This site was created in 2012 as an historical record of Bathurst Manor Day Camp, later, Forest Valley Day Camp which operated from 1956 through 1993.

The site was was offline from 2017 through 2024. In 2025 it was restored with many new posts, photos & videos.

The site was originally designed to appeal to former camp staff – primarily those who worked there when I did – 1981 through 1993. The content was later expanded to include detailed information about how the camp operated. Original documents, plans, blueprints, procedures and more have been added.

The design is not ideal and will continue to evolve.

About Me

My name is Jay Kahane. I spent 4 summers as a camper and 12 summers on staff at Forest Valley. I was first hired as a counsellor by Bert Fine in 1981.  I later worked as a Photography Specialist, Program Director, Transportation Director and as Assistant Director through 1992.

The Camp Archives

Many of the images on this site come from the camp archives, located in the basement of the main office. This was not an organ of records, camper bags, t-shirts and promotional items.  

The history of the camp in 35mm slides and 8mm film was also located there. Bert took many photos each summer – as did the photography specialists. I took most of the day-to-day camp photos during the period from 1981 through 1992 and a many of these are included herein.

For many years, the cabin photos were taken by Del Schwartz. Many are included herein. While compiling the site, I contacted his son Perry to ask if the original negatives were kept. Unfortunately they were not. Fortunately, many people have submitted their own photos. To submit yours, click HERE.

From 1985 though 1990, I often spent time looking through the many boxes. I tried to put things into some kind of order and while doing so I often put aside interesting or important items.

A representative collection of these slides and photos were in my possession when the camp closed. This is all that remains since all of the material in the archives was disposed of in 1993. Now, more than 30 years later, they represent the only existing images from the official camp record.

Site Contents

Approximately 300 original slides have been scanned and digitally restored.

My personal collection of documents, news clippings, promotional material and camp artifacts has been catalogued and photographed.

Many newspaper articles and ads were acquired from the archives of The Toronto Star.  

With the assistance of David Morrison, I learned that a collection of 8mm films was salvaged by Jonathan Fine. I acquired these films in 2012. They have since been digitized and clips may be found HERE.

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This site is dedicated to Bert Fine, the founder of day camping in Canada.