Campfire Story

The Kloosterman's

Each summer when we come, it is basically a family reunion. All of the families look forward to seeing each other and spending time together. We have happy hour, camp fires together and the annual fish fry. My little family is forever grateful to the Vyns, Huininks and Koevets families for including us in their family. The kids keep in touch throughout the year and even get together. They are an amazing group that...

- Nicole Kloosterman

As a child fishing and going up north was a big part of my life. When my children, Nicholas and Emily were 3 and 5 I was looking on line for cottages at Lake Nipissing when I came upon Promised Land Camp. I spoke to my husband and we decided to see if there was any availability. There was one week available at the end of August so we took it. We packed up the truck and headed to the cottage. Emily threw up about half an hour into the drive. A huge accident had us detoured and it took us over 7 hours to get there. Within minutes of being there Nick slipped on the rocks and fell in the lake. I thought to myself this is going to be a week from hell. Turned out to be the start of an incredible tradition for our family. Each year we would come back and sometimes friends came with us and sometimes we came alone. Emily and Nick would talk about going to the cottage all year.

A few years later my husband and I divorced. The decision to go to the cottage came up and we decided not to go. I struggled with the decision as I knew how much it meant to the kids to go. But I kept thinking “I can’t drive a boat, how will I do the drive alone, can I afford it, can I do this alone, will the kids still want to go”. One day in June I was stressed out, upset and needed to get away. I called Linda and told her I wanted to come but couldn’t do the whole week. She immediately said We will work something out, you need to come, the kids and you need it. To this day, that conversation gives me goosebumps and tears in my eyes. That summer was hard to go alone. It was a different time for us as we didn’t rent a boat, but Henning took Nick fishing a few times and friends from years past we had met were there and we were welcomed with open arms, support and friendship.

After that week there was no turning back for us. We began coming for Family day weekend where we would ice fish, skate on the lake, winter hike. Then we began doing a weekend at the end of June and sometimes in September. These weekends away mean so much to us. It’s a time to be together and relax. To talk and laugh and reconnect. To realize how lucky we are to be together in our favourite place in the world.

Each summer when we come, it is basically a family reunion. All of the families look forward to seeing each other and spending time together. We have happy hour, camp fires together and the annual fish fry. My little family is forever grateful to the Vyns, Huininks and Koevets families for including us in their family. The kids keep in touch throughout the year and even get together. They are an amazing group that have grown up together and have such special memories that they will never forget.

Last year Nick kept asking me to rent a boat. I was scared to, as I didn’t know how to drive it, was worried about the cost, etc. Nick and Emily decided to pay for the boat rental and we had a boat for the week. It was AMAZING. So much fun to be out on the lake, catching fish and enjoying the peace. Every year I think, when will the kids not want to come? I cant see that happening anytime soon. Its too important to all of us.

Linda and Henning are not just owners of PLC. They are very good friends. They have been so supportive to myself and my family. I cant imagine PLC without them. Thank-you for everything you have done for us, for having a place that helped us get through a difficult time, for having a place that has created the most amazing memories.

Nicole