With the pandemic in the rear view mirror and a general return to normalcy, kids – including parents! – are likely excited about this summer’s camp possibilities.
Kids (and adults) will have fun getting creative, being in nature, tennis, sailing, swimming, mountain biking, zip-lining — basically staying active and creative in safe and welcoming environments throughout the Hills.
We’ve reached out to local camps in the area to see what’s on offer and received the following submissions, which have been reprinted here, with the addition of some edits for style, length, and grammar.
Awad of Dancers
In these crazy times there might be but one thing that can bring us all together — dance! Awad of Dancers present Summer Camp Blast! The camp consists of three weeks for 3 to 5 year olds and three weeks for 6 to 9 year olds. The camp will be filled with outdoor fun, art and dance! For more information visit awadofdancers.com and/or email: awadofdancers@gmail.com. See you on the dance floor!
Cascades Club
Do you dream about your child being outside all summer — exploring, playing, swimming, paddling, learning new skills, and building confidence? Cascades Club offers summer programming like no other. Situated on the Gatineau River and surrounded by the Gatineau Hills, your child will have the opportunity to make friends and memories that will last a lifetime. The Summer Camp (ages 6 to 10) and Paddling Camp (ages 9+) are open to members as well as non-members. Summer Camp is a classic camp experience, filled with outdoor play, crafts, access to squash courts, daily swimming and paddling — all led by seasoned and highly skilled youth summer staff. Paddling Camp introduces young paddlers to the sport of sprint canoe and kayak and aim to develop campers’ essential paddling skills and encourage confidence on the water, while they have fun learning, playing and training with friends. Paddling programs are led by highly qualified coaching staff, who have experience working with children. Spots are limited. For more information visit cascadesclub.ca.
Centre Wakefield La Pêche
Centre Wakefield La Pêche is excited to bring summer camp back to the village. It’s planned nine amazing weeks of day camp for children ages 5 to 12, with weekly trips to Lac Philippe. Days will be filled with games and activities enjoyed throughout various locations of Wakefield and animated by local youth. It is also bringing back specialty camps for youth ages 10+ seeking a specific interest, such as dance, mountain biking, art, basketball, and skateboarding. Leaders in Training and