The Ottawa Medieval Camping Weekend was a tremendous success this year. We had an excellent turnout of friends and family. Much fun, food, and frivolity was had.
Click here to see the image galleries from the OMCW 2007.
The original event page continues below...



This event is hosted by the Ottawa Medieval Sword Guild (OMSG)
and offered to the WMA community by invitation only.
It is not open to the general public.

Click to view image gallery
Once again the Ottawa Medieval Sword Guild is hosting its annual Medieval Camping Weekend from Friday, August 3 through Monday, August 6, 2007. This is a family camping event welcoming people of all ages and last year we had lots of young people with their parents.
Cost per attendee is $75.00 Cdn. which includes camping, the farm facilities, and the feast. Commemorative T-shirts are available to order for $15.00 Cdn.
Planned Activities
In a totally informal and sporadic occurrence there'll be grappling, dagger, arming sword, longsword, poleweapons and just about any medieval weapon you think of friendly sparring and training happening. Lots of armor. Archery and possibly a tournament, swimming, hiking, local small french town shopping, campfires, flaming arrow bonfire ignition, armoured charge against archers with blunted arrows, plenty of hangin around in the wilderness with friends and much more... The only for sure thing is the banquet of roast pig will be on Saturday night.
Accommodations
This is a camping weekend and so accommodations are...wait for it... a tent. This is a horse riding ranch/farm of 135 acres and we will be utilizing the front 40. There is a kitchen building towards the back of the main homestead which we will have access to for morning breakfasts should we want (or cook it up on your coleman at your site) and also has 2 bathrooms and 2 showers available for our use as well.
There is no electricity except at the homestead so don't plan to bring electric lights, fridges, hairdryers, boom boxes (which will be destroyed or launched from the trebuchet) with you.
As you enter the property up the drive, follow the driveway in and around to the right and left towards the main house and park for now. Continue walking to the back of the property (its OK) and the camping area is just across the creek over the bridge. This is the island campsite and it's a nice camping area which is an easy/short walking distance to the kitchen/bathroom/shower building, swimming (the spring fed creek), and the homestead. We don't want people driving across the grass to the bridge so haul your stuff over and then park back up the drive somewhere. it'll all be obvious when you get there.
The cost of admission includes the campsite but you are responsible for your own camping equipment. There are some of you traveling from afar and we are in the process of arranging camping gear (tents, sleeping bags, etc.) for those people. If your interested in this please contact us asap.
There are motels/hotels located in Wakefield (about 15 min away) and if your interested in staying in a hotel instead, please let us know and we'll assist you in getting that arranged.
With Safety in mind, the owners of the ranch (Carla in this case as Jean-Claude is boogying around in a wheelchair) are St. John's first aid qualified as are several OMSG members. There is a hospital in Wakefield 15 minutes away and there is a voluntary fire dept/medical staff on call locally. Also, if you have any allergies or medical concerns (bee stings, food types, asthma) please let us know so we are aware of your condition and can deal with it should a situation arise.
What to Bring
  1. Camping gear (tent, sleeping bags, cooking stuff, lounge chairs, kitchen sink if you want/can fit it in).
  2. Lanterns, torches and/or citronella things.
  3. 1 10gal water container.
  4. Food. OMSG is providing a BBQ/Banquet on Saturday night but all other meals are your responsibility. Again, Wakefield is close and you can purchase food there.
  5. Cooler(s).
  6. All your medieval stuff.
  7. Your evening refreshments.
Driving Directions
If you are driving to this event, I'll describe it from Ottawa and you can figure out where you drive into my description.
  1. In Ottawa your going to be on the Queensway (417) so take the Nicholas/Hull turn-off.
  2. On the turn-off, from either direction, zero your trip odometer.
  3. Stay in the Hull lane. it goes down to Rideau, turn right, past Cumberland to King Edward, turn left (follow the "Hull/#5" signs, they're everywhere).
  4. On King Edward hang out in the left lane all the way. Cross the bridge into Quebec and just cruise.
  5. After the bridge your on hwy#5 North which takes you through and out to the bush.
  6. At 26.6km from the Nicholas/Hull turn-off, #5 ends.
  7. Turn right at the "T" and then left onto hwy#105 North".
  8. Cruise on this highway and at 34.2km you'll pass the Wakefield turn-off.
  9. At 36.6km take the left turn onto hwy#366 West. There's a big painted sign in the grass at the turn. This is a nice drive and along the way there'll be a covered bridge on the left at 42.2km and a really big church on the right at 43.9km. There's a flashing light about 8 clicks past the church at 51.3km which is for "Duclos".
  10. Turn right there and exactly 4km on the left is the nice blue&white sign.