Acknowledgements

To our children, Lauren and Madison (and little baby to be). Our inspiration for this book stems from our love for them and for the desire to discover and show them all that Muskoka has to offer.

To our husbands and families for their love, support and hours of playing with the kids, and to our parents for instilling the love for Muskoka in us.

Thank you to Ontario Early Years

Welcome to the first edition of Muskoka Kids!

As parents we are always looking to find the best products, the best programs, the best services for our children. With the District of Muskoka being such a large area, it is sometimes difficult if not near impossible with young ones in tow, to find out what is available for kids in towns outside our own. Many great programs and services exist only 20 minutes in the opposite direction from where we normally drive. Wouldn’t it be great, we thought, if for the sake of parents such as ourselves, we could bring it all together as one large community, if we could open a book and find everything in one place. Things like where to get educational toys and gifts, where to take all those swimming, skating, and wakeboarding lessons? How about a new bunk bed, child-friendly restaurants, or what to do for a birthday party? And so Muskoka Kids was born.

Muskoka Kids is for families who live, cottage, visit, and play in Muskoka. There are special Summer Fun and Winter Fun chapters that highlight these two great seasons in Muskoka.

As you head out with your child to explore the towns, forests, or lakes of Muskoka, don’t forget this book! Whether you walk, run, drive, boat, ski, or snowmobile around the area, we wish you many happy memories with your own Muskoka kids.

This book would not have been possible without the help and support from the following people. We extent our heartfelt thanks:

To Tracy, Darin, Isabel and Esme Higgon, for their ideas and time in starting this project. To Leanne Sibeon for her enthusiasm, long hours, and true Muskoka business spirit. Jamie Picard, for her ideas and research time. To Jane, Laurie Hutcheson, Kristen Rohdenizer and Kristen Hutton for the hundreds of phone calls and hours of help. To Laura Bombier for the beautiful pictures and fun day of shooting. To the Staff of Macaulay Tree House for providing our girls with many hours of great care and fun. To Trish Conley-Knight at Bracebridge Culture and Recreation for her belief in and support of this book. To Emily Soden, for her beautiful art work. To all the Young Artists and who contributed art work (listed below), your drawings have brought such an element of fun to the book. To Kelly Ward, for her research and computer knowledge. To Bob Soden, for spending the time and the great care to take the photos of our cover. To Carol Break at Word Pro Services for her help in deciphering the thousands of newspaper clippings. To Kim Burns at Ontario Early Years for the wealth of information. To Cindy Kitchener at Scatterpaint Graphics, this book would not have been possible without your long hours, dedication, creativity, and good spirit. We can’t thank you enough for helping us make this book a reality. To our Families for their countless hours of assistance, support and encouragement. And of course a huge thank you to our Husbands for their support through the months of seemingly endless research, long hours, and late nights. The time, love and patience (great meals & back rubs too!) you have given us has helped us to reach our goals of publishing this book. To Jake and Scott – you have your spouses back! (until next year…!)

Jenny & Erin

Young Artists

A.J. Cameron, Akasha Strength, Alanna Crawford, Alex Rieger, Alex Sereda, Alexandra Goltz

Amanda Ball, Amara McMullen, Amber Smith, Andie Wise, Andrew Atkin, Andrew Furlan

Andrew Stead, Arielle Mueller, Austin Maher, Blake Peacock, Braedon Boyd, Brandon LaRose

Brandon Neal, Brent Ghikadis, Brianna Knappett, Brileigh McCrank, Brooke Houle, Brooke Young

Cally Hartnell, Cari Gillan, Carley Kelly, Carly Quinton, Carson Goodfellow, Carter Tracey

Cassandra Strobridge, Cassidy Aldred, Catie Strus, Chenoa Leigh Trott, Christopher Carnduff

Claudia Lode, Connor Nishikawa, Cory Decaire, Courtney Nickel, Dakota Clark, Daniel Merritt

Dean Card, Derek Simson, Devon McBride, Dylan Cousineau, Elizabeth Vantwuyver, Emma Dehaan

Emma Ford, Emma Grimshaw, Eric White, Eryn Stewart, Ethan Nudd, Gabrielle Norris

Georgia McMahon, Grace Carter, Graham Broschell, Griffin O'Hara, Hailey Hutchings, Hailey Phillips

Harmony Clark, Hunter Shea, Isaac Middlebrook, Jack Campbell, Jack Moody, Jadyn Lanteigne

James Verbeek, Jared Simson, Jared Willans, Jason Spilker, Jason Stevenson, Jean-Michel Barette

Jenessa Thomson, Jesse McLeod, Jessica Bodendistel, Jessica Quinton, John Pratt

Jolene Robinson, Jonathan Carr, Jordan Graham, Jordan Roberts, Joseph Critchlow, Joshua Ronson

Justin Haber, Justin Rayner, Kailey Aldred, Kaitlin Glassford, Kameren Petersen, Karissa Petersen
Karlie Larocque, Kassidy Barnes, Katherine Arsenault, Kathryn Furlan, KeiferJohnson
Kelsey Selvage, Kendralea Dermott, Kimmie Wannamaker, Kresson Taylor, Kristen White

Kyle Thorogood, Kyle Williamson, Laura Wilson-Tick, Laura Wismer, Leah Broschell

Lillian Fitzmaurice, Logan Taylor, Maddison McLean, Madison O'Hara, Maria Dikeos

Matthew Bedforth, Megan Scriven, Melissa Franks, Michael Furlan, Michael Howorucha

Michelle Duke, Miranda Walker, Murray Awram, Nicholas Loshaw, Olivia Franks, Paige Foreman

Paige Young, Rachel Bissonette, Rachel Dawson, Rachelle Lalande, Reegan Lee, Riley Dyer

Riley Morrow, Robyn Knight, Ryan Bloom, Ryan Strus, Ryan Walton, Sage Strength, Sarah Simmons

Seth Alloway, Shannon Conner, Shaylyn Costello, Stephanie Hulme, Stephanie Stewart

Sydney Robson, Sydney Tytler, Taiya Hoehner-McEwen, Talie Monk, Taylor Walker,
Taylor Wheeler, Tyler Schanatien, Tyler Shubrook, Victoria Rowe, Victoria Verbeek, Victoria Wines

Wiley Bodine Woan



Copyright © 2003 by Jenny Thomas and Erin Hughes

All right s reserved.

The authors and publisher have made every effort in ensuring that the information in this book was as accurate as possible when going to press. Some errors and changes may occur, and the authors and publisher disclaim any inaccuracies contained herein. Muskoka Kids is a publication which is intended to provide information only. The authors and publisher do not provide, through publication, advertisement or otherwise, an endorsement, approval or guarantee relating to any products or services listed in this publication. Should you require further information about any of the products or services listed in this publication, please contact the suppliers directly for their policies and procedures.

All of the intellectual property relating to Muskoka Kids, including copyright and trademark is owned exclusively by the authors and publisher. Readers may make copies for personal use of reasonable portions, but copying any substantial portion of this publication, in any media, for use, resale or redistribution is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of the authors and publisher. Please contact: PO Box 427, Bala, ON, P0C 1A0. Tel.: (705)644-0800.

Graphic Design and Layout – Scatterpaint Graphics

Ad Design – Scatterpaint Graphics, Erin Hughes, Jake Thomas

Art Direction & Front Cover Art - Jenny Thomas

Back Cover Art – Emily Soden

Publisher: Jack in the Box Designs

Printer: Graphic Direction Inc.

National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data

Muskoka Kids

A guide to products and services for children and families in and around Muskoka.

ISBN 0-9731950-0-2

1. Children--Services for--Ontario--Muskoka--Directories. 2. Children--Recreation--Ontario--Muskoka--Directories. 3. Parents--Services for--Ontario--Muskoka--Directories. I. Title.

FC3095.M88A35 2003 362.7'025'71316 C2003-903401-1

Printed and bound in Canada

info@muskokakids.com