Camp KIDACA - Locations

Where was Camp KIDACA?

The locations of camp changed over the years, but this is how the basic set up was. The five junior KIDACA camps were named for their location in the city. The senior KIDACA location was appropriately named Senior KIDACA, and was based in the lower, west city.

Click on a name, on the map below to learn more about each location.

If you have memories that you would like to post about any location please e-mail me with your

comments and I would be clad to put them in. If you want, let me know when you were at the

location as well.

Beach
Beach camp was located on Beach Blvd, only a stone's throw from good old Hamilton Harbor. The building was the beach rescue unit, which was an old cottage. Where other camps had fields surrounding them, beach had a small yard with a barb wire fence. With all of this the underdog beach still managed to make camp special for every camper. The "cottage" was a great building for camp. It had a feeling to it that only those who worked there could describe, but it just said "camp" (then you went outside and it was a different story).
Beach Memories
Mike 2001-2002	Beach was the place that I wrapped up my "career". I was quite upset to find out I was going to move to the BEACH but I will admit it was unjust. BEACH was an amazing place to work, the staff there were all unbelievable. I'll never forget pancake breakfast and of course Wendy's paid for by Senior. ZP, ND, MR, MC, TC, LM you guys have changed my life, BEACH BABY!

Senior
Now this place was a whole new ball game. Senior camp, based out of Coronation arena, was for campers aged 11 to 15. Now, instead of making sure Tommy doesn't hit Sally, you have to make sure Tommy isn't making out with Sally (boy how they grow up). Campers would hike up to Princess Point for capture the flag. Senior camp also got to go sailing in the harbor, and had sleepovers years after junior camp had stopped. Senior camp staff always had their work cut out for them, but as usual KIDACA would conquer, and you would have a bus load of teenagers singing at the top of their lungs.
Senior Memories
Mike 1999-2000	Senior camp definitely was a change, but one I didn't mind. At Senior it was the campers that left their impressions on me. Don't get me wrong the staff were great, as were my supervisors (The Big Kahuna, and Janine, you guys were awesome). BDFC, you girls know who you are, thanks for the memories.

City East
City East was an original KIDACA back in 1979 before camp even got it's name. For the 21 years KIDACA was around Rosedale arena remained a base location . Anyone who has ever been to City East will remember their amazing swimming pool known as "the bird bath" (it was knee deep and could barely hold half a camp). But with trails galore Rosedale was an amazing camp location.
City East Memories
Mike 1994	My memories of City East are not from back in my LIT days, but from when I worked at BEACH and we used to travel to Rosedale once a week to hang out with the cool camp. With that, all that needs to be said is Wally 4:29! Thanks for the fun Rosedale.

City West
City West was based out of Ryerson Recreation Center. They were lucky enough to have a nice track with a field in the middle for all of their big group games. Not to far from camp was a great field for capture the flag.
City West Memories
Mike 1996	This is where my staff days started off. It was a good year, unfortunately I do not remember much. I know Ariel was a really cute counselor, and that Bambi helped me through my first week when I was sooooo nervous.

Mountain East
Mountain East was originally based out of Bernie Arbour Stadium. When it rained all they had were change rooms to play but when it was sunny this place was the best. Fields as far as you could hike, except when you had to hike to Huntington to go swimming (it was like 200 miles, or so the campers would say). King's Forest was just a few minutes away and with a waterfall to play in what more could you want. Eventually Mountain East was moved to Huntington (and who said complaining doesn't work). Huntington was still pretty cool. Lots of grass, a huge gym and a pool with a WATERSLIDE.
Mountain East Memories
Mike 1993,1995	I did one year at both locations. BAS was great, with all the fields it felt more like a camp than any other location I worked at. Sleepovers were the best, especially with Frank scaring us crazy in the forest (one girl literally peed her pants). Huntington as fun as well, I had the biggest crush on one counselor but thought "no, I'm way too young". Then she goes and marries a guy the same age as me. Congratulations N&D.

Mountain West
Mountain West was the home to the original KIDACA (sure there were two other camps with the name, but this is where the spirit of KIDACA originated). Mountain West was originally based out of Barton Community Center. By the time I started it had moved to MacNab Recreation Center, so unfortunately I don't know too much about BCS. I can tell you they had one big room with a stage, and a pool in the back area. MacNab was a lot like Huntington. Lots of field, a nice gym and their own pool.
Mountain West Memories
Mike 1997-1998	MacNab was a great place to work. MN was great to work with, playing Goldrush and "torturing" our LIT with insane tasks. And there was good old Doug, ya enough about that. TS we bumped heads, but we made it work. MacNab was an amazing time.
Melon	I went to the Barton Camp. We swam at Walker pool. We would spend all week preparing a skit for the Parents' nights on Friday. We would stay at camp until 7pm that night - we would have a barbeque. The bathrooms were in the basement, and we couldn't go alone because it was rumoured the basement was haunted. I remember doing countless scavenger hunts where we had cat tails on the list, and we always tried to find a real frog because there were swamps in the background. It was forbidden that we go out front, but the back we could hang out there all day. Gymp was something new - the only thing that people knew how to do was flat or zipper - but zipper came much later (perhaps when I was 10.). I spent 5 years at Barton CC.
Teri	I was born and raised at Mt. west I started at Barton CC when I was five. It wasn't unusual for me to be there for 8 weeks as a kid. Steve was the supervisor and I remember MAry Annn being in the mix. Does anyone remember parents night? We sang a song as we walked in to do skits and kangaroo court. (here come the judge..... guilty or not innocent) I can't remeber what that song was does anyone? So then I graduated to being an LIT and learned all the tricks of the trade. Then my mom tried to convince Lisa F to hire me a few weeks before camp in a year long ago. But it was too late so I had to LIT another year and apply like everyone else. Then I was put into a pot with all the other ROOKIE counselors and Lisa picked ME!! I was finally a Mt. west counselor. My rookie year was fileld with awesome counselors that I learned alot from (PW, TS) but Lisa taught me the most. The funny thing is Every summer following that one at the end of week one Lisa would call me into her office and say that the rookie counsellors are feeling intimidated by my counselor style. And those counselors always ended up being my best friends at camp. I loved all the campers especially the ones who stayed for more then 3 weeks. I still see kids who are now grown up and they recognize me. Hmmm i don't know why I was so shy at camp. I put together and still have multiple year books and we always took pride in our camp wide activities at least one every week. I spent 5 years as a counselor until we had to merge with the NEW city of hamilton. Looking at my E-mail contacts I still have multiple people that I met a kIdaca and i think will always be around. I can't thank everyone who ever touch my life through camp all those experiences inspried me to become a Camp Director and hope fully run and own my own Kidaca style camp. I think I could write about this subject for hours but I won't I'll just say Thanks MT. West We Rock!!!!!