30th Anniversary – 1984
Category Archives: 1980s
Posts are listed in chronological order based on date of posting – newest posts first.
Outdoor Education – 1984
Sale of the Camp Property
After running the camp for 14 years, Bert offered to sell the property to the Borough of North York in 1970 for $1.5 million.
At the time, the North York Board of Education was leasing the property 10 months of the year for $50,000. It is not clear whether Bert intended to continue operating the camp by leasing the property for 2 months of the year.
The proposal was reviewed according to minutes of the November 23, 1970 North York Council meeting:
North York declined the offer.
By 1976, the offer price was $2.3 million. Bert filed an application to subdivide the property and build 50 houses. Filing this proposal supports the idea that Bert was ready to recoup his land investment and close the camp. Building houses would obviously require a huge capital investment and would take years to realize profits tied to the rise in property value. Selling the land alone would obviously be easier. It is possible that Bert submitted this proposal believing this it would not be welcomed by council, giving them geater incentive to accept his offer.
In April 1977, the borough declined once again over concerns about how local residents would react to having a public park in the neighbourhood.
In 1981, a request for a zoning amendment was made to North York Council to permit the redevelopment of the site into a subdivision:
Approval was denied.
In 1986, The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority purchased the property for $3.5 million. As part of the agreement, the camp retained use of the main office building and was given a 7-year lease to continue operating through the summer of 1993. The annual lease rate was $18,000.
Efforts to renew the lease in 1991 were unsuccessful. In 1992 an offer to renew the lease was extended, however the lease rate was excessive. It was determined not to be economically viable – especially in light of recently declining enrolment.
The camp ceased operation after the summer of 1993.
Camp Could Have Ended in the Early 1980s
In 1981, a proposal to redevelop the valley lands was denied by North York Council.
Lower Field
Property Lines
The image below shows the property lines of the camp on the original 1956 survey:
The survey lines overlaid on a 1983 aerial photo:
1982 – Boysworld/Girlsworld Special Day
Maintaining the Pools
Cleaning and maintaining the pools was an annual chore. The concrete pools were prone to cracking with the freeze/thaw cycle. For many years, the I-Pool had a crack all the way along the bottom. The pool leaked and required regular filling. Many pools required annual painting.
Pool decks were also prone to cracking. In the late 80’s the decks around the T-Learners were replaced with paving stones as they could no longer be maintained.
Bert Discusses the Sugarbush and River – 1988
Fran Sobel Teaches Swimming
Beading & Boondoggle!
When some cabins began abusing these activities by doing them every day and several times a day, a limit had to be enforced!
Supervisor’s Daily Routine
Business Cards
Bert – late 1960s:
1980s:
Staff Application
Addendum:
Staff Contract
Bus Procedures & Documents
Arrival & Departure Routines – 1988
Daily Bus Attendance Form
Welcome Letter to Bus Drivers – 1988
Bag Delivery Day Procedures
Communication (within camp)
With few exceptions, sending messages within the camp was a manual process.
Most messages originated in the main office as a result of communication with parents.
There were two methods of sending messages within camp. If the message was not urgent, a “TO/RE” form would be posted on the Supervisors Board in the office. The Supervisors routine required them to visit the office regularly at which time these messages were collected.
In the case of an urgent message, a “runner” (a member of the office staff) would be used to look for the recipient. The “runner” was an actual summer position in the office – typically someone over 14 who wanted to work at camp, but was too young to work as a counsellor.
Although they also assisted with administration, they would be the first person called upon to run errands since they were the least critical to operations.
Although most messages went to Supervisors, some needed to go to a specific counsellor. In these cases, the office referred to a master schedule which could often help the runner locate the cabin wherever they might be.
Telephones
There were several exceptions to the manual systems since telephone lines were installed during the summer in the Kitchen, Nurse’s Office and Swim Office. Each had a different number so the office could use them to communicate with these areas in order to pass information.
If a unit happened to be at Lunch or Swim, the Supervisor could often be tracked down by calling the Kitchen or Swim Office. This would eliminate the need to send out a runner.
Wireless Communication
Beginning in the late 70s, walkie talkies were used by the hill and parking lot staff during arrival and departure of buses. At first, 3 units were rented, but in 1986 the number was increased to 6. In 1988, the number was increased to 12 allowing each Supervisor to have their own during the day. Obviously this was a game changer.
It should be noted that cell phones were uncommon until the early 1990s. Jennifer had one in 1986. Jay had one starting in 1987 to manage transportation, These were “brick” phones which sold for over $1,000 at the time. Airtime was 25 cents per minute!
First Day Camp in North America?
Evidence does not support the fact that Bathurst Manor Day Camp was the first day camp in North America and it is uncertain who made this determination in presenting the award.
While it was certainly one of the earliest in Canada, it was preceded by Camp Robin Hood, which was established 10 years earlier, in 1946.
Some history of US day camps can be found here: https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/years-adventures-challenges-history-day-camp
Update: 2026
There was also an alternate version of this article:
There was a correction made to each of articles – specifically changing “First” day camp to “Largest”:
Boysworld Pink and Green
Staff Banquet – 1987
