Getting to Camp

Read this little blurb for suggestions on how to get to Feral, or if you just want meat and potatoes, skip to the header that best suits you!!

Feral! is unique in many ways.  For one, the site is several kilometers from the nearest highway, which itself is many kilometers from a major route (the 400 Highway).  In other words...it's remote!  Another way we’re unique…we have a bus to get you to camp if you don’t want to drive yourself!!

There are two main ways to get to Feral…one is to take the Feral Bus, the other is to drive.  We recommend the following:

• If you don’t have to drive, take the Feral! Bus.  It is a unique experience; traveling with a group of furs to and from Feral on a school bus (in the past driven by both Potoroo’s elementary school bus driver, and once by his high school prom dates Mom!!).  You leave the work to us for a low fee, and can relax at Feral a little more!
• If that isn’t an option, we highly suggest you try to travel with a group of furs!  Make it a road trip, help save the environment, and save some gas money! If you don’t have anyone in your region to pick up, perhaps there’s someone en route!  Use Twitter, Facebook, or even Feral Staff (contact any one of us for help) to locate a ride share mate!
• If you have to drive yourself, please make the time to drop by Yorkdale Mall where the bus picks up campers.  That way you can meet up with everyone, meet the staff, and make the trip extra fun by joining the Camp Feral! Caravan! 

Yup, probably one of the few furry cons where furs can take a bus, carpool, or caravan to their destination!  Now...how to sign up for and catch the bus, and how to drive to camp!!
 

FERAL BUS:

The Feral! Bus leaves from Yorkdale Mall (1 Yorkdale Road, Toronto, ON) a major mall on the outskirts of Toronto, on August 24th at 2 PM SHARP!  It costs an additional $45 to cover the cost of the bus…by comparison, a similar bus trip from Toronto to Algonquin costs $70 round trip!

If you are arriving by plane, arrive no later than 12 pm on the 24th!  This will let you collect your bags and travel to the mall to catch the bus in time!  Your flight should leave Pearson Airport NO EARLIER THAN 6 PM ON AUGUST 28th!!  The bus will leave camp at 11 am and, depending on traffic, should arrive at the mall by 3 pm.
The bus loads up outside the Shoppers Drug Mart entrance near The Bay (the North-West corner of the Mall, facing Dufferin Street) and traditionally furs meet up at the indoor waterfall wall by the entrance to The Bay (Camp Feral staff will be there and easily identifiable in their Staff shirts, with radios on their hips, and a look of pleased insanity on their faces!)

To ensure you get a ride on the bus, please read the following carefully:

1. Register for the Feral bus online so we know that you are taking it…failing to do so may mean the bus is full and we’ll have to scramble to find you a seat elsewhere!
2. If you did not pay for the bus online, please have your FULL REGISTRATION FEE in CASH available so you can pay on the bus.  Please note, we cannot accept cheques, money orders, or credit cards after a week prior to camp.
3. The bus, again, leaves at 2 PM SHARP!
4. Campers arriving by plane should arrive no later than 12 pm and have prepared to take the TTC Shuttle from the Airport to Yorkdale.  Please contact staff to ensure you know how to do this! (the TTC Shuttle is an additional $3)
5. Campers arriving by train or bus should arrive in Toronto earlier than 12 pm as you will have to travel from the TTC from Bay or Dundas Station to Yorkdale.  Again, please contact Feral staff to ensure you  have directions!!
6. Ensure we have a correct cell phone number so that we can reach you if you have not arrived at Yorkdale by 1:30 pm.  We are very laid back, but have a strict rule regarding the bus departure…otherwise, food is cold when we get to Arowhon!! If you are going to be late, please call one of the numbers we will supply you two weeks before camp in an email.
7. Regarding that…2 weeks before camp we will give you staff cell phone numbers, and some will be specifically to contact regarding the bus…please PLEASE put them in your phones, or write them down, and protect them.  They are your lifeline if you run into trouble. (Ask Potoroo to tell you sad sad late arrival stories!)
8. We cannot guarantee that a Feral staffer will be able to stay late in the event that you arrive after 2 pm and have not contacted us in advance…we may not be able to guarantee someone can stay even if you contact us in advance!  But we’ll try our best, because we luv you!

