Silver Lake Camp vs. Circle Square Ranch

I really really did NOT want to go to camp with my grade 4 son and grade 5 daughter. Last year I went with my older daughter and my middle daughter. You seen, grade 5 daughter is a type 1 diabetic and unless I go with her, she can't go.

"Can't her dad take her?" I hear you asking. Nope. Because the parent has to stay in the same cabin as her and 3,000 other grade 5 girls. (Ok so perhaps it's only 13 grade five girls, but it seems like 3,000.)

Last year we were at Circle Square ranch in Armstrong. But apparently they have closed down. So this year we were at Silver Lake forestry camp in Peachland. Let's analyze the locations, shall we?

On the plus side for Circle Square are the newer washrooms attached to the sleeping areas, unlike Silver Lake that requires a hike up the side of the mountain with only a flashlight to light the way.

On the plus side for Silver Lake is the fabulous food - seriously it was good and even included real salads. Circle Square seemed to have banned anything remotely resembling a fruit or vegetable. The coffee sucked at both places.

Silver Lake also has a newer lodge that includes a huge stone fireplace, and each cabin actually has a wood burning stove that were lit on the cold damp evenings. Circle Square ranch however only had baseboard heaters.

Critters were more plentiful at Silver Lake despite the attempts to keep them out of the cabins. It seems those devices that plug in to electrical outlets to keep rodents away don't work. (Nothing like hearing something scratching at the walls in the middle of the night!)

As for activities, Circle Square had horseback riding and a climbing wall. But I guess Silver Lake doesn't need a climbing wall because it's built on the side of a mountain!

Silver Lake had orienteering which was very challenging for many of the kids (and the parent helpers). Both camps had archery. Silver Lake actually does have a lake while Circle Square has a pool that isn't heated. Silver Lake offers canoeing and pedal boats and leeches are included at no extra charge. Circle Square has a BMX track, but at Silver Lake you get pond studies and fire starting as well as an obstacle course. Did I mention Silver Lake has a fireplace for those damp days when being a parent helper in the damp, rainy forest is less than fun. Plus, the kids arn't allowed in the lodge unless it's a meal time.

The staff at Silver Lake were crabbier than the staff at Circle Square ranch. Perhaps it's because the staff at Silver Lake had to have wildlife names like Grizzly, Cheetah and Bushbaby.

The staff at Circle Square had lots of field games that parents and kids participated in after dinner each evening. They were a blast! Of course, some of the teachers and the parents get just a tad too competitive. At Silver Lake they didn't have a large field to play games on, so yup, you guessed it. We had to play Flags running up and down the side of the mountain. Not a blast.

Stay tuned tomorrow, for our experiences on day one of Silver Lake camp. And try not to think about rodents scurrying around under your bed while you sleep.