Killbear Personal Narrative

Every single summer, the last two weeks of August; my family and I would go camping at Killbear Provincial Park. First time I went, I was 10 month old. I couldn’t talk yet and was just learning to crawl, but that didn’t stop my family from ending the tradition. I pretty much grew up there, all my favorite nature experiences are from camping there.

My parents first started going when they were just dating. One of their first dates was a day trip up to Killbear. They started out by staying in a tent. Once I was 8, we bought our first tent trailer because we were outgrowing the little tent. When I was 12, we bought a hardtop hybrid trailer because we outgrew the tent trailer.

My parent would put SO much preparation into the trip. They had

a list that they would print off every year, which included 2 pages filled with utilities and supplies for our family adventure. Every year if would grow a little longer. My mom would create a 10 day meal plan, which she would then have to make a groceries list out off. The groceries list alone would usually be around 800$. Then we would go on a drink run which included pop for the kids and lots of beer for dad! Lol. The whole week before we left, my mother would be in the kitchen cooking till 11 every night. The morning of, they would be up when the sun was up, packing up the two cars and trailer. My parents are the reason I loved that trip.
On the day off, I would pack my things and load them all into the car. Many times I would always forget something so we would usually have to go back once we leave the driveway. On the way there, we would stop at dairy queen and Tim hortons for lunch. Once we turned on the road, the best feeling would shoot through my body, we are almost there. My siblings and I would start to sing the ice cream song and Killbear song, we made them up. My favorite time of the year was finally here. Unpacking the campsite was a pain but I would just help a bit then ride off on my bike when no one was looking.
Everything about Killbear was amazing. Every year one more family from Bracebrige would join our little adventure. Last time we had the Gramaldi’s, the Gammons, the Schell’s, the Johnston’s, the Crisp’s, the Jones’s, the Mceacheran’s, the Bissonett's, the Morel’s and many more would join for a couple days. That’s a lot of family’s, at least 40 people would come to join our family tradition every year from all over Ontario.
Everyday we would meet at the same spot, beside a climbing tree and our volleyball net that dad would set up. Day adventures would include going to the jumping rocks, the clay pits, going cray fishing, swimming, playing beach volleyaball, bike rides to the lighthouse and many more! You could never get bored even if its pouring rain.
If the walls of the Killbear campsites in beaver damns could talk, they could tell hours on end of stories and memories. From playing a 20 person card game of spoons to 40+ people having a steak dinner on one campsite. Every night was included with scary stories by the campfire while roasting marshmallows. I was raised in the campgrounds of Killbear.
This past year, my cousin was having a wedding in Norway and we attended. The trip was amazing and I am thankful for it but it was right at Killbear time. I was very disappointed to be missing Killbear. Everyone went without us and I’m still very upset that I ruined the tradition. Next year I have for sure going, and I’m excited to see what the future brings.