Where it all began...

Thoughts from a Camp Narnia Director on a journey to where it all began...

"Narnia. Narnia. Narnia. Awake. Love. Think. Speak.  Be walking trees.  Be talking beasts.  Be divine waters." - Aslan The Magician's Nephew

 

 

Today, under a brilliant blue sky, I went to Salt Spring Island, where I go every few months to keep my compass pointing true Narnia.  In the beautiful Burgoyne Valley, where Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park is now located, Camp Narnia once lived and breathed.

 As I walked down the path toward Camp the memories came rolling in like a wind-swept field under a brilliant arm of the Milky Way.  The Nootka Roses carry their apple-fresh scent and the budding hawthorns crowd in on either side.  At the end of the path and off to the left is the garden where I once grew a homesteading feast of garlic and potatoes and where bees flew back and forth from their hives busy making honey for our bread oven delights.

Behind me towers Mt. Maxwell which has a special place in our Narnian lore and all around are open fields where pigs, cows, goats, horses, chickens, ducks, turkey, peacocks, rabbits, donkeys, llamas and of course children once galloped, neighed and nosed about.  In the distance I can see the Stone Table and the Tree of Knowledge, somewhat more grizzled and lichen-draped every year, but still rooted and strong like the memories of so many who journeyed through the Wardrobe door and took the adventure that Aslan sent.

 I often wonder what people who pass through here and who never saw it as Camp Narnia must think of this place.  Do they know that they are standing on the Dancing Lawn and that come twilight the fauns will venture out of the woods with flute and drum?  Do they know that they are crossing Puddleglum's Marsh where that loyal Narnian Marshwiggle, a true Respectabiggle, is waiting to share some fresh eel stew with them?

The stories and fabric of this place are so tightly woven into the core of who I am that there is no separating the two.  So as I sit on the Stone Table writing this with swallows swooping overhead and the sound of a saxophone somewhere far off playing I am so grateful for the passion and the vision that brought Camp Narnia into being.  To Anton Voorhoeve and Carol Toal and their daughter Marieke, thank you from the bottom of my ce-dar smoked, pata pata dancing heart.  I am honoured to keep that lamp-post light burning brightly and to continue to share the magic, the adventure and the true essence of childhood that Camp Narnia is.

In the words of a wise Narnian, to do is to be is to do so dobedobedo...

Gateways to Narnia Quest!

 Introducing our Gateways to Narnia contest! Inspired by this article sent to us by long-time Narnian Alana we have decided to try this out for ourselves...

Gateways to Narnia


Have you come across in your neighbourhood or in your travels a doorway or entrance that is clearly a gateway into Narnia? We invite you to send in your pictures to us via email at campnarnia@gmail.com or to our facebook page.  Your photo may find its way onto our new set of Camp Narnia postcards!  Entries can be submitted through to June 30th.

Please include your first name and where you took the photo if you are sending it in via facebook. Whether or not you decide to step through the door once you find it and spend some time in Narnia is up to you...

The adventure is here. The magic is waiting!

Spring has come to Narnia!

We are so excited to see registrations coming in, from both new and returning campers! After an amazing re-opening last summer plans are well underway to bring together another imagination-filled season. Come and join us for starlit nights, outdoor cooking, forest exploring, archery, questing for the seven lost Lords of Narnia and so much more!

The adventure is here ~ the magic is waiting!

Our beautiful hawthorn Tree of Knowledge from the Salt Spring property

"...miles away the Beavers and the children were walking on hour after hour into what seemed a delicious dream... They walked on in silence drinking it all in, passing through patches of warm sunlight into cool, green thickets and out again into wide mossy glades where tall elms raised the leafy roof far overhead, and then into dense masses of flowering currant and among hawthorn bushes where the sweet smell was almost overpowering."

-The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Heading towards Narnia 2012

We're only 174 days away from opening for our Summer 2012 season! Time is beginning to fly by and registrations are showing up in the mailbox. We've got our traditional favourites and some new activities lined up for this summer and are looking forward to having many of last summer's campers coming back and to meeting new Narnians.

Don't forget about our early bird deadline - March 31st!

We're looking forward to an amazing summer with many of last summer's staff coming back to keep the Narnian spirit alive! We hope to see you there as the Dawn Treader sets sail on its quest for adventure, magic, Dufflepuds, seven lost Lords and so much more!