Of the 30 passengers expected only a dozen turned up, probably because of the weather. On the way north along Hwy 400 just below Barrie we ran into a line-up of backed-up traffic caused, we learned later, by a fatal accident closing the highway for most of the day. Fortunately we were able to turn off and make a detour through Barrie to Hwy 11, rejoining the 400 just south of Orillia. From there onwards we continued without incident, arriving at the Dorset landing dock only half-an-hour behind schedule.

The Moorelands launch was there to meet us and convey us across Lake Kawagama to the camp. A solitary loon and some pesky blackflies sped us on our way. Ten minutes later we were welcomed ashore and whisked off to register and then join other visitors who had come by car. We were then taken on a guided tour of the campsite, with myself perched on the front seat of a little dune buggy. The sandy and wood-chip strewn pathways winding in and out the cabins and the overarching trees turned it into a woodland wonderland. I was especially pleased when the driver pointed out the cabin that had been built with donations from my own parish of St. Timothy. He also knew some of the members of St. Timothy's who came in the fall every year as work parties to help with the clean-up before winter.

We then headed for the location of the tree-planting ceremony for which most of us had travelled there. This area had been cordoned off with well-weathered split-rail fencing that had been constructed, we were told, by former campers of the previously Jewish camp Kawagama, who have continued to be good friends and supportive of all its activities. I should explain that the tree-planting project had been started this year in preparation for the centennial celebration in 2012, and that donors of 20 years or more had been invited to plant trees in memory of their loved ones, or others specially associated with the camp, including the original founder after whom it was named, Canon Robert Moore, in 1912. At that time the camp was located in Beaverton on the east side of Lake Simcoe, and moved to its present site in 1972.

My wife, Ruth, had died recently, so this was a specially moving moment for me, and was perhaps why I was asked, along with Mr. & Mrs. Reid, whose whole family had been actively involved in the camp over many years, to share together in putting the tree, a 4-feet high pine sapling, into the ground. Following the planting, Andy Barrie, himself an ardent supporter of Moorelands, and host of the CBC Radio program Metro Morning, along with his dog Wrigley, was asked to unveil a plaque, which reads as follows:

THIS FOREST WAS PLANTED TO HONOUR MEMBERS OF THE CENTURY CLUB SUPPORTING OUR MISSION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF TORONTO CHILDREN AFFECTED BY POVERTY - May this forest grow as strong as your commitment to this cause. July 25, 2009.

These trees, in addition to their symbolic significance, also serve a very practical purpose: as the older trees in the forest die off, these strategically planted new saplings take their place, which is why they are scattered around rather than being all in one location. There are now over 400 Century Club members who are being honoured through this reforestation program.

Our next stop was for lunch in a spacious timbered dining room, where 100 hungry campers and 65 camp staff were on hand to feed us with a first- class barbecue lunch plus all the trimmings. But first the grace - and what a grace! It started with everyone drumming rhythmically on the tables, then stomping their feet, and clapping their hands, while singing THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, ending with a war whoop. Following the meal we were treated to a lively performance of songs, skits, and dances, all conducted at a fast tempo and high decibel output. It was a rollicking release of raw youthful exuberance that took your breath away and brought tears to your eyes.

As I looked around the tables and saw those young, bright-eyed youngsters, drawn from every clime, colour, and culture under the sun, all of them from underprivileged and disadvantaged homes, all mixing together and having the time of their lives, I couldn't help thinking: what a worthwhile way of contributing to the future peace and harmony of our multi-cultural society! The family of each camper contributes $25 towards the total cost of $840 for 8 days of healthy outdoor life in a safe environment, surrounded with love and care, healthy food, playful exercise on land, and learning to swim and handle a canoe in the water. Could there be any better investment of our gifts and donations than to such a deserving endeavour?

I also want to take my hat off to the staff, both permanent and temporary, as well as the volunteers. Many of them are high school and university students hired for the summer months. Such enthusiasm! Such dedication! Such outpouring of self-giving on the part of everyone! I met and talked with several of them, but two in particular stand out in my memory: Steve and Lynda, a husband and wife team who have devoted their lives to the camp for the past ten years; their devotion and commitment is total and complete. And that goes for all the others I didn't meet, including the mustachioed chef who takes such good care of the gastronomical needs of the campers.

When it came time to leave, after all the gracious hospitality we had received and the sheer enjoyment of our visit, I don't know about others, but there was a big lump in my throat. I felt that for those brief hours I had been transported to another world and given a foretaste of the New Jerusalem, with the children dancing and singing in the streets, along with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven. As we were leaving we were asked if we would take one little 10 year old boy back to Toronto. Apparently homesickness had got the better of him. He certainly didn't look as if he was having much fun, so the director of the camp felt he should return home. His parents would meet him at the bus on arrival. We felt so sorry for him leaving all that happiness behind.

The rain had held off for most of the day, and while the sky was still threatening as we skimmed over the water back to the Dorset landing, we made it to the bus safe and dry. But not long after we had started homeward it came down in buckets, and continued most of the way to Toronto. But by that time we were beyond caring. Most of us dropped off to sleep exhausted after all the exertions and excitement of the day.

As we pulled into Merton Street and stopped outside 250, there were our young lad's mother and sister waiting to welcome him back, and did he ever look glad to see them!

So ended a most memorable day, that will live on with me for years to come. I felt sorry for those people who failed to turn up. They have no idea what they missed!