Though Glen Bernard Summer Camp isn’t meant for hikers only, it was a part of Ontario which afforded me many beautiful pictures and fond memories.
Anyone interested in outdoor pursuits should visit the general area encompassing Glen Bernard Summer Camp – known to tourists and residents alike as the Almaguin Highlands Region – at least once during each season of the year. The Algaguin region is 8000 km2 and comprised of a 18 different municipalities ranging in size from towns to hamlets (Almaguin Highlands Region, 2013). To the east of this region lies Algonquin Park, while the west border is comprised of the Georgian Bay Biosphere (Almaguin Highlands Region, 2013). Truly, this is a visually inspiring and amenity-rich spot for recreationists and nature lovers alike.
The Village of Sundridge, Ontario, is located within “reasonable driving distance” of Toronto (about 300 km south) and Ottawa (about 500 east) (Wikipedia article). Ample boating and snowmobiling opportunities attract tourists in both winter and summer seasons (Wikipedia article). The number of residents living permanently in the town rarely passes 1,000 individuals, and like most small Ontario communities, its history is closely tied to the development of the Canadian National Railway (CNR) (Wikipedia article).
The Glen Bernard Summer Camp which I had the pleasure of visiting is located just north of Huntsville (technically within the Village of Sundridge) and encompasses 700 acres of land (Glen Bernard Camp, 2013). Although it currently focuses on environmental education, it was originally founded in 1922 to help young girls “develop self-confidence and independence” (Glen Bernard Camp, 2013). The founder of the camp is one of Sundridge’s notable people – Mary Susanne Edgar (Wikipedia article). Campers can participate in activities like canoeing, boardsailing, theatre, and horseback riding while living out the camp’s earth-friendly slogan of “live lightly”(Glen Bernard Camp, 2013). As you can see from my pictures (below), the camp is a wonderful spot to visit in the final few weeks of September because of the fall colours.
Maria Legault 