CNIB Lake Joe – Book Your Holiday Week

As we continue to explore opportunities for our community to visit CNIB Lake Joe safely, we’re piloting Holiday Week programs in August.

This new offering invites guests who are blind or partially sighted to visit CNIB Lake Joe with family members from the same household.

Holiday Weeks will focus on independent, self-directed activities. There will be no formal programming offered. Instead, guests are encouraged to choose their own adventure and build their own experiences. Activities include:

Relaxing by the beach, reading a book in a Muskoka chair, playing cards and board games, and arts activities.
Fishing, paddling (canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard), pontoon boat cruises, sailing, swimming, tubing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and water sliding.
Basketball, tennis, volleyball, shuffleboard, mini-golf, tandem-bike riding, and archery.

What you need to know

As part of the pilot, there will be three holiday weeks offered throughout August:

Holiday Week 1: August 2-7
Holiday Week 2: August 9-14
Holiday Week 3: August 16-21

To ensure the health and safety of our guests, there will be new processes and protocols in place:

In accordance with public health measures, the number of guests permitted to attend each holiday week will be limited to approximately 40 people.
Bookings are based on one household per cabin room.
To minimize contact, there will be multiple seating options for mealtimes.
Additional cleaning and sanitization procedures will be implemented.
Activities will follow strict safety criteria with physical distancing and masking practices in place.
Visitors will be screened prior to and upon arrival at CNIB Lake Joe. Guests 18+ will also be required to take a COVID-19 rapid test on site.

What’s included in the holiday week package

All bookings include three meals per day, accommodations for five nights, and access to on-site facilities, activities and equipment. Transportation to/from CNIB Lake Joe is not provided.

Price per person:

$690/adults.
480/adult travelling as an essential caregiver or with dependents (Note: An essential caregiver is someone who provides direct care to the guest: supporting feeding, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation, communication and assistance in decision-making. Dependents may be children or adults.)
$480 adult who requires support from an essential caregiver.
$360/child/youth (13-18 years).
$240/child (6-12 years).
Children under 5 are free.

Booking information

If you’re interested in learning more about the holiday week pilot and what guests can expect, we invite you to join us for a virtual information session on Wednesday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m.

To register for the information session, please RSVP through Zoom using this registration link.

Our online booking requests will open for holiday week reservations on Tuesday, June 22 at 1 p.m.

We remain flexible and responsive to the ever-evolving nature of this pandemic. While we know this holiday week pilot is very different than the traditional camp experience, our hope is that you will still have an opportunity to experience the magic of CNIB Lake Joe.

If you have any questions, please call CNIB Lake Joe at 705-375-2630 or 1-877-748-4028 or email lakejoe@cnib.ca.

FAQ

1. What is the Holiday Week offering?

As we continue to explore opportunities for our community to visit CNIB Lake Joe safely during this special 60th anniversary year, we’re piloting Holiday Weeks in August. Holiday Weeks pay homage to how CNIB Lake Joe first started in 1961 as the CNIB Lake Joseph Adjustment Training and Holiday Centre. This new offering invites guests who are blind or partially sighted to visit CNIB Lake Joe and enjoy all of the amenities with others in their household. Holiday Weeks will focus on independent, self-directed activities, where guests are encouraged to choose their own adventure and build their own experiences.

This offering is in addition to CNIBLakeJoe@Home virtual programs which are currently being expanded to keep our community connected from across Canada.

2. Why are you offering Holiday Weeks, instead of regular camp programs?

Based on the 'Roadmap to Reopen' plan provided by the Ontario Government on May 20, overnight camps will be permitted to open in Step 2. This will be based on guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health and local public health units. It is uncertain exactly when the province may enter Step 2 and at this time (June 21), we have not received final guidelines for the operation of overnight camps from the Government of Ontario. The operation of overnight camps is also at the discretion of the local health units, and they are also waiting on final guideline information. There is a chance that not all camps will be permitted to operate, even in Step 2. We are offering this new Holiday Week offering in August, when the province is hoping to enter Step 3, and restrictions are lifted (allowing for increased capacities for indoor spaces, and increased outdoor group numbers).

3. What is different about CNIB Lake Joe Holiday Weeks?

While we are not offering in-person summer camp programs due to the impact of COVID-19, we are piloting the Holiday Weeks offering as a phased reopening to ensure guests and their families can safely access and benefit from new expanded facilities at CNIB Lake Joe. Our friendly and supportive staff look forward to welcoming our Holiday Week guests to enjoy an accessible opportunity for rest, relaxation and recreation at beautiful Lake Joe.

