Disturbing Camping Encounter

I worked as a camp counsellor and was camping with a group of children on a lake. A co-counsellor and I took turns supervising the kids while they swam, built forts, and played games. After cooking food and telling stories, the children went into their tents, which were a short walk from the shoreline but still visible from our fire pit.

My co-counsellor and I were sitting by the water when we saw a small light approaching slowly and slightly above the water. It was mounted on the front of a kayak, and someone was approaching our campsite. Training had taught us how to deal with strangers while responsible for children, and I was prepared to ask the paddler to leave. But the person’s appearance shook me as the light drew nearer.

Paddling the kayak was an older woman. She had incredibly long wisps of grey hair trailing in the water. Her skin looked like old leather, and her eyes were difficult to see beneath her wrinkles. She looked directly at me, and when she spoke I realized she was missing most of her teeth.

“Are all your children safe in bed?” she asked, pointing toward the tents.

Not knowing how to respond, I told her they were fine and that she had to leave.

“That’s good. Just as expected for this time,” she said with a smile. Then she turned her kayak and paddled off into the darkness.

My co-counsellor and I were deeply unsettled, not only by the woman’s appearance but also by her question about the whereabouts and safety of the children. We checked on the kids, then sat by the fire and stayed alert.

Later, another counsellor leading a nearby trip sent a message saying, “Stop messing with us. This isn’t funny. The kids are really creeped out.” I called and explained that I had just seen someone near our campsite and was not playing a joke. One of their children had opened a tent door and seen a woman with long hair standing near the shoreline with her arms open toward them.

No one knew who the woman was or where she had come from. The children were kept together and supervised for the rest of the night.