CQE Family Camp Info Guide

Camp Queen Elizabeth is located about four hours (drive) from London, ON, and two hours from Toronto. See more on location and how to get here under the Directions on this website!

At CQE, our programming and staff reflect and represent the mission and core values of the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario. 

Mission: The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario is a charitable, not for profit organization dedicated to individual growth in spirit, mind and body and to meeting the changing needs of the community. The programs at the Y are available to everyone regardless of race, gender, creed or economic circumstance. 

Core Values:  Honesty • Caring • Respect • Responsibility • Inclusiveness.

CQE’s Family Camp offers a full schedule of family focused program options for those who choose to participate. Throughout a typical day, our scheduled activities include:

• Camping classics, such as canoeing, arts & crafts, scavenger hunts, gagaball and more. 
• Wilderness Pursuit (WP) activities, such as fire-building, outdoor cooking, shelter-building, fishing and education sessions on weather-patterns and environmental camping practices.  
• Open family swim time (with a lifeguard present)
• A guided excursion around the island. 
• An end-of-day camp-wide event where all families are invited for a game, activity or simply to join in fun and laughter.

But you don’t have to follow our schedule. At CQE, families are welcome to be their own guides! Your family can choose what camp activities you want to do, if any, while also exploring, taking things at your own pace and creating your own adventures. Maybe you want to hike the island's beautiful trails, enjoy a family paddle, take a dip in the bay or just sit back and relax! This time is yours for your family to enjoy as you please.

(Note: Swimming and paddling after dark is strictly prohibited.) 
 

CQE is in the glistening Georgian Bay Islands National Park, home to many unique, protected and threatened species. We ask all visitors to please treat the camp property and the natural environment with the utmost respect, so that together we can protect this fragile island ecosystem. We also love to share with visitors that inclusivity is a core value of the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario, and of CQE, and we are thrilled to welcome people from all backgrounds, beliefs, and walks of life. 

While families are invited to choose how they spend their time during Family Camp, we ask that the cabin area is quiet after 10 p.m. to allow everyone to get the rest they need.

At CQE Family Camp, parents or guardians are responsible for the safety of their children at all times. Children under four must be always accompanied by an adult. If you are bringing older children, we ask that you take them to any scheduled programs and pick them up afterward to ensure their safety. Young children are welcome in all program areas if they’re accompanied by an adult throughout the activity.  

Parents or guardians MUST accompany children in and around the water.

Each family has a private cabin. Each of our rustic wooden cabins include single-bunk beds, shelving units, electricity and a sheltered porch. A moment’s walk from the cabins, you will find flushing toilets, composting toilets and washstands. All of our washrooms are gender inclusive.

Please note: CQE is on the Canadian Shield, which means the terrain is rocky and uneven. If you have concerns about mobility and navigating the site, please contact us at cqe@swo.ymca.ca.

Our food service team prepare delicious, healthy meals, and aim to meet dietary needs for all our families. Please help us serve you better by contacting us a minimum of one week before your visit to inform us of any dietary restrictions. Some of our campers have severe nut allergies, and so we respectfully strive to prevent nuts and nut products from coming on site. However, we do sometimes use products that may contain traces of nuts.   Meals will be served in the Dining Hall and there will be both indoor and outdoor dining spaces available for everyone to enjoy their meal.

Outside food: To avoid problems with animals, we ask that participants do not keep snacks in their cabins. While we request that you limit outside food at camp, if you do need to bring some of your own, we can store it in our kitchen.

Throughout the summer, YMCA Camp Queen Elizabeth is alcohol-free. Alcohol is permitted on site during our family and adult programs, but we expect everyone to respect our family-friendly environment and consume beverages responsibly. Families may bring a hard-case cooler to store alcohol throughout their stay. No glass containers please. If you do choose to consume alcohol, please do so at your family's assigned cabin or at a designated eating area, but please refrain from drinking before or while participating in activities or programs around the site. CQE staff reserve the right to ask people to leave a program area or the site itself if the safety of participants is at risk or if the overall program is being disturbed. 

Smoking cigarettes, cannabis, vapes and e-cigarettes is only permitted in designated areas, which will be identified at the community meeting. Please abide by this policy to help us ensure we are respecting both our forests and the families participating in our programs.

Non-prescription drugs are not permitted on site at any time.
 