What has changed:

Specific changes that have happened

COVID-19 protocols

Includes: pre-screening, temperature checks, rapid testing, masks, physical distancing, proper hand hygiene, increased cleaning and disinfecting, staff and guest cohorts, etc.
Guests will provide their own PPE (personal protective equipment) while onsite.

Booking Process

This booking request process is not as detailed as our regular registration process.
One person from each household will act as the booking contact.
There are updated waivers that include COVID-related information.

Check-In Procedures

Check-in times will be by appointment, starting at 12:30 p.m.
Rapid testing will be conducted on all guests who are 18+. Tests will be conducted by trained staff.
Guests will arrive with everything they need for the week. There will be no town runs being offered by CNIB Lake Joe.
If guests leave the site and return, they may be required to undergo rapid testing (under the guidance of our local health unit).

Fees

All bookings include three meals per day, accommodations for five nights, and access to on-site. facilities, activities and equipment. Transportation to/from CNIB Lake Joe is not provided.
$690/adults
$480/adult travelling as an essential caregiver or with dependents (Note: An essential caregiver is someone who provides direct care to the guest: supporting feeding, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation, communication and assistance in decision-making. Dependents may be children or adults.)
$480 adult who requires support from an essential caregiver.
$360/child (13-18 years).
$240/child (6-12 years).
Children under 5 are free.
We require a $100 deposit to reserve a space. Thanks to the generosity of CNIB Foundation supporters, booking fees are highly subsidized to keep fees as low as possible. Further subsidies may be available for those who qualify.

Schedule

Sessions are Monday-Saturday only for each Holiday Week to ensure time for thorough, intensive cleaning between weeks.
Individuals requiring the support of an essential caregiver will be required to bring their own support (see fees for adults travelling with an essential caregiver or with dependents).

Transportation

Guests will be required to arrange their own transportation to/from CNIB Lake Joe with the household that they booked with.
All guests must have the means to leave the site immediately if required due to illness or camp closure.

Medical

There will be no nurse onsite. All medication administration and self-care will be the responsibility of the individual and/or the essential caregiver or parent/guardian.
First aiders will be available to assist in case of emergencies.
If anyone in the household falls ill, the entire household will be required to leave immediately. Quarantining onsite is not permitted.

Virtual Information and Orientation Sessions

To keep everyone safe, instead of porch meetings, virtual information and orientation sessions will be offered so guests have all the info they need in advance, know what to expect, and can focus on enjoying their stay once they arrive.

Daytime and Evening Activities

All activities will be restricted to the household that you booked with.
Guests are to sign in to all facilitated areas (for contact tracing and to manage space capacities).
There will be no joint or large-scale group programming offered (e.g., campfire singalongs, talent show, mix ‘n’ mingles, etc.).
No offsite trips will be planned and/or coordinated.
Households that go off site will be required to undergo check-in procedures which include rapid testing.

Mealtimes

There will be designated mealtimes.
Guests will have assigned seating and tables for the week.
Tables will be at least 6 feet apart.
Designated staff will serve food to all staff and guests.
More outdoor meals will be planned and encouraged.

Common Areas and Indoor Spaces

All common areas (indoor and/or roofed) will have maximum capacities set and COVID safety practices will be in place (i.e., masking, physical distancing where possible).
Guests will be required to wear masks on all covered walkways.
Guests will not have access to cabins where they are not assigned.
Sign-in and sign-out of all spaces will be required (for contact tracing purposes).

Beach & waterfront activities

Life jackets will be assigned for each guest’s stay and required for any boating (manual or powered) activities.
Maximum capacities will be set for beach and open swims.
All equipment will be disinfected after every use.
There will be designated times for powerboating activities (e.g., pontoon cruise, tubing/waterskiing, guided fishing, etc.).

Cleaning

There will be enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of all common areas.
Housekeeping services will be restricted to departure days. Daily cleaning service will be suspended (except for emergencies).
There is no guest laundry on site.

3. How will CNIB Lake Joe keep people safe from COVID-19 during Holiday Weeks?

CNIB Lake Joe intends to follow strict COVID-19 prevention protocols as per Public Health Unit guidelines to ensure everyone enjoys a safe Holiday Week. This includes:

Pre-screening
Temperature checks
Rapid testing
Masks
Physical distancing
Hand hygiene
Keeping guests together in household units
Increased sanitizing and disinfecting procedures
Personal protective equipment (PPE)

For more information, read Public Health Ontario: Prevention and Management of COVID-19.

