Camp Samac is a Scouts Canada camp located in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The main entrance is on Simcoe Street North.
History
editA 150 acre parcel of land for the camp, which had previously been Brookside Park, was donated by industrialist Sam McLaughlin in 1943.[1][2] The camp was founded in 1946.
In the 1950s the camp acquired additional land which had previously been the Pleasure Valley Speedway.[3] Additional funds donated by the McLaughlin family were used to create camp building, a swimming pool, and later a water system.[4]
In 1964 Kitchie Lodge, with sleeping accommodations for 80 people, was built. The lodge was renovated in 1980,[5] and in 1982 a 36-bed log bunkhouse was built.[6]
For many years, the camp was used for outdoor education classes by the local school board.[7] During the 1980s and 1990s, the camp hosted monthly gatherings of the Pineridge Bluegrass Folklore Society.[8][9]
Beginning in about 2002, the camp hosted an annual Beaveree, a fun fair with activities for children aged five to seven.[10] In 2003, a rash of thefts led to the closing of the camp gates to the public.[11]
As well as scouting activities, the camp has been used for many years to host other community events, including training camps for safety patrollers[12] and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority Watershed Festival.[13]
The original pool was removed and replaced with a smaller pool in 1992-1993. The pool offered swim lessons, public swim and was available for the campers. Later the City of Oshawa began renting the pool and providing swimming lessons and recreational swimming. In 2013, the city arranged to take over maintenance of the pool for the 2014 season.[14]
On April 24, 2021, Oshawa City Council officially declared Camp Samac an Ontario Heritage Property, protecting it from future development.[15]
References
edit- ^ "History and scouting fun meet at Camp Samac". The Chronicle, By Kirsten Jerry - February 28, 2018
- ^ M. McIntyre Hood. Oshawa: "The Crossing Between the Waters": A History of "Canada's Motor City". Published as a Canadian Centennial project by McLaughlin Public Library Board; 1967. p. 319.
- ^ " A new spin on a piece of Oshawa’s history". Oshawa Express, September 3, 2019
- ^ "Col. McLaughlin gives $60,000 to Camp Samac". The Canadian Statesman, August 29, 1957
- ^ "Kitchie Lodge in Oshawa gets first makeover in nearly 30 years". Oshawa This Week, Jul 05, 2009
- ^ "Camp Samac's new log cabin provides lodging for 36 campers". Oshawa Times, 29 Jun 1982, p. 3
- ^ Ontario Naturalist. Vol. 16-17. Federation of Ontario Naturalists.; 1976. p. 129.
- ^ "Bluegrass lovers gather for jammin' sessions". Whitby Free Press, January 21, 1987. by Maurice Pifher
- ^ "Love of Bluegrass Music lives on in Pineridge Bluegrass Folklore Society", durhamregion.com, 19 Jul 2002
- ^ "Durham Beavers converge at Oshawa's Camp Samac" Archived 2020-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Oshawa This Week, May 29, 2012 by Chris Hall.
- ^ "Camp Samac closes gates to public - Recent spate of thefts total almost $30,000". Oshawa This Week (Oshawa, ON), 26 Sep 2003, p. 16
- ^ "Local patrollers combine learning with fun camp experience". Northumberland News, Aug 09, 2005
- ^ "Groundwater event makes a splash". Oshawa This Week, Oct 02, 2011 by Kristen Calis
- ^ "Oshawa City Hall in brief". Oshawa This Week, Nov 27, 2013 by Reka Szekely.
- ^ "Camp Samac in Oshawa designated as heritage property".