Pets are a shining part of many of our families! If you choose to bring your pet, please note and follow the rules we have in place to ensure all families, pets and local wildlife are safe:

•    We require an copy of your pet’s vaccination records, showing all vaccinations are up-to-date.
•    Pets are not allowed inside any building other than your assigned cabin. They must always be on a leash when outside of your cabin.
•    Families need to clean up after their pet and deposit all waste appropriately.
•    Owners of pets who are destructive, noisy, threatening our wildlife or running loose will be asked to remove their pet from the camp property

Please note that we have poison ivy on our site which can be transferred from dogs’ fur to humans. We also have porcupines on our site and their needles are harmful to dogs. 

At CQE, we’re committed to providing a safe and comfortable experience for our entire camp community. To help keep everyone safe, our programs follow all current provincial and local public health regulations and guidelines. As we move closer to your scheduled Family Camp experience, we will share any information about additional health and safety measures that will be in place and any requirements for our participants. When adjusting our policies and procedures in response to the emerging circumstances in our communities, we will communicate with all our campers and families to share what to expect. 

Please note: Inclusivity is a core value at CQE. We want everyone to feel a sense of belonging, and therefore we ask all participants to be mindful and respectful of others’ space and preferences. Masks are generally not required for indoor use, but we will have masks available in common areas if anyone wishes to use them.

If you have any questions leading up to the camp experience regarding health or safety concerns, please get in touch with us at 519-453-8858 or cqe@swo.ymca.ca. 
 

Before you head to camp, we’ll send you an email  with all the information you need for an amazing time at CQE. This email will include general info about the camp experience, as well as:

• Arrival Information: All families will be given an arrival time to meet our camp boats. Please adhere to the schedule so we can get all families to camp in a timely manner.
• Health Screening: Please monitor all family members for symptoms of illness leading up to your camp session. If any of you show symptoms or feel unwell, please do not attend the camp program.
• Assumption of Risk waiver: This mandatory waiver must be completed PRIOR to arrival. This waiver will allow you and your family to paddle and swim at your leisure. It will be emailed to you so you have time to review before your rental. Please note this form must be signed by all participants over 18. Parents/guardians can sign on behalf of their children.

When packing for camp, remember that the weather can vary widely from day-to-day. Typically, we have warm, sunny days and cool (sometimes cold!), breezy evenings in the spring and at the end of the summer. Our programs usually continue on rainy days – so good rain gear is essential. It is difficult to get extra items once you are at camp, so come prepared with everything you think you will need!

Here's what you’ll need:

Bedding:

• Sleeping bag or comforter
• Pillow
• Sheets for a single mattress (optional)

Clothing:

• T-shirts :*including a white cotton shirt for tie-dye activity
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Sweater/fleece
• Shorts
• Sleepwear
• Long comfortable pants
• Underwear
• Socks
• Sun hat
• Jacket
• Rain gear (coat and pants)
• Bathing suit
• Two towels
• Sturdy shoes and sandals
• Toque
• Face masks (optional)

Other:

• Biodegradable soap and shampoo*
• Water bottle
• Travel mug
• Toiletries
• Mirror
• Flashlight
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Backpack
• Board games or cards
• White item for tie dye
• Life jacket**

* All soap/shampoo must be100 per cent biodegradable. At CQE we wash in the lake and all the water used must be treated and returned to the lake.
**We have life jackets available. However, if you have your own, you may be more comfortable using it.

Bugs are a part of camp life in Canada. It is important to us that our families are informed about the various insects that could disrupt our experience while at camp.

Ticks

Through staff training and camper orientation each arrival day, we inform our CQE community on how to best protect themselves from ticks. We encourage our families to wear socks, long pants and long sleeves when outside during dusk, as well as during forest activities. We encourage you to bring insect repellent to camp for an additional layer of protection. Health Canada recommends a DEET percentage of 10 per cent or lower for children under 12.  We also implement the following tick prevention measures:

• Tick checks: We will have information sheets on ticks and encourage families to do tick checks at the end of a long hike or at the end of each day.
• Information posters about ticks: They are displayed in cabins and various areas at CQE.
• Collaboration with National Parks staff: Camp staff collaborate with National Parks staff for preventative measures against ticks and other insects. 
• Hiking guidelines: Campers are encouraged to wear long pants and high socks during wooded trail hikes in Georgian Bay Islands National Park.
• Water activities: Swimming and bathing is an excellent way to remove ticks before they have a chance to bite. With lots of access to water, there are numerous opportunities to swim!
• Medical attention: Should you or a member of your family be bitten by a tick, we recommend seeking a medical professional.

