Volunteer Spotlight: Mary and Royce Cox Bring the Magic to Wanakita Traditions
17-06-2025
For Mary Cox, the story of Camp Wanakita didn’t begin with a childhood memory or a summer job. It began with a fresh start.
After relocating to Haliburton in 2007, Mary was searching for connection in her new community. A friend suggested a seasonal cleaning job at the YMCA camp nestled among the pines. “I was going nuts being alone up here,” she laughs. “So I found a job—and it was great.”
It wasn’t long before the energy of Wanakita—especially the joy of the day campers she greeted each morning—captured Mary’s heart.
“It was a completely different world up here,” she says. “I was outside all the time. It was exciting. I had never done camp in my life, and I loved it."
Mary’s role quickly expanded. When camp’s registration system needed extra hands, she stepped into the office, tackling the paperwork mountain with determination. “Dan [Crawford] showed me this huge pile and I just said, ‘No problem, show me how to do it,’” she recalls. “A few days later, the pile was gone—and Dan said, ‘She’s a keeper.’”
For the next 12 years, Mary was a dependable, spirited presence at Wanakita, both behind the scenes and out among campers and families.
Even after retirement, Mary’s connection to camp didn’t end—it deepened. Alongside her partner Royce, Mary became a pillar of two of Wanakita’s most treasured community events: the Strawberry Social and Breakfast with Santa.
Royce first tagged along on work weekends, happy to lend a hand wherever he could. But everything changed when Mary realized he already owned a Santa suit. “I volunteered him,” she grins. And with that, a new tradition was born.
Their first Breakfast with Santa was in 2010, and what started as a cozy morning for 94 guests has grown into a beloved annual event welcoming nearly 500 people. There’s face painting, crafts, games, and of course—Santa photos. One year, Royce cradled a baby just days old.
“It’s such a privilege,” Mary says. “People bring their whole families. Even grandparents line up for a photo with Santa.”
In 2013, Mary officially took the reins as event organizer, overseeing everything from decorations to logistics. She’s fond of the chaos—especially the challenge of capturing perfect family photos amid excited, wiggling kids. “You have to be alert,” she says. “But once the suit goes on, the magic begins.”
The Strawberry Social holds a different kind of magic. A tradition since 1974, it began as a simple tea and grew into a hallmark of Haliburton summers. Mary helped elevate the event with thoughtful touches—white tablecloths, live music, and a welcoming atmosphere that keeps generations coming back.
“It’s more than strawberries and tea,” she says. “It’s about community. It’s where kids see what camp is all about, and where people feel like they belong.” Some guests stay for hours, not for the shortcake, but for the conversation and connection.
Behind both events is a small army of volunteers—more than 140 for the Strawberry Social and around 40 for Breakfast with Santa. But at the heart of it all are Mary and Royce: cheerful, committed, and full of heart.
To Mary, Wanakita is a world apart. “You can’t do this in the city,” she says. “At Wanakita, kids run free and parents relax. It’s safe. It’s joyful. It’s special.”
Together, Mary and Royce have helped shape that special feeling into something lasting. Their dedication has become a beacon for others—an invitation to shine in service of something greater.
As Mary puts it, “I get what I give. And what I’ve gotten from Wanakita? It’s been life-changing.”
With every pancake flipped, every strawberry sliced, and every “Ho ho ho,” the Coxes light up Wanakita—and the community around it—with warmth, joy, and tradition that will endure for years to come.
#ShineOn #IgnitePotential #Volunteer
Wanakita is where children swap screens for sunshine, notifications for nature, and emojis for emotions. It’s where they learn to build resilience, independence, and meaningful connections— with themselves, with others, and with the great outdoors.
Help everyone have the time of their life at Wanakita.