In other words, arriving in Toronto and making the bus is SERIOUS business, so take it as seriously as you would bringing sunblock (serious), warm clothes (serious) and your desire to have fun (very serious…hey!)

Any questions?  Don't hestitate to find us on Twitter or email us at campferal@gmail.com.

VIA AIRPLANE: DIRECTIONS FROM AIRPORT TO YORKDALE VIA TTC

The 192 Airport Rocket leaves Pearson Airport (YYZ) from Terminal One. To see the schedule and get any last minute information about the bus to Yorkdale from the Airport, please click this link (or the title above).

VIA BUS: DIRECTIONS FROM BUS TERMINAL TO YORKDALE VIA TTC

The Greyhound Bus Terminal in Toronto drops you of at Bay and Dundas St.  After leaving the terminal, walk east on Dundas Street towards the Eaton Centre on Yonge Street.  At Dundas and Yonge you will find the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) Dundas Subway Station.  Enter (it will cost $3) and take the subway north to Yonge-Bloor Station.  Take the Bloor line was to St. George Station.  Transfer  to the University/Spadina Line (Yellow) and head north to Yorkdale.  Walk to Yorkdale Mall, and through to the Shoppers Drug Mart/Bay exit where the bus will be picking you up!  Here is a map of the TTC Subway System to help you navigate!

VIA TRAIN: DIRECTIONS FROM UNION STATION TO YORKDALE VIA TTC

If arriving by trail to Union Station, the trip to Yorkdale for the bus is easy!  Simply take the subway north towards St. Andrew (this is the west direction...there is also an east direction towards King station...do not take this direction).  The subway will take you all the way to Yorkdale. Walk to Yorkdale Mall, and through to the Shoppers Drug Mart/Bay exit where the bus will be picking you up!  Here is a map of the TTC Subway System to help you navigate!

PARKING:

If you would like to drive to Toronto, park, and take the Feral Bus PLEASE contact Feral staff in advance.  Parking in Toronto is very expensive, and it might be better to try and find a fur with a house at which you can park!!

DRIVING TO CAMP:
Camp Arowhon has great directions on their site...we copy them here, or you can check them directly by clicking here.

How To Get to Camp from Toronto or the West:
Take Highway 400 North to Barrie. From Barrie follow Highway 11 North towards Huntsville. Just past Huntsville, take Highway 60 East for 33 km to the Algonquin Park entrance. Continue on Highway 60 after the Algonquin Park Permits & Information Centre for 16 km (approx. 10 mi.) until you reach Arowhon Road (just after the Canoe Lake cutoff). Turn left on the Arowhon Road. Follow the instructions below on how to get to camp on the Arowhon Road.

How to Get to Camp from Montreal, Ottawa or the East:

Take Highway 17 from Ottawa to Renfrew. At Renfrew, take Highway 60 West to Algonquin Park. Pass the East Gate and continue for 41 km to the Arowhon Road. Turn right on the Arowhon Road, and follow the instructions below on how to get to camp on the Arowhon Road.

How to Get to Camp on the Arowhon Road:

Follow the Arowhon Road for 5 km (approx. 3 mi.) to the crossroads. Turn LEFT at the crossroads where you will see a sign straight ahead that says “Arowhon Pines, you are entering a Wilderness Area. Only 3 km to go.” (Arowhon Pines is a hotel and a different location than Camp Arowhon). Pass the sign that says “road restricted to authorized travel” and continue over a long causeway and two bridges for 2.2 km (approx. 1.3 mi.) till you come to a ‘T’ intersection with a sand pit on your right. Turn right (if you come to a chain across the road, back up – you missed the right turn). Continue for 2 km (approx. 1.2 mi.) till you reach camp. Park in our parking lot and walk in to camp.

GPS co-ordinates to Camp Arowhon are: 45.595783,-78.730946

Please note: the trip to Arowhon is scenic and beautiful, and the drive from Hwy 60 to camp is very pretty and oft times one can even see a fox …but…it’s also pretty rough.  If you have a pretty car you’d rather not get bounced around or potentially rock-flung…we highly suggest the Feral Bus ;)

We know this was a heavy read, but we hope you took the time to seek the info you need.  The worst way to come to Feral is unprepared, and the only way to get to Feral is to...get to Feral!  If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please contact us by the Suggestion Box or at campferal@gmail.com.