On June 1st, Waupoos was a location for Doors Open Ottawa 2024! This was a great opportunity to spread the word about Waupoos. CBC radio kindly featured us in an interview that helped to extend our reach! The farm management team, the board, and several volunteers teamed together to run this event. Those who stopped by got a tour of Waupoos and then had the opportunity to roast a marshmallow, play outdoor games, see the animals, and have their faces painted.
June was a month of gearing up for the summer. There is always a lot to do! We were very thankful for volunteers – individuals and corporate groups – who helped us prepare the property for a full summer of vacations!
In July and August, we hosted eight weeks of cottager vacations! New connections with social services helped to welcome families who otherwise would not have known about Waupoos. It was lovely to welcome back returning families and a joy to see new families experience Waupoos for the first time. Our summer staff and host families helped to make each week memorable. Families enjoyed swimming lessons, morning prayer times, a range of activities, tractor rides, campfires, and a weekly talent show.
The creativity of host families, when it came to activities, was always fun to see.
Morning prayer times were an opportunity for those who attended to talk about Jesus and to read Scripture in an honest and relaxed environment.
Open Houses ran each Saturday of the summer, featuring pool time, a tractor ride, Mass, and a BBQ potluck dinner. A highlight from the potlucks was getting to try delicious dishes from all around the world. Who needs to travel internationally, when you could just come to Waupoos?
The animals at Waupoos made us all smile. We were joined for the summer months by Monica, Phoebe, and Spud – these goats had lots of personality! Wiggy and Wilbur cuddle in the barn at night and enjoy mucking around outside during the day. Wilbur kept us on our toes with his great escape plans! Our chickens took their multiplying seriously and we had several little bunches of peeping yellow chicks wandering the grounds this summer.