Please note: Exposure to an embedded tick for under 24 hours is considered low risk for Lyme Disease. Further details on ticks and Lyme Disease can be found at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/lyme-disease.html 

Bed bugs 

In an effort to be proactive with our camping facilities, it is important for us to recognize the increasing presence of bed bugs in our communities across Canada. Although not known to carry any blood borne diseases or pose any serious health risks, bed bugs are a pest that can cause swelling and itchy welts, and we take every reasonable precaution to prevent them at CQE, including the following: 

• During our training week, all CQE staff are informed on bed bugs and how to detect early signs. 
• Each week when campers are offsite, our staff thoroughly cleans cabins and camp facilities. The weekly clean includes an inspection of all living areas for signs of bed bugs.
• In order to prevent bed bugs from entering our environment, we ask anyone visiting CQE to take the following steps:
  • Consider whether it’s possible they may have recently been in contact with bed bugs.
  • If so, we request that prior to arrival, they wash all personal belongings with hot water and dry them at the highest dryer setting for at least 30 minutes. It is recommended for any other items to be steam-cleaned or placed loosely in a tightly sealed bag in a freezer for a minimum of four days at a temperature of -15C or lower.
  • Immediately upon returning home, we recommend repeating this process to prevent the possibility of spreading.

If you have questions regarding our protocols to prevent and manage ticks, bed bugs, and other insects, please contact our camp management at cqe@swo.ymca.ca 
 

Our camp boats will meet families at the Honey Harbour Boat Club (2709 Honey Harbour Rd, Honey Harbour, ON). Families can drive down to the docks to unload their cars, purchase their parking pass from the marina store, and then park in the Boat Club's parking lot. All families will be sent information ahead of time to help schedule their arrival time. All arrival times will be scheduled between 4 and 7 p.m. It is essential for all participants to respect their scheduled arrival times to help ensure we can get all of our participants to site in a timely manner. There will be a sign-up schedule for departures available the night before departure day. Departures will be between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. If an earlier departure is required, this can be arranged during your time at camp.

Google Maps for Honey Harbour Boat Club:
https://goo.gl/maps/54EjmKJwMbbSuncc9 

Camp Queen Elizabeth is approximately four hours driving time from London, and 2 hours driving time from Toronto.

From London (No Toll)

• Take the 401 eastbound to Toronto until you reach the 400 northbound.
• Take the 400 northbound through Barrie, being careful to stay on the 400 where it branches off to become highway 12
• Follow highway 400 until you reach exit 156 for Honey Harbour Road and Muskoka Road number 5
• Turn left onto Honey Harbour Road/Muskoka Road number 5
• Follow this road for approximately 20 minutes, past the Honey Harbour Library, the road will fork, turn right, and the Honey Harbour Boat Club will be on your left
• This is where our boats depart from. Park at the top of the hill and walk down to our boats.

From London (Toll route)
Take the 407 eastbound and connect to the 400 northbound. Then follow the directions above.

From Toronto
Take the 400 northbound and follow the directions above.

Contact us anytime by email at:

CQE general email:
cqe@swo.ymca.ca 

Isabel Kennedy, Camp Director
isabel.kennedy@swo.ymca.ca 

Emma Hamber, Assistant Camp Director
Emma.hamber@swo.ymca.ca 

or by mail or phone:

Summer Season (June -September )
YMCA Camp Queen Elizabeth
PO Box 249,
Honey Harbour, ON, POE 1EO
tel: 705-756-8300

Fall, Winter & Spring
YMCA Camping Branch – London
165 Elmwood Ave E.,
London, ON, N6C 0A8
tel: 519-453-8858

For more information visit us online:

• https://www.campqueenelizabeth.com  
• https://www.facebook.com/Ymcacampqueenelizabeth
• https://www.instagram.com/Campqueenelizabeth/ 

We know that taking home a CQE clothing item is a great way to remember your camp experience. We will have limited 2024 CQE merchandise and past CQE merchandise available for purchase at camp this summer. We take credit card payment at camp, but please remember that supplies are limited! Stay tuned for the launch of our 2024 CQE merch store!