History

Over Fifty years ago, on February 28th, 1958 Allan and Ellen Bonwill incorporated Skycroft. In its earlier days it was operated in Connecticut as a day camp. Later in 1958 they purchased the property in Canada on which Skycroft now resides. Then they would bring the children up to the Canadian property, which provided opportunities for wilderness tent camping (no hydro in those days) and exploring Lake Opinicon. It was the Bonwill’s goal to educate people, especially young people about the outdoors and care of the planet. In that regard they were well ahead of their time. In 1973 the Bonwills moved to Canada as permanent residents. They continued to operate Skycroft at its present location but now the children were brought up by their families. It was a natural progression that the parents requested to stay while their children attended the camp. The Bonwills found that with the parents here taking care of their own children, it provided more time for them to devote to outdoor education. Slowly the camp evolved into a family campground. As time marched on the Bonwills found they were getting too old to carry on alone in Canada so they invited their daughter Anne, and her husband Jim Barton to join them and continue to develop Skycroft as a family camp for income purposes. Anne and Jim moved to Canada on September 1, 1983 and began the work of building and improving the facilities to accommodate the needs and desires of today’s camping public.

March 11th, 2011 Anne and Jim Barton retired handing over the reins to Sherry and David Hilhorst. The Hilhorsts desire is to continue with the Bonwill/Barton vision of a natural campground. A place where families can truly enjoy what nature has to offer. Skycroft has always been a place for true outdoor enthusiasts with the Canadian Shield as the playground. Bordering the famous Rideau system, the Rideau Trail, and Cataraqui Trail, Skycroft Campground has no limits to what nature has to offer. Skycroft has been Naturally Fun since 1958 and we look forward to many more years of great memories at Opinicon Lake.

 

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