Bolton Camp

• Early in 1922, the Neighbourhood Worker’s Association (NWA), based in downtown Toronto, purchased 100 acres along Cold Creek, east of Bolton, from the Cold Creek Trout Club ¹
• The NWA’s plan was to operate a summer, fresh air camp providing a summer holiday experience for low-income mothers with small children, as well as older boys and girls ²
• The location was selected because of the proximity to Toronto and the existence of a large but old, three-storey clubhouse which meant that the camp could start up operations very quickly ³ 
• Fresh air camps differed from private camps in that they were not conceived as rustic outdoors experiences but rather as part of the larger, social service work in Ontario and as part of the effort to reduce urban poverty ⁴
• Social and health initiatives not part of the campers home life were to be introduced as part of an overall learning experience at camp
• The NWA set up a committee to organize and run the camp.  Dubbed the Bolton Camp Committee, the Chairman was Rev. Peter Bryce who was interested in the welfare of the poor, many of whom were Scottish and English immigrants ⁵
• In 1922, Year 1 of the camp, the large hillside clubhouse was converted into dormitories and dining areas for all who attended camp.  The building was renamed Hastings Lodge ⁶
  • Bolton Camp could house 160 mothers and small children per session
  • The Rotary Club of Toronto donated Rotary Camp, a facility with sleeping quarters and indoor space for older boys in these families. Tents were set up with additional beds
  • That first summer, 1004 mothers and children came to Bolton Camp.  The fresh air camp was a huge success

• In 1926, the first cottages were built tucked away on hillsides overlooking the stream.  One of these, named Yellow Briar Lodge, was provided by Peel Junior Institute ⁷

• • The extensive building programme evolved side-by-side with the beautification of the camp grounds
  • Starting in this year, the camp employed a full time gardener ⁸

• In 1927, development began at Sherbourne Camp, a separate camp for older girls, ages 11 to 16, through the generosity of Sherbourne House Chapter of the I.O.D.E.  This became the fourth section within the Bolton Camp framework ⁹
• In 1931, Rotary Hall was built, becoming the largest building on the Bolton Camp site.  It was used as a general assembly hall for the whole camp

• In 1923, Camp Howell was added for mothers and young children.  It became the third section within the overall Bolton Camp structure ¹⁰
• Unfortunately Hastings Lodge burned down near the end of the second camp season ¹¹
• The high interest in the camp experience and the loss of the large clubhouse resulted n a large-scale development plan for the camp.  Chaired by Walter Davidson, a Toronto contractor who donated his time and efforts, the building committee created the vision for Bolton Camp, one that evolved under his guidance until the 1940s ¹²
• It was determined that all new buildings would be built in English Tudor style.  They would be set on beautifully maintained grounds, planted with lawns and dotted with trails, a stark contrast to the neighbourhoods where campers lived ¹³
• In 1924, a new Hastings Lodge was built with ground floor sleeping areas ¹⁴
  • This provided much safer sleeping quarters than the third floor dorms
  • An outdoor ‘swimming tank’, donated by a Mrs. Dunlop, provided bathing facilities, an upgrade from a previous arrangement fed directly by the aptly named Cold Creek

• In 1932, a dining hall was built for children ages 5 to 6, as well as one for children requiring high-chairs

• • In addition, at mealtimes, mothers could leave young infants in the care of a nurse at the camp’s Medical Centre at Hastings Lodge, while all other children enjoyed mealtime with kids their own ages in age-specific dining halls
  • These arrangements allowed mothers some time on their own during meals

• The NWA expanded the camp property with the purchase of an additional 84 acres 
• In 1936, a Kindergarten building, financed by Toronto Kindergarten Association, made it possible to develop programmes for younger kids from both Camp Howell and Hastings Lodge

• In 1937, Bolton Camp purchased 55 adjacent acres on the north side for the expansion of Sherbourne Camp for girls

• • Ten cabins were moved to the new property and Sherbourne House Chapter (I.O.D.E.) financed a girls’ recreation hall
  • A brick dwelling on the site was converted to a Craft Shop

• By 1938, there were 169 buildings on the Bolton Camp property, all but one planned and constructed by Walter Davidson ¹⁵.  An additional 43 acres of pasture were purchased.
• In 1947, the final purchase of 60 additional acres of land
• By the end of the 1952 season, 125,616 mothers and children had attended Bolton Camp
• By 1954, Bolton Camp consisted of 342 acres of rolling well-treed land, interspersed with small streams ¹⁶

• • Hurricane Hazel caused $250,000 in damage

• By 1958, the building tally was 100 screened-in cabins, 10 dining rooms and 70 other recreation buildings along with 3 outdoor swimming pools

• Over the years, funding for Bolton Camp came from myriad donations: individuals, groups, churches, businesses and foundations.  Beyond those already noted in the text, others were from:

• • Joseph Atkinson
  • The Atkinson Foundation
  • The United Appeal
  • Toronto Star Annual Fresh Air Fund drive

• Camp counsellors volunteered their time, as did multitudes of others, to support the camp
• In 1962, NWA changed its name to Family Service Association of Metropolitan Toronto
• Between 1968 and 1971, many buildings at the camp were replaced with modern pre-built structures while some of the original cabins were sold and moved away
  • The Bolton Conference Centre was built at this time on the northern part of the property
• In the late 1960s, two fires destroyed buildings
• In 1991, an ‘adventure-based learning centre’ was opened in the camp
• In 1999, the camp closed its doors
• In 2000, a 60-acre portion of the property was sold to a development company called Hi-lands of Bolton
• The remaining 279 acres were sold to the Toronto Montessori Schools before being bought in 2006 by Hi-Lands of Bolton, whereupon it sat vacant and unused
• Dishes, plates, posters, craft materials, and more, sat upon the shelves where they were left while the camp buildings deteriorated
• In 2011, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority acquired Bolton Camp ¹⁷

Who physically looked after the camp? ¹⁸

• In 1922, Roger Pilson Sr was hired as Bolton Camp’s first caretaker and he served for the balance of that year
• In 1923, Hartley Byrnes took over.  When he married his wife Rita in 1928, the camp built a home for the Byrnes family
• Hartley was responsible for hiring both the year-round staff as well as the summer staff, with as many as 30 people employed preparing the grounds and buildings for the arrival of families to the camp.  By 1938, when the camp had grown to 169 buildings, Hartley’s role had evolved to what today would be called Facility Manager
• Hartley retired in 1950 and his position was assumed by his brother-in-law, Harold Bishop 

Camp Director ¹⁹

• Beginning in 1924 and continuing until some time after 1954, Mildred Collver served as Camp Director
• She was the sister-in-law of Mr. F.N. Stapleford, an executive member of the NWA.  Mr. Stapleford wrote numerous published articles on the role of Social Work

Details from the 1952 Bolton Camp Annual Report

• Bolton Camp accommodates 925 campers per session, exclusive of staff
• 2914 mothers and children spent a 12-day session at Bolton Camp
• Between 1922 and 1952, a total of 125,616 mothers and children have stayed at the camp
• 99 young people volunteered as counsellors
• Camp operations are paid for primarily through donations with some contributions from campers
• The cost per 12-day session, including food and transportation, is $36.21
• The campers and staff consumed:

• • 10747 lbs.. of meat
  • 11149 loaves of bread
  • 5650 lbs. of sugar
  • 2438 lbs. of rolled oats and cereals
  • 2850 lbs. of margarine
  • 11160 quarts of ice cream

• • • Plus: milk, fresh and canned fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheese etc
• There is no indebtedness against the property, buildings, equipment and water system ²⁰

Bolton Camp Land Aquisition