Quin-Mo-Lac's Alumni Newsletter

It's not too late to earn your 2025 tax receipt and give back to Quin-Mo-Lac. In honour of the 75th Anniversary, we are launching the 'Tis the Season of Giving Fundraiser and giving every donor a chance to win a free registration for the 2026 season. This December, anyone who donates $25 to camp will have their name entered into a draw to win one free registration for the 2026 season. You can boost your chances of winning by earning extra entries for each additional $25 increment

(4 entries for a $100 donation).

If you prefer to become a monthly donor, your chances are even better! All new monthly donations of $10 or more (current monthly donors who increase their existing donation by $10 or more) will be eligible for 5 entries in the draw.

The winner will be revealed on January 5th at 6:00 PM. That’s the night before online registration for the 2026 season begins. Stay tuned to Instagram and Facebook to see how you can watch the draw LIVE.

Click the BUTTON below or visit our website to see all the different methods of donating to Quin-Mo-Lac and select the method that works best for you.

• Donations to Quin-Mo-Lac are eligible for a tax receipt
• Donations must be received by the end of December 2025 to be eligible for the draw
• Donations can be made by e-transfer, cheque, Canada Helps, PAR or by contacting camp and donating by credit card
• The prize is a registration credit that can be used to sponsor one person for any one camp program in the 2026 season.
• Registration credit is transferable so it can be gifted to a family member, neighbour, sponsored child or donated to the Campership Fund (for a tax receipt).
• If donating the winning registration to the Campership fund, the donor will be given a tax receipt for the equivalent of one 2026 Coed Camp registration ($795)

This summer gave us 1099 happy campers who came to Quin-Mo-Lac ready to meet new friends and make special memories. We are so grateful to all those who helped deliver the magical camp experience, that is the QML legacy. With our Interim Camp Director, Evelyne Goulet, at the helm, our team overcame staff shortages, hot days and a fire ban that began at the end of training week and lasted until October. These challenges were faced with enthusiasm, determination and kindness and we are proud of the hard-working young people who gave so much of themselves this summer. QML was also blessed with several alumni volunteers who spent a week as chaplains, lent a hand in the kitchen or supported our staff throughout the summer. Check out a few pictures of these alumni and our wonderful 2025 staff & volunteers in action throughout this newsletter.

Thank you to all those alumni who helped out as Chaplain's, Registration Day greeters, office assistants, payroll specialists, tuck shop organizers, kitchen help, dishwashers, groundskeepers, shoppers and chauffeurs. Thank you to Dan & Amanda Harper for being our fearless Family Camp Directors, and to Bev Gough for organizing 3 wonderful Women's Events. Thank you to Robbie Chapman and the ladies who assist her in catering deliciously delightful meals for our May Staff retreat and the final staff banquet. To Grace McKinney, our Kitchen Supervisor and Outdoor Ed Caterer. We know that camp would not function without all your hard work, steadfast support and enduring guidance. Last but not least, thank you to Faye Jose who gave up her summer to support our Interim Camp Director and the rest of the team this year. It was so nice to see all your faces in camp this summer.

Coed 1 - Ellen McKague & Meg Squarebriggs

Coed 2 - Pam Williamson & Abby Margetson

Coed 3 - Ian Pitkin & family

Coed 4 - Robin Pitkin & family

Coed 5 - Lois McLeod & Jill Davidson

Coed 6 - Ange Rankine & Natalie Judd

Coed 7 - Mike Davidson & Dave Genge

The work of keeping camp safe, working smoothly and looking great keeps the Property Committee and Brian (Property Manager) very busy indeed. Take a peek at the list of all the projects they have accomplished this year.

• After a weather-related delay last fall, Pretoria’s new septic system installation was completed in the Spring of 2025
• Work has continued to remove any trees that might endanger buildings, powerlines or program areas
• Kanata got a shiny, new steel roof

• A new Gazebo was completed in time for the 75th Anniversary celebrations (above)
• Two new rooms were added to The Rock to accommodate additional program staff
• In the fall of 2025, the Pretoria foundation was dug up to address the moisture issues
• Streetlights were upgraded throughout camp to energy efficient LED alternatives
• Beautiful new "cabin group" signs were commissioned for each group and will be ready to greet our 2026 campers
• The maintenance yard at the top of the hill continues to undergo a "makeover" as the area is tidied and organized
• Preparation for the new Zufelt Septic System, the final stage of QML's septic upgrades, got underway as soon as things started to quiet down this fall. The photos below show the location of the new system and the progress thus far.

Many hands make light work, and we are so grateful for all the folks who lent a hand and their talents to these efforts.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our 75th Anniversary events this year. We found lots of ways to celebrate our memories and love for Quin-Mo-Lac. From the Vintage Merch online auction, the commemorative Anniversary merchandise, Alumni Polar Bear sweaters and our Quilt raffle there are a lot of beautiful camp representations out there in the world. Your generosity meant that we raised over $8500.00 that will be put towards maintaining our beloved Quin-Mo-Lac for another 75 years.

The highlight of our celebrations was our in-person celebration at Quin-Mo-Lac on June 14th. It was a perfect blue sky camp day, filled with friends, laughs, smiles and cake! Attendees had the opportunity to take a walk down memory lane and explore the property, cabins, lodge, and our archives. Many thanks to all who brought photos for us to scan and add to the archives. Thank you to our guest speakers Johanna Genge, Wendell White, Rosanne White, Trevor White, and Evelyne Goulet for sharing your special memories. Many thanks to the organizing committee for making all the 75th events a huge success.

