After much consideration and discussion with our Christmas in Muskoka partners and volunteers, the Board has decided to discontinue both the Christmas in Muskoka annual event and the yearly Grade 7 leadership camps at Muskoka Woods in Rosseau, Ontario.

“We have taken this difficult decision for a variety of reasons,” says Scott Johnson, Director of Education.  “Chief among them is the on-going uncertainty of the pandemic.  Although the number of cases continues to decline, there is no way to predict what lies ahead.  Overnight camps require close cohabitation, which may or may not be permitted one year from now.”

Going forward, St. Clair Catholic will offer an annual one-day leadership day camp experience for all Grade 7 and 8 students, at a venue in southwestern Ontario. The Board believes this will be a very valuable leadership building experience, which will be more affordable and more easily address health and safety considerations, due to the uncertainty of COVID.

The last Christmas in Muskoka event and fundraising in Sarnia-Lambton for the Muskoka Woods camps, were held in December 2019 and were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.  The proceeds from the 2019 events will support the new day-camp experience, providing approximately $10,000 per year for the next three years.  Remaining funds from Christmas in Muskoka will be provided to each Chatham-Kent school community, on a per student basis, giving school communities the opportunity to fund initiatives that benefit all students.  Schools will share their plans with the community, once they are developed.

“I want to thank our tremendous staff, our committed volunteers and our generous donors, who have supported Christmas in Muskoka for the past several years,” says Mr. Johnson.  “We now look forward to a new tradition and new memory-making experiences for future generations of Grade 7 and 8 students and secondary leaders.” 

There will be more details regarding the day camp experience for the 2022-2023 school year in the weeks and months ahead.