Book a Site at Hardwood Lake Camp
Located in Lake Paul, NS, Hardwood Lake Camp has four bookable sites: one camping lodge, one cottage and two wilderness camping sites (one with a large roofed structure and power). An unsupervised waterfront with swim raft, sandy beach and buoyed activity area is available. A boathouse and dock, canoes and rowboats are available. The camp is operated seasonally (closed from December 1, or first snowfall, to the second week of May) and can accommodate multiple groups for indoor and tent camping. For more information about these spaces, please email NS-PropertyBookings@girlguides.ca.
Address:
62 Hardwood Lake Lane
Lake Paul, NS
Check-in and check-out times
Overnight bookings:
- Check-In: 4 p.m.
- Check-Out: 1 p.m.
General Amenities and Rates
Harvest Trail Area Guiding rates (effective January 2025):
- Overnight: $50 non-refundable booking fee + $15/ person/ night
- Day: $50 non-refundable booking fee + $15/ person
Guiding rates for bookings of five-plus consecutive nights (effective January 2025):
- Overnight: $50 non-refundable booking fee + $13/ person/ night
Non-Guiding rates (effective January 2025):
- Overnight: $50 non-refundable booking fee + $22 (includes tax)/ person/ night
- Day: $50 non-refundable booking fee + $22 (includes tax)/ person
- All garbage, recycling, refundables and compost must be taken off-site at the end of your camp. There is no community collection. Take home or divide and send home with camp participants. Clean waste management during camp (double-bagging, compost containers with lids, proper sorting) makes it easier to encourage people to take home a share. Groups are required to bring their own garbage bags. The nearest waste management centre is located in Kentville. 100 Donald E Hiltz Connector Rd, Kentville; open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon; OR Lawrencetown, Annapolis Co, 343 Elliott Rd, Lawrencetown; open Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m.to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon.
- Some cleaning supplies are available, but groups are advised to come self-contained (garbage bags, toilet paper, paper towel, dish cloths/ towels, soap and cleaning products).
- Cars may drive close to sites, with angled parking in the widening of the camp lane, facing out. Larger groups could stagger arrival time or provide a wider window for drop-off/ pick-up to limit congestion. Lane must be clear at all times, from the gate to the beach. Lawn/ grounds may be wet - do not leave the lane. Do not park on grassy tent pads.
- BBQ available at lodge for full site use - groups must bring their own propane
Crests
Hardwood Lake Camp crests: $3
Vintage Kings I Area crests: $1
Crests are available with Hardwood Lake Camp key pick-up (cash, or cheques payable to Girl Guides of Canada).
Sites
Swallow’s Nest Lodge (overnight capacity 50, day capacity 60)
This site is open seasonally from the second weekend of May to November 30.
- Wheelchair accessible lodge with 15 bunk beds (30 beds) and additional 20 on-floor sleeping spots, with additional lawn space for spill tenting (bring your own tents)
- Three indoor flush toilets (one wheelchair accessible) and shared outdoor latrines
- Table and chairs for 40 in covered front porch for activities, half-dozen plastic benches, wood stove for heating (wood provided, bring your own paper and kindling)
- Wood stove for heating (wood provided, bring your own paper and kindling)
- Potable water in building with outdoor running water (mid-May to October 1)
- Kitchen refrigerator, freezer, two electric stoves, microwave, various kitchen utensils and cooking supplies, griddle, coffee maker, dish-washing basins. Groups should bring participant dishes, specific cooking equipment.
- Garbage cans (assorted, for recycling), exterior wired bin for garbage storage.
- Large campfire ring shared with the neighboring wilderness tent site (firewood provided, bring your own kindling and paper)
- Picnic tables, flagpole, Canadian flag
- Landline, fire extinguishers, CO2 detectors; fire plan document
Wilderness tenting site
- Four grassy tent pads, plus treed/ open spaces for tent camping (bring your own tents)
- Groups are advised to come self-contained. Groups should bring participant dishes, specific cooking equipment.
- Shared outdoor latrines and potable, outdoor water tap (mid-May to October 1)
- Refrigerators, microwave, dish-washing basins, food storage available in the shared boathouse
- Large campfire ring shared with the Swallow’s Nest Lodge (firewood provided, bring your own kindling and paper)
- Picnic tables, flagpole.
- Garbage cans (assorted, for recycling), exterior wired bin for garbage storage.
- Landline, fire extinguishers, fire plan document in boathouse
Chase Cottage (overnight capacity 14, day capacity 14)
- Wheelchair accessible building with two bunk beds (four beds) and 10 on-floor sleeping spots, with additional lawn space for spill tenting (bring your own tents)
- One washroom: indoor flush toilet, shower/ tub, sink; shared outdoor latrines
- Tables, chairs and main area for activities, woodstove for heating, and small outdoor deck
- Potable water in building (mid-May to October 1)
- Kitchen area in main cottage space with refrigerator, electric stove, microwave, coffee maker, limited utensils and cooking supplies, dish-washing basins. dish-washing basins, garbage can. Groups should bring participant dishes, specific cooking equipment.
- One picnic table
- Landline, fire extinguishers, CO2 detectors; fire plan document
Paxtu tenting site
- Five grassy tent pads, plus open space for tent camping (bring your own tents)
- Wheelchair accessible roof-only shelter: tables and benches (for 40), kitchen space (island, limited power/ lighting, counter and shelving space, limited supplies, fire extinguisher, dish-washing basins). Groups should bring participant dishes, specific cooking equipment.
- Shared outdoor latrines and potable, outdoor water tap (mid-May to October 1)
- Landline, refrigerators, microwave, food storage in the shared boathouse
- Campfire ring (firewood provided, bring your own kindling and paper)
- Bricked cooking area (firewood provided, bring your own kindling and paper)
- Flag pole, Canadian flag
- Five picnic tables
- Garbage cans (assorted, for recycling), exterior wired bin for garbage storage.
- Landline, fire extinguishers, fire plan document in boathouse
Equipment
Canoes
Seven canoes with bailers and throws are available. 60 multi-size PDFs with whistles, and 30 multi-size paddles are available.
Rowboats
Two fiberglass rowboats with bailers, oars and throws are available. 60 multi-size PDFs with whistles are available.
Booking terms and conditions
Payments and cancellations
There is a $50 booking fee required within 15 days of booking to hold a date. This fee is non-refundable, unless Hardwood Lake is inaccessible due to provincial woods travel closures.
Girl Guide bookings’ payments are transferred directly from the booking group's GGC Nationwide Banking Account on the due date(s) listed in the confirmation email. The booking fee is required within 15 days of booking to hold a date. The rental fee is due seven days after the site use date. Please ensure your account has sufficient funds. Non-Girl Guide bookings’ payments may be made as cash or cheque, payable Girl Guides of Canada.
Cancellations must be made 21 days prior to camp. If not, a $100 cancelation fee will be charged in addition to the booking fee. In the event of a provincial woods travel ban, all cancellation fees will be waived.