Camp Tamakwa


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Camp Tamakwa is a summer camp in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario Canada that accommodates nearly 250 boys and girls and 100 staff each summer.

Contents

History

Lou Handler established Camp Tamakwa in 1936 with the help of his close friend Omer Stringer, the Canadian canoeist and craftsman, who built the first camp facilities on the shores of South Tea Lake, about 175 miles north of Toronto. In the years before his death in 1988, Omer was best known for designing the Beaver Canoe. Original interest came from wilderness or outdoor enthusiasts from Southern Ontario who would send their children to spend a few weeks canoeing, fishing, or camping. Lou ran Tamakwa with his sister Esta Kraft until their deaths in 1974 and 1972, respectively. Charlie Kraft (Esta Kraft's nephew), inherited the camp and in 1980, the camp was purchased by investor Howard Perlmutter of Toronto together with native Michiganians Vic Norris and David Bale, all of whom felt strongly about perpetuating Handler's legacy and the Tamakwa tradition. In 2004, David Bale stepped down from his position as Senior Director and was replaced by Craig Perlmutter. Norris and Perlmutter operate the camp full-time out of offices in Detroit and Toronto respectively. They are the principal owners and directors. Currently, campers and staff come mostly from Detroit and Toronto, but also from California, Montreal, Chicago, New York, Connecticut, Australia, and everywhere in between.

In addition to traditional camping programs, Tamakwa has musical acts to entertain campers and staff throughout the summer. The 2007 schedule included Sadie Hawkin's Night, the Harvey Deutch Triathlon and Color War.

Death of staff member

During the summer of 2007, Michael Greene, an 18-year-old junior counsellor, died following a swimming test at the camp to qualify him as a counsellor. The version of events differ between the camp and Greene's family and, according to Greene's father, the autopsy report stated the cause of death as "undetermined".[1] While the details are not clear, charges were filed by the Ministry of Labour against the camp and its two owners, Vic Norris and Craig Perlmutter, on June 18, 2008. The charges assert that under the Occupational Health and Safety Act,[2] the charged failed to "take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker".[1]

Indian Summer

Camp Tamakwa was the inspiration, the setting, and the filming location for Indian Summer, the Disney/Touchstone 1993 film about a group of friends who return to the camp of their childhood. The film's portrayal of Tamakwa traditions, lore, songs, pranks, and even the expressions are all Tamakwan in origin, such as words like "How How", "Biffy", and "Shreck". The black with white stripe canoes, the symbol of Tamakwa canoeists, appear throughout the film.

The film was written and directed by Camp Tamakwa alumnus Mike Binder.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b Vandenbrink, Danielle (August 2007). "Charges laid in camp counsellor's death". The Daily Observer. Retrieved on October 18, 2008. Archived by WebCite®.
  2. ^ "Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Act". Lois.justice.gc.ca. Retrieved on 2008-10-20.

External links







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