Residential Camp
- ages 8-14, co-ed
- 1 or 2 week sessions
- Dates, Rates & Availability
Campers can choose a 1 week session for a taste of camp life. Or they can select our 2 week session in order to allow them more time to develop and refine skills, and to participate in a broader range of activities.
One Week Sessions
A one week session is a great introduction to the Camp Kawartha environment and a great way to experience a bit of everything. Campers get the opportunity to participate and learn skills in all camp activities. The days are highlighted by memorable evening programs, and a weekly theme day. The session ends with a banquet, our traditional candle lighting ceremony, and the final slide show!
Two Week Sessions
A two week session offers a more intense experience. Campers and staff have a greater opportunity to nurture relationships and partake in the great lessons that camp has to offer. More diverse programming is available as campers select four areas of interest and spend each morning concentrating on two of their choices . Campers work to achieve Camp Kawartha levels and are given awards at the end of the session. There are a wider range of evening programs and theme days. All campers participate in an overnight trip – youngest (usually 8-10) do overnight on the range, middle campers (11-12) do a 1-night trip, and the oldest campers (13-14) do a two-night trip. Two night trips are taken in the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park (KHSSP), and 1-night trips are either in the KHSSP or in the local area. These are only a guideline, as a 12 year old in the oldest cabin might still go on a two-night trip, and cabin behaviour may dictate how long the trip will be. The values of nature and teamwork are inculcated in the actions of our trippers and staff. On top of a fun and unforgettable experience, the session supports camper development and leads them on the path of leadership.
A Day at Camp
Morning Activity Periods
Activities include: archery, arts and crafts, drama, land sports, nature skills, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, swimming and windsurfing.
Afternoon Interest Choices
Activities consist of special events planned by counsellors. Capitalizing on our staff's unique talents, these programs focus on inclusion and group activities that might require a longer period of time including day hikes to our wetlands, trips to Sisters Island on our lake, and dance clubs.
Evening Program
The creative energy of our staff is channeled every evening into our awesome camp-wide programs. It all starts with a campfire the first evening and builds each night to include new innovate programs and old traditional favourites such as the talent show and Zing Tong! From dressing up as zany characters with phobias to collecting clues against the clock, staff and campers join together for some of the most memorable moments of the session.
Theme Days
Each week, we break from the usual routine and do something completely different. It can be a backwards day, a camp-wide relay, or a carnival. Favourites include Campstock, where we invite our talented staff to perform on a main stage as campers travel to rotations from face-painting to mini-competitions, and EcoChallange, where campers must compete in an environmentally themed relay race across our 180-acre range. There’s always a great spirit and energy to these events.
Additional Programming
Each day is a special day at Camp Kawartha, and our staff are always working hard to provide the fun and excitement that they remember as campers. With that in mind, special events such as night hikes and high ropes are integrated into the cabin schedule to build on the excitement of the day and on one’s camp experience.
A Typical Day at Camp
| 7:25am | Wake-up bell, Polar Bear Dip, Morning Hygiene, Table Setting |
| 7:50am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am | Health Hustle - Each morning after breakfast the campers participate in light exercise and fun games to start off the day. Led by our Leaders-in-Training and select staff, Health Hustle prepares us for the morning by raising the level of excitement and getting the energy flowing |
| 9:35am | Activity Period #1 |
| 11:05am | Activity Period #2 |
| 12:30pm | Wash up; Table Setting |
| 12:45pm | Lunch; Sign up for afternoon interest choice activities |
| 1:30pm | Rest Period, Tuck, Cabin Cleanup |
| 2:25pm | Interest Choice #1 |
| 3:25pm | Interest Choice #2 |
| 4:30pm | General Boating and Swimming (GBS) |
| 5:30pm | Wash up, Table Setting |
| 5:40pm | Dinner |
| 6:30pm | Structured free time |
| 7:30pm | Evening Program |
| 8:45pm | Snack |
| Nighttime Routine | Each day ends in the cabin with a "check-in" - a chance for campers to reflect on the day. Our traditional "rose and thorn" check-in provides campers with an opportunity to share with their cabin-mates the highlights of their day and re-live the excitement of camp. As the session progresses, creative check-ins allow campers to learn from their experiences, both individually and as a group. |
| Lights Out | Younger campers (8-12) have their lights out by 9:30pm and our older campers have lights out by 10:00pm |
Adventure Program At Regular Camp
Activities include the climbing wall, high ropes, and initiative tasks. The oldest cabin groups (typically ages 13-14) will be scheduled in for an opportunity to experience our Adventure Program. Younger campers may also be given an opportunity to sign up for and participate in adventure activities during afternoon interest choice periods.
