership Training, and intense Volleyball and Basketball courses are offered.
For first time campers, there is Rookie Camp and the North Star Forest School runs during the Spring and Fall.
School trips are offered in Spring and Autumn for Grade 7s or 8s and include a four day leadership, sports, arts, and outdoor education camp.
Camp Celtic facilities are also available to the public to rent for special events such as reunions, corporate retreats, teams and clubs meetings.
The Matheson family would like to extend a big thanks to the community of Lion’s Head and surrounding areas for all the help and support they have provided to the Camp over the years. The Matheson family states “It has been a 40 year adventure of meeting wonderful kids and their families and growing and learning with them along the way.”
For more info on Celtic Camp, please visit https://www.campceltic.ca/
