The only Fishing & Hunting Kids' Camp of its kind in Ontario!

The 2010 Get Outdoors Summer Leadership Camp was a great success. Campers between the ages of 8 and 18 years attended one of three, action-packed four-day co-ed sessions on Fox Lake near Huntsville.

Another July has come and gone, and with it another great summer experience for Get Outdoors youth. In past years, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) ran two Get Outdoors Summer Leadership Camps identical in programming. Due to increased interest, we opened a third camp this year to fill the growing demand to get youth outdoors. This spring a new record was broken, after just five minutes of registration 160 of 180 spots for the O.F.A.H. Get Outdoors Summer Leadership Camp were filled.

Activities included the Hamilton and Area Fly-fishers and Tyers (H.A.F.F.T.) fly tying station; archery range, kayaking, and .22 Sharp Shooter range, featuring Sako firearms from Stoeger Canada. Again this year camp included field trip to nearby Deerhurst Resort where the younger campers boarded a Hummer provided by ERA Tours and experienced first-hand the rugged Muskoka terrain.

"Our campers got to experience everything from fishing and kayaking, to archery, target shooting and fly tying," says Alesha Caldwell, O.F.A.H. Get Outdoors Events Representative, and a past camper herself. "It was really rewarding for camp staff to share our respect and enjoyment of the great outdoors with our youngest O.F.A.H. members."

"New this year, Bass Pro Shops donated float tubes which enabled the campers to fly fish right on the lake," says Caldwell. "Most of the kids had never used a fly fishing rod or float tube until camp. Sometimes you don't know what you are missing until you try something different."

"I have been a member of the OFAH for 26 years and have looked forward to the day that my kids could take part in some of the activities provided by this great organization," says father of two, Rob Ford. "My kids love the outdoors and enjoy fishing, hunting and trapping with me. It was great for them to be around other kids with similar interests. Both of my kids attended the Get Outdoors summer camp this July and had a great time."

The 2010 Get Outdoors summer leadership camp was generously supported by Bass Pro Shops, Stoeger Canada, ERA Tours, Cotton Cordell, Booyah Bait Co., Heddon, Rebel, Yum, and Arbogast.

A special thanks goes out to the many O.F.A.H. members who donated their time and expertise to give the youth an unforgettable summer experience. We would like to give thanks to:

Mike Evers Sr., Mike Evers Jr. Dale Ouellette, Lynda Ouellette, Corey Ouellette, Tori Edwards, Lauren Hatherly, Pauline Priadka, Kurtis Sparling, Alex Paunkoff, Rebecca Paszt, Andrew Paszt, Matt Smith, Jennifer Austin-Driver, Clare Pye, Dave Field, Gary Chrysler, Ray Howran, Vanessa Woodacre-Vidler, Theresa Windsor, Cathy Russell, Josh O'Neill, Clay O'Neill, Connor Musselman, Lisa Heard, Peter Goslin, Kevin Hudson, and Robin Bennett.

Check out our photo gallery for new 2010 photos

Feel free to share your exciting get outdoors summer camp experience with us at alesha_caldwell@ofah.org

Please look for July 2011 registration beginning in spring 2011.

Special thanks to leaders in the outdoor industry that were also eager to lend their support to this program.