Caddy Lake Camp – Programming Updates
In order to continue being catalysts for girls
empowering girls, it's important that Girl Guides of Canada – Manitoba Council
works to better understand the needs and wants of girls today. Camping and
outdoor experiences has been, and will continue to be, a core feature of
Guiding in Canada but we must ensure we are being responsible stewards of our
properties, including our camps, and ensure that we are delivering the best
opportunities for our girls.
As part of this work, Manitoba Council, with the
assistance of the Caddy Lake Camp Committee, has reviewed Caddy Lake Camp’s
usage data, financial status, health and safety issues, property improvements
required and overall benefit to Manitoba Guiding as a whole. While some members
have been using Caddy Lake Camp, the financial cost of operating and
maintaining this camp, along with the low registration numbers and the major renovations
needed, have made this camp unsustainable in the current way we use it. We do
not intend to close Caddy Lake Camp at this time but we have decided that, for
now, Caddy Lake Camp will not offer programming sessions (both week-long or
weekend).
We are actively researching options for better
utilization of Caddy Lake Camp, which could include exclusively making the camp
available for Guiding rentals. This would mean Units, Districts, Areas or
Province could rent all or part of Caddy Lake Camp to hold camps for their
members. The success of this initiative will depend on the use of the property
and the active participation of members in keeping the camp property
operational not just for one or two years but for the foreseeable future. It is
also possible that Caddy Lake Camp may reverse its financial situation due to
increased usage (with lower operating costs) and if that is the case, we will
certainly review the camp for possible new experiences.
In order to find viable ways to keep Caddy Lake
Camp open in this way, we need volunteer assistance. Caddy Lake Camp committee
is an active committee that ensures the camp is ready and welcoming to units
that camp there. If you are interested in becoming directly involved in
supporting Caddy Lake Camp, please contact the committee at mb-caddylakecamp@girlguides.ca.
We know there will be many questions about how
this information impacts your Guiding experience, especially for this year’s
summer planning, and we will do our best to support and answer all that come
our way. Questions can be directed to me at mb-pc@girlguides.ca. We ask for your patience as we move through the initial stages of
building our action plan and implementing this change for Caddy Lake Camp. We
are committed to providing updates as the plans evolve. For now, keep asking
questions and continue planning amazing outdoor experiences with the girls –
enjoying the environment(s) that you have created for them.
Again, thank you for continuing to work with us
as we move forward in our efforts to provide amazing, empowering experiences
for girls in Manitoba.
Yours in Guiding,
Krista Laberge
Provincial Commissioner – Manitoba Council