It’s 7:30 am. Leon and I are sitting on the porch of our cabin having a cup of tea and talking about the camp day ahead. I look at the lake – and suddenly see about 15 yellow canoes coming round the bend from the Joe Lake channel into our lake. Oh great joy, for I now recall that yesterday at dinner Ben Canoe (our head canoeing instructor) announced that any staff who wanted to go for a morning paddle should meet at the canoe dock at 6:45.

It fills me with pride to see that about 30 of our staff got up early to paddle – the commitment, the leadership (Ben’s) and the enthusiasm in that flotilla. That’s what camp staff are!