ambassador of goodwill – Steph Simply

“The pull of nature, the peace of the forest and water couldn’t be ignored any longer . . .”–Dan McGuire, owner, Charlton Lake Camp

There’s Something about CanadA🇨🇦

It had been a long time since John, my husband, and I had been to Canada. Unlike me, John began traveling to Canada for annual fishing trips in 1985. At that time, he was the young one, newly initiated to the fishing group. Thirty-five years later, many of those long ago fishing buddies have since departed to heavenly waters. Others have lost interest in participating in a trip that requires such a long drive, and some no longer have the vacation time needed for a week of fishing plus an extra day or two for driving. John gets it, but his heart was breaking with the thought of not returning to his beloved fishing playground.

Therefore, after a bit of “mediation”, John and I sketched out a travel plan that included a trip to Canada, specifically to Charlton Lake Camp, but it also included a couple of other stops along the way. (One of those was Mackinaw City, MI for which I previously wrote about last week.) Little did either of us know how very much we would enjoy Charlton Lake Camp and its lovely surrounding areas!

Charlton Lake Camp🏕️

*_{Park your, ring up Dan and Lisa, and get ready to cross over the other side, releasing your day-to-day stress and immersing yourself in the laid-back, relaxing environment of Charlton Lake Camp.}*

Nestled in the La Cloche Mountains just beyond the hamlet of Willisville, Ontario.

Charlton Lake Camp, currently owned by Dan and Lisa McGuire, is a picturesque waterfront setting. With access to Frood Lake, Lake Charlton, Cranberry Bay, as well as canoe only portages leading to Grace Lake (made famous by the Canadian Group of Seven Artists) and Nellie Lake, Charlton Lake Camp offers a wide-array of adventures for family, individuals, or friends. Think of all your favorite summer activities–fishing, paddling (canoe, kayak, paddle board, and even peddle boat), hiking, boating, swimming, sunning, campfires, smores, lounging/reading/napping in hammock, and plenty of space to hike, write, paint, draw, or simply dream–and you’ll discover that Lake Charlton is the perfect place for all of these and more!

*_{Bring your own or rent/use one of the camp’s many canoes, kayaks, peddle boat, pontoon boats, Lund aluminum boats}*

For those interested in fishing, Lake Charlton has access to over 1,700 connected acres of fishable lakes. Their waters are filled with northern pike, small and largemouth bass, walleye, and a wide variety of panfish. Of course, they can’t turn the fish on for visitors, but during the week John and I were there, we landed scores of large and smallmouth bass while a group of guys staying in a nearby cabin caught their legal limit of walleye and several sizable northern pike.

What about Boats?🛶

Visitors to the camp can bring their own boat; however, the camp offers a full fleet boats for rent, including 14’ Lund Aluminum fishing boats, three pontoon boats, as well as 16’ and 18.5’ tripping canoes. All boats come with 9.9 Yamaha motors, and every cabin has its own private docking slip. John and I merely stepped off the porch of the cabin in which we were staying and walked down a slight embankment directly to our dock. The docking was sturdy and easy; plus the camp had an excellent launching ramp to get to and from the camp.

*_{Step out of your cabin and walk the pine-needle carpeted path to your own dock.}*

For those who like to keep and eat their fish, Charlton Lake Camp has a centrally located fish cleaning hut. It is well lit, screened-in, and it even has outlets for those who prefer to use electric fillet knives. I noticed several campers using this hut throughout the week.

Accomodations🏡

*_{We stayed in cottage 7. John sits at our picnic table assembling fishing gear upon our arrival.}*

Charlton Lake Camp is made up of twelve symmetrically arranged cottages with one, two, or three bedrooms, and all have one bathroom. Every cabin faces the lake, a point John and I loved, and each one has its own tightly screened porch. The kitchens are well-equipped with all of your cooking and eating needs. There is also a propane BBQ and picnic table for each cabin. Most of all, Dan and Lisa work hard to ensure their cottages are scrubbed clean for your arrival, hence a 9:00 am check out time, and they even have their cabins treated monthly for pests. As an added bonus, the camp’s water goes through a multi-step filtration process, and it is completely potable–no funny smell or weird taste, just pure, clean water.

