To understand the impact that Muskoka Woods has had and continues to have on youth development, we have to go back to where it all started: the vision of the Toronto-based Boddy family. John Boddy had a successful home-building business but upon purchasing the Glen Rocks Bible conference grounds in Rosseau, Ontario in 1972, he and his wife, Marie, would prove their expertise for building more than just homes. With the shared vision to create a summer camp where young people would find life-changing experiences that nurtured and challenged their body, mind and spirit, they created Muskoka Woods.
With a commitment to adding more “sizzle” to the camp experience, Boddy set to work on building the high-quality facilities and equipment that continues to set Muskoka Woods apart.
Today, Muskoka Woods remains a Christian youth development organization that welcomes all youth to its awe-inspiring grounds on the shores of Lake Rosseau for a life-changing experience focused on leadership, acceptance, safety, self-discovery, and skills development. More than just a summer camp, young people can also harness the transformative power of Muskoka Woods through School Trips, Retreat Groups, and various leadership programs.
Muskoka Woods and youth development: cultivating tomorrow’s leaders
Youth development plays a crucial role in shaping future leaders by laying the foundation for essential skills, attitudes, and values that contribute to effective leadership. Muskoka Woods’ focus on leadership and helping youth “shape their world” manifests in all of their programming, from summer camp to schools and groups, to its specialized CEO Leadership Program for youth ages 15-17. In order to promote the mission, all Muskoka Woods staff members receive intentional leadership training throughout the year.
Muskoka Woods impacts youth development in the following ways:
Provides experiential learning: The land that John Boddy bought more than 50 years ago contributes to the impact that Muskoka Woods has had and continues to have on youth development. The spectacular outdoor setting provides the opportunity for experiential learning, giving young people the opportunity to directly engage with the world around them, which fosters a deeper understanding of concepts and even promotes knowledge retention. The outdoor setting also stimulates essential leadership qualities of creativity and critical thinking by encouraging students to think outside the box and make connections across disciplines.
Develops communication and resilience: The activities at Muskoka Woods urge children to challenge themselves—whether it’s developing a new skill like archery or photography or overcoming a fear by plunging 70 feet on the Giant Swing. Learning new skills not only builds self-confidence, but participating in those activities that emphasize process over perfection, like navigating the high ropes course, helps build resiliency. Many of the activities also require students to work in teams, which helps them hone communication skills that are intrinsic to strong leadership. By virtue of being away from parents and caregivers during summer camp, a school trip, or a group retreat at Muskoka Woods, kids are taken out of their comfort zone, which helps them learn how to communicate their needs effectively, become self-sufficient, and build resilience.
Builds character and self-esteem: Trying new activities like the ones on offer at Muskoka Woods year-round, helps build new skill sets and therefore, builds confidence. The inclusive and welcoming environment also promotes self-discovery and builds character. Muskoka Woods offers a “challenge by choice” approach for young guests whereby they work with instructors to set their own personal goals and outcomes, which goes far in building self-esteem. The staff at Muskoka Woods is also trained to see the best in kids, offering encouragement and celebrating all wins, no matter how small.
Mission accomplished
Many alumni have spoken about how Muskoka Woods helped build the foundation and develop the tools that they rely on for their current careers. Ryan Stephenson, an acrobat artist with Cirque du Soleil, said on the Shaping Our World podcast that his experience on staff helped him build the confidence and discipline required to make it under the big top. Similarly, Whitchurch-Stouffville mayor, Iain Lovatt, talked about how his experience as a guest and staff member at Muskoka Woods shaped his approach to being a mayor today.
Muskoka Woods has a 50-year legacy of impact on youth that they achieve through their expertly trained staff who share a common set of values that promote youth development. Equally as important is its programming that focuses on leadership and building both personal and life skills in a spectacular natural setting that serves to strengthen all the lessons learned within.
Visit schools.muskokawoods.com for more information or to book your next Schools and Retreats visit.
