Camp Mère Clarac

Des souvenirs inoubliables Le Camp Mère-Clarac est pour moi beaucoup plus qu'un camp de vacances : c'est un endroit parfait pour s'amuser et rencontrer des gens de partout dans le monde, mais surtout un endroit où l'on se sent rapidement comme chez soi, et où chacun trouve sa place peu importe d'où il vient. Chaque année, je suis fascinée par le sourire des enfants qui repartent chez eux le coe“ur heureux et la tête remplie d'expériences dont ils se rappellent encore l'été suivant. Qu'ils aient 4 ans ou 15 ans, les enfants sont égayés par la beauté du site et par la joie de vivre qui y règne. Ils ont l'opportunité de se faire des amis qui viennent d'ici ou d'autres pays, mais aussi, de participer à  des activités diversifiées en pleine nature. Canot, hébertisme, tir-à -l' arc, escalade, sciences naturelles, équitation : il y en a pour tous les goûts ! J'ai également été très marquée par le dévouement des monitrices et des responsables, qui ont vraiment à  coe“ur le bien-être de chaque enfant. Passionnées et dynamiques, elles cherchent toujours à  donner le meilleur d'elles-mêmes pour rendre le séjour de chacun le plus unique et le plus mémorable possible. De plus, les valeurs de respect, d'entraide et de partage véhiculées par le camp permettent à chacun de se sentir dans son groupe comme dans une véritable famille. Je n'oublierai jamais les moments exceptionnels que j'ai passés au camp, autant comme campeuse que comme monitrice. C'est une expérience pleine d'anecdotes, pleine d'aventures, pleine de vie, une expérience qui mérite d'être partagée, et surtout, une expérience que je souhaite à tous. Pirouette, Campeuse de 2005 à  2007, monitrice de 2009 à 2012 et responsable en 2013

Hi! My name is Catherine. I'm 20 years old and I have been a counsellor at Camp Mere Clarac for 3 years now. I worked in many different cabins as a counsellor. For me, camp is like a second family...sisters, counsellors and every member of the camp are now friends, people I respect and cherish. My first summer was dedicated to the etincelle cabin, girls between 9 and 10 years old. I keep an indelible memory of that first summer and the very good friends I made. The following summers were just as wonderful. The activities that are proposed are very rewarding for all groups. Kids learn to make friends and use their imagination. Being a counsellor means being resourceful, loving working with kids and developing team spirit. The relationship between the counsellor and the person responsible for the cabin is always simple yet rewarding. She is always there to listen to you and to give you advice. For me, the camp means a place to learn, learn from your peers and from the kids but also where you learn to love, to forgive and to work hard.

Back in the 1960 s, before it was trendy to speak French, my father realized that a second language would greatly benefit his children and that French was the first choice in Canada. He did extensive research on camps in Quebec and came up with Camp Clarac run by the Sisters of Charity from Montreal. At five years old I made my first trip to Camp Clarac, followed by 10 more summers of joyous fun. It is camp beautiful setting in the Laurentian Mountains where you run and jump and play and ride horses and other wonderful camp activities. The staff and most of the campers are francophone so you just pick up the French because you are surrounded by it plus you get to hear it spoken by natives. My French language skills became very well developed because of the time I spent at Camp Clarac. I now have two teenagers who have both been in French Immersion since Grade 1 in the HPCDSB, the eldest of whom is going to finish Grade 12 this school year. Both children have had the opportunity to go to Camp Clarac to refine their French language skills and have a wonderful summer camp experience as well. My children have excellent French, particularly their oral French which I believe is because of their Camp Clarac experience.