Here’s to another 25 years!

Taryn Beck

QML's Program Committee is busy planning our annual Christmas Vespers service on Zoom. This year's vespers will feature some guest performers and special friends from the camp community. As a bonus, everyone in attendance on the ZOOM vespers will be eligible for one entry in a draw to win a gift certificate for the QML Tuck Shop. Join us on the evening of December 21st at 7:00 pm and get ready to show your Christmas QML spirit. Save the date and use the link below to join the vespers service.

Quin-Mo-Lac’s Board of Directors & Selection Committee are excited to introduce a new organizational structure for the 2026 season. This new structure recognizes the strong leadership skills within our team and aligns with best practices from other successful camp organizations. This framework will provide stability and clarity for our staff and volunteers while fostering an environment that encourages mentorship and growth for future Director candidates, ensuring effective succession planning.

Beginning December 1, 2025, Beth McKinney will assume the role of Executive Director and we will be posting our newly created position of Summer Camp Director shortly. Our commitment to continuous improvement means we will reevaluate this structure every fall, allowing us to adapt and respond to the evolving needs of our organization. We appreciate your support as we embark on this new chapter together.

Check in on the camp's website later this week for a sneak peek at the the 2026 season. Work is now underway to update the dates and prices for the upcoming year.

We are excited to announce that the Board of Directors have worked hard to find ways to make camp's wages more competitive. For the 2026 season, all program, operational and counselling staff (including our vibrant volunteers) will be better compensated for all the magic they bring to each summer. Please help us spread the word to any young people who might be interested in working at camp. The 2026 season's online applications will be available soon so contact camp for more information.

Something is definitely cooking at Quin-Mo-Lac. Generations of campers have gathered in the old camp dining hall and eagerly feasted on yummy mac & cheese. For decades, the old signposts have looked down from the rafters as staff have gobbled up their turkey banquet. Now, it's time to give the heart of camp some much needed T.L.C. After 40 years of hard service, the camp kitchen will be undergoing renovation in time for the summer of 2026. As you can imagine, this will be another big undertaking for the camp. so we are putting together a team of alumni to launch a fundraiser in the new year. If you would like to join this endeavour, click here to join the fun. Help us feed the next generation of campers & staff.

Every year, while we carry on with our busy lives, there are those in our camp family who are struggling with illness, aging, the loss of loved ones and other challenges. This past year has made us all too aware that we need to celebrate the gifts we have been given and make the most of whatever time we have been granted. With this in mind, we want to take a few minutes to recognize the passing of some folks who gave of themselves to help make Quin-Mo-Lac what it is today. Whether their contributions were behind the scenes or up front for all to see, recent or many years ago, their impact on the camp community will resonate for years to come.

Thank you and Shalom.

Don Genge (Fuzz) was camp director from 1974-1979. He and his wife Johanna (registrar) helped the board and staff create many of the same traditions we have today. He inspired young people at camp by leading worship as well as setting up themed special days. He was a motivating and memorable speaker as he shared the QML story across the Bay of Quinte Conference As a graphic artist he designed and silk screened many camp t-shirts including the beloved Polar Bear. Don will be remembered for his calm presence, his wisdom and his sense of fun and humour.

Isabel Anthony was a lady who worked hard behind the scenes for Quin-Mo-Lac and many alumni have benefited from her quiet contributions. Each year, along with her husband, she would help find children who needed some assistance and recruit sponsors to send them to camp. For many decades Isabel also helped organize lunches for our annual Work Weekend/Spring Clean camp. If you were a staff member between the early 80's and 2019, you would have likely enjoyed her yummy strawberry desserts at a training week banquet. Always kind and nurturing, Isabel showed genuine interest and steadfast support for the camp community.

A heartfelt thank you is also shared to those of you who have made donations to the camp in memory of a loved one.

Are you trying to find a home for your old costumes? Why not think of Quin-Mo-Lac? Camp life can be hard on supplies and our costumes can always use replacing and refreshing. If you have any unique, adult sized costumes that would be appropriate for camp, feel free to send them along. They may just turn up at the next campfire program.

Are you from a woodburning household and looking for some free firewood? Camp has plenty to spare these days. Much of the wood is in the bush around the camp circuit so you would need to be handy with a chainsaw and bring a crew to help you fill up your trailer. Email camp for more information.

The QML Alumni Newsletter is meant to bring together everyone who holds a special place for Quin-Mo-Lac in their hearts. Each camp journey is important and we would love to share yours. If you have a funny story, a special memory, a query about the camp’s history or even just a spark of an idea to share… we want to hear from you. Submissions can be sent to us at kids@campqml.org. A free gift will be sent to those who take the time to send us a story, so please be sure to update your mailing address with us. Pictures are always welcome too!

Hidden within each issue, you will always find at least one photograph that contains a camouflaged image of one of Quin-Mo-Lac's beloved ralph cans. In this special addition, there are even more that have been hidden. If you spot one, send an email to us at kids@campqml.org to tell us where you found the image.

Congratulations to Victoria Muir-Burcia and Christine Drabb for being the first to find the hidden cans in our spring 2025 issue. There are a few chances to win in this issue, so get your eagle eyes on and start searching!