Montreal Families July 2010

Women relax and unwind at camp
By Liz Warwick

By the time you get to be a parent, you might think the experience of summer residential camp has passed you by and that only your children can benefit from this wonderful experience. But not so fast! At Camp Ouareau, a bilingual camp for girls located on a tranquil, wooded site near St. Donat, women of all ages can experience the magic of camp during weekend sessions in September.

The weekends include accommodations in rustic cabins equipped with heaters and home cooked meals made from ingredients purchased at the Jean Talon market. Jacqui Raill, the camp’s director, started hosting these weekends five years ago, as a way to give something back to the women who had supported the camp over the years.

“We also knew women who never had the experience of going to summer camp and they wanted to see what it was like,” she adds.

The weekends allow women to be as active or relaxed as they like. The camp’s rock-climbing wall and archery range are open for use and visitors can canoe on Lake Ouareau. “If it’s warm enough, women will even swim,” Raill says.

Various workshops are offered by professionals, including pottery, photography, cooking, massage, yoga and arts and crafts. However, women can also just choose to stroll the camp’s pathways, admire the fall colours or find a tranquil place to read near the lake.

There is a Saturday night bingo party, during which various prizes can be won. And campers don’t need to worry about the food — meals and snacks are included, all cooked in the camp’s kitchen. The emphasis in on fresh ingredients and vegetarian dishes. As well, at the end of her stay, each camper receives a cookbook with easy-to-prepare recipes.

Raill adds that women are welcome to come alone, with a friend or even in a larger group as a sort of girl’s getaway. The goal is simply to provide a welcoming place for each person to relax and recharge.

Women’s Weekends will be held Sept. 10-12, 17-19 and 24-26. Cost is $200, which includes all meals and accommodations (fees for massage are extra). The camp is located in Notre Dame de la Merci, very close to the town of St. Donat in the Laurentians. For more information and to register, call (819) 424-2662.or click on “Women’s Weekends” at www.ouareau.com.