Parent’s Guide
Please click on one of the following options for more information about the topic.
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.
– Last Names A to H: 3:00-3:30 PM
– Last Names I to Q: 3:45-4:15 PM
– Last Names R to Z: 4:30-5:00 PM
CEO guests arrive according to the window for their last name for Sessions 1 and 2.
Week 9 Classic.
– Last Names A to Q: 4:00-4:45 PM
– Last Names R to Z: 4:45-5:30 PM
As you pull in the gate our friendly Welcome Experts will greet you in your vehicle and direct you where to go. If your child has any medications to drop off, you will be directed to a specific lane for our medical tent. The Welcome Experts will let you know which cabin your child will be staying in for the week, and will give you the choice of continuing to travel in your vehicle ‘drive and drop’ style to drop off your child right at the cabin before heading out, or, to park and take a bit longer to say your goodbyes. If you choose to park and walk to your cabin with your luggage, our staff can direct you where to go. Our camp store will be open between 3:00 to 5:00 PM if you would like to stop in. Guests may also be dropped off during their arrival time by boat or float plane at our boathouse dock. At 5:00 PM in Hangar, we have an opening day show for guests, and parents are welcome to stay and enjoy too.
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 arrivals prior to their arrival window on Sundays, as we are busy preparing the property for an amazing week for your child! Please be aware that for safety reasons, a police officer may be present at our gate to direct traffic and you are not permitted to park alongside the highway.
Weeks 1 to 8 finish on Saturday morning; Week 9 Classic ends on Friday, September 1st.
As you arrive to pick up your child at the end of their stay, our staff will direct you to our upper parking lot to park and can help direct you to the cabin your child is staying in. 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.
Weeks 1 to 8.
– Last Names A to H: 9:00-9:30 AM
– Last Names I to Q: 9:45-10:15 AM
– Last Names R to Z: 10:30-11:00 AM
Week 9 Classic
– All guests: 9:00-10:00 AM on the morning of Friday, September 1st.
Stayover Program
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
- Several Masks/Face Coverings (at least one per day that covers both chin and nose, has 2 layers)
- 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 – $59.99 (limited capacity)
Available for guests in our Venture, Junior High, Senior High, and Crew age groups, Kraken Pass holders can use the waterslide during lunch and dinner time on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Kraken & Wibit Combo Pass – $74.99 (limited capacity)
Available for guests in our Venture, Junior High, Senior High, and Crew age groups, Combo Pass holders can choose between the inflatable waterpark and the Kraken waterslide throughout the week during each activity’s operating hours (Monday – Friday lunch time for the Wibit and Monday – Thursday lunch and dinner time for the Kraken)
Camp Essentials Kit – $229.99
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 – $59.99
Delivered to your child’s bunk on Tuesday to remind them you are thinking of them! Includes a Muskoka Woods stuffed animal, playing cards, cube puzzle and a sweet treat, all in a cute drawstring bag. Available for WILD, Venture, and Junior High age groups.
Coach Service One Way – $139.99
Chartered transportation to/from The Sports Village (Vaughan) and Muskoka Woods.
Airport Service One Way – $299.95
Ground transportation to/from Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Muskoka Woods.
Laundry Service – $44.99
Available for guests staying consecutive weeks at camp; done on the Sunday between 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 29: Flights must arrive at Toronto Pearson Airport between: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
DEPARTURES from camp on Friday, September 3: 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 your child can purchase, like a midweek ice cream, Muskoka Woods gear and other items to buy as a memory of their incredible time at camp! For your 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 wrist band. You can sign-in to your account and 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
We guarantee one cabinmate request as long as: both guests have requested each other and only each other, both guests are registered in the same week and same age group (based on age as of December 31st) and requests are made at least two weeks prior to arrival. Requests can be made for each week your child attends camp and can be added/adjusted up to two weeks prior to arrival in your family profile. We will do our best to honour any requests that are made. NOTE: While we do our best to accommodate special requests, such as counsellor and language requests, we cannot guarantee that these requests will be fulfilled.
Bunk1 – Photos & Emails
Muskoka Woods is partnering 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 the ability to write 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 phone. Click 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
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 it packed separately from their belongings 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.
Still need more info?
We're here to help:



Accredited with Ontario School Boards