Just splashing about🏊‍♀️

*_{Swim platform and roped off swimming area in front of sandy beach to left of picture. Meanwhile, fish cleaning hut is center with one of the pontoon boats and more of the camp to the right.}*

For those who love to splash about, the camp has a roped off area for swimming with its own private sandy beach. There is a swim platform for those cannonball splashes, and there are plenty of Adirondack style chairs for drying off or simply lounging about the water’s edge. The swim area is centrally located in the camp making it easily accessible for those quick trips back to the cottage for snacks, beverages, or that bottle of sunscreen you may have forgotten.

Want to Hike?🥾

*_{Map of hiking trails on Charlton Lake property, along with a few of my written notes regarding other nearby trails.}*

Did I mention that the camp also offers hiking? Both Dan and Lisa have plenty of outdoor expertise and experience. Unfortunately, the management and day-to-day upkeep of running the camp leaves them very little room for that these days. However, they have hiked all of the trails on their 50 acre property. They will gladly give visitors maps and offer tips for finding the best views of the lakes or the La Cloche mountains. John and I can attest to the fact that the trails are well-marked, but hikers will definitely want to bring along the bug spray when heading off into the woods!

a “Reel” gem of a Place!💎

*_{John claims the fish look bigger when I catch them due to the fact I am under 5′ tall! 😂}*

Personally speaking, John and I fell in love with this gem-of-a-camp. Dan and Lisa are attentive and available hosts if/when guests need them to be, but they do not hover. The camp fosters a laid back vibe that warmly welcomes family and friend groups as easily as it does couples and individuals. The interests of guests while we were there varied–some were drawn to fishing, boating, and/or swimming while others were more drawn to quiet walks, card games, and reading. Additionally, several of the cabins are pet friendly, and we certainly made friends with a few camp canine guests!

Pristine Waters🌊

The lakes encompassing Lake Charlton Camp are pristine and do not appear overused. Its surroundings are serene and filled with bird song, encouraging guests to unwind amidst the exquisite nature-centrentric setting–alabaster mountains; rising rock on wind-swept islands; pine-scented, needle-strewn forested paths; and plenty of rippling lake water. Paradoxically, guests are a super-short boat-ride away from nearby Espanola, Whitefish Falls, and Manitoulin Island, but I’ll write more about that in my next piece.

We’ll Be Back

In conclusion, whether you are looking for a solo/couple nature retreat or you’re looking for a one-of-kind summer/fall adventure for family and/or friends, check out Charlton Lake Camp. It provides the ideal setting for getting back to nature and all the simple goodness the great outdoors provides if only we are willing to venture there. The cottages are clean and comfortable, the view of the lake is spectacular, especially with the setting of the sun, and the location is ideal–far enough away from all the sights/sounds of the city, but close enough if you need to get back to town for that one item you forgot to pack. In fact, John and I have already tentatively booked our stay for next year. Meanwhile, I am already dreaming of waking to the sound of the loon, listening to gentle sounds of lake waters lapping the shore, and the glint of evening sunlight as it kisses the lake goodnight.

Here’s to safe and happy travels!

^{Important Note from Author}

_{John and I only practice catch and release fishing. According to the U.S. National Park Service, this practice improves native fish populations by allowing more fish to remain and reproduce in the ecosystem. We make every attempt to handle the fish properly, photograph it quickly, and then gently release it into the waters to continue swimming another day. This also allows other anglers the opportunity to experience the joys of fishing and the great outdoors for years to come.}

More images from Lake Charlton📷

*_{We struggled to take a selfie of this event and this handle the fish carefully. However, on this trip, John and I landed three triples–we both caught a fish at the exact same time.}*

*_{Our cabin for the week at Charlton Lake Camp.}*

*_{Sun begins to set, as viewed through our screened in porch, marking the start of its waltz across the lake waters.}* *_{I can only imagine how dazzling and golden this view must during the fall.}*

Until Next Year . . .🌅

“Chin up, chin up. Everybody loves a happy face.’–E. B. White, Charlotte’s Web

“If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work.”–Thich Nhat Hanh

*Landon and Grayson often greet me in the morning with bright-eyed smiles and plenty of discoveries about the morning.*

One of the special joys in my life are the smiles of toddlers and young children at the school in which I work. As an educator working on a school campus setting that provides care/education for children, ages 6-weeks through 12th grade in different buildings, I often see parents and other educators dropping off their children for daycare or preschool. Some of the little ones are sleepy in the morning, others are crying, some are shy, and others walk in–or are carried in—with a smile on their face and a twinkle in their eye. They jabber, babble, talk, or even sing with joy, depending upon their age/stage of development.

I could be having a rough start to my day, but if I happen to walk through the campus parking lot alongside a staff member’s bright-eyed child, smile as wide as the sky itself, I can’t help but smile too. Before long, the child has engaged me into a conversation, and all the previous negative energy of the morning fades. I share in the delight of their discovery of a rock or a piece of mulch, and smile back enthusiastically when they show me their shoes, their mittens, or their hat. They find happiness in the very things I tend to overlook or take for granted.

Then there are the babies–wrapped, swaddled, and layered into their parent’s arms. Face peeking out over their caretaker’s shoulder, eyes blinking in the morning air. Those large round orbs, of all shades, take me in, and then, as if I were a royal subject, reward me with a smile. I can’t help but smile back.

The babies, toddlers, and young children look at me and the scenario unfolding around them with fresh eyes and innate good cheer. Eyes that are free from judgment. Eyes that do see my age, my skin color, my size, or care about my socioeconomic status, religious/political affiliation, and so forth. They only see me smiling back at them and hear my affirming voice.

Possessing the ability to look at the world and others without motive is a powerful concept. This is the lesson young children and babies teach, but because we are so busy, or our lives are so removed from young children, we miss the lesson. Imagine, looking at each new day, event, person, even the great outdoors with fresh eyes. What magic, what wonders, what friendly people do we miss because our brains have a tendency to be drawn to to-do lists, work, worries, irritations, conflicts, gossip, bad news, and so forth.

However, children, until we teach them otherwise, are inherently open and accepting. They have no preconceptions about all the things we, as adults, begin to define, discern, and draw lines of division around. A dog’s tail is a thing of wonder to a child. Common dandelions are flower puffs to be plucked, sniffed, touched, and held as an object of fascination. Birds are special creatures who fly and sing for their amusement. Time is of no consequence, and space is meant to be explored–be the space a sidewalk, yard, a floor, or even cabinets of a kitchen.

*Miss Evalynn often greets me in the morning with bright, inquisitive eyes.*

Of course, as adults, we cannot conduct ourselves exactly in the same manner as young children. However, there are certain behaviors for which we can adopt and put into practice more often. The first of which is smiling.

The late Thich Nhat Hahn was once asked why someone should smile when they weren’t feeling happy. He responded that smiling was a practice. Hahn went on to explain that when we smile, we release tension from our face muscles which in turn releases body tension. The less tension we have, the more we smile. And the more we smile, the more others notice, and in turn, they smile back, often initiating a chain event of others smiling too. A smile, he explained, is “an ambassador of goodwill”.

The act of smiling is contagious, as Hahn pointed out, and a sincere smile has the potential to change the trajectory of a moment. Imagine the power of one person smiling, which triggers another person to smile in response. Then that person’s smile causes another person to smile, and so the chain continues. This is the first lesson of young children.

Another lesson of young children is viewing the world and others with an open mind: Looking widely, listening carefully, and taking in your surroundings without jumping to conclusions and immediately passing judgment. Obviously, there are certain situations in which quick judgements/decisions are required; however, by remaining a calm, lucid, and observant presence, the more likely a pragmatic outcome can be achieved.

Appreciation for the small things is another lesson provided by children. When my own daughter was young, we would sometimes walk through the woods. Her dad’s pant’s pockets would get weighed down from all of the “treasures” she would find along the way. From sparkling rocks to a kaleidoscope of leaves–crimson, gold, and burnt orange, and from a discarded snail shell to a special stick perfect for digging, it was those little delights that added up to big pockets of joy! The world continues to be full of small treasured moments that we too can collect along life’s path, if we view the world as a child.

Finally, there is the lesson of the restorative power of laughter and the healing power of love. One needs only to observe–or recall–the ease with which a child can transition from tears to laughter with the embrace of a trusted loved one, and then the way in which they can explode into laughter, when afterwards, an adult gives them a raspberry. Laughter and love are also contagious, and as the children demonstrate to me on a regular basis, can be the salve to a world full of hurt and sorrow.

Therefore, I encourage you to try, if only for one day, or part of a day, to practice viewing the world with the eyes of a child. Smile at others and even to yourself. Observe events and others with openness and without motive. Notice and gather the small blessings. Enjoy a good belly laugh, or five, and, like a child offering you a flower, offer love to others (think: generosity, gentleness, patience . . .), and see what happens. Who knows how many lives/situations your child-like focus will affect . . . including your own!

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Through the eyes of a child

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