4. What does it mean to be part of a household?

Your household consists of the members of your family and/or personal network that you booked for the Holiday Week. There may be other households in the cabin you are assigned to. You are required to exercise all COVID prevention measures (i.e., personal protective equipment like masks and physical distancing) when in the presence of people outside your household. You may be unmasked with people in your household if the environment allows (e.g., outdoors where physical distancing from others can be achieved.).

5. When are Holiday Weeks offered?

There are three Holiday Weeks offered in August 2021:

Holiday Week 1: August 2-7
Holiday Week 2: August 9-14
Holiday Week 3: August 16-21

6. How do I book a Holiday Week at CNIB Lake Joe?

Online booking requests will open for Holiday Week reservations on Tuesday, June 22 at 1 p.m. There are three easy steps to follow:

Go to Campbrain to submit a booking request. Simply provide your name, the Holiday Week you wish to attend, the number of people in your household and some details to help us provide the best possible experience (i.e., dietary restrictions, accessibility needs). Your booking request will be reviewed and approved based on rooming availability. If your booking is approved, we will send you an invoice for your stay, a waiver, and other relevant information.
Pay the deposit and sign the waiver to confirm your booking within one week. We accept credit card, cheque and money order.
Pay the balance of the booking fee one week prior to arrival.

7. What if the Holiday Week I want to attend is full?

To ensure you get the week of your choice, we encourage you to book now. CNIB Lake Joe can put your name on a waiting list and contact you the moment a space becomes available. You will have 48 hours to accept or decline this reservation.

8. I deferred my registration fees from 2020. How do I forward that payment to my Holiday Week booking?

We will be happy to apply your registration fee from 2020 to a Holiday Week booking. Please contact us at lakejoe@cnib.ca or call 705-375-2630 or 1-877-748-4028.

9. What if I book my Holiday Week but someone in my household becomes symptomatic or sick and can’t attend?

CNIB Lake Joe will provide a refund. If you or someone in your household becomes ill during your stay and needs to leave, we will provide you with a pro-rated refund.

10. How do I prepare for my Holiday Week at CNIB Lake Joe?

Limit exposure to the greatest extent possible 14 days ahead of your arrival.

In advance of your visit, CNIB Lake Joe staff will review the COVID-19 protocols in place to ensure everyone’s health and safety during your stay. Virtual information and orientation sessions will be offered so you have all the info you need in advance and know exactly what to expect.

Since there will be no town runs, be sure to pack everything you’ll want or need. We’ll provide a sample packing list to guide you.

11. What is the maximum number of guests for each Holiday Week?

CNIB Lake Joe will operate at about half of its usual capacity with approximately 40 guests per session. There will be a limit of 2-3 households per cabin. Four cabins are available for guest accommodations during Holiday Weeks.

12. Do people have to pick between attending a Holiday Week and CNIBLakeJoe@Home programs?

No. CNIBLakeJoe@Home programs are continuing – and expanding – throughout the summer. We welcome everyone to join us online too!

13. Will you be celebrating CNIB Lake Joe’s 60th anniversary during Holiday Weeks?

Yes, absolutely! In addition to our virtual monthly anniversary events, we’ll be celebrating together on site.

14. Will CNIB Lake Joe be open this fall and winter?

We will continue to explore the potential to extend our season into fall and winter, and will confirm any additional program opportunities as soon as possible.

15. How do I get more information about CNIB Lake Joe Holiday Weeks?

Please join our Virtual Information Session on Wednesday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m. ET. To register for the information session, please RSVP through Zoom using this registration link.

16. Will the waterfront be open longer/all day?

Our goal is to keep the waterfront open throughout the day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) with the possibility of evening swims. Our waterfront hours will be confirmed once we’ve hired the entire team. If you know lifeguards who’d like to join us, please encourage them to review our lifeguard job posting and apply today!

17. Why is transportation not provided as part of Holiday Weeks?

The health and safety of our guests, staff and volunteers is our top priority. Therefore, we’re making every effort to minimize exposure to individuals and/or groups outside one’s household.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at lakejoe@cnib.ca or call 705-375-2630 or 1-877-748-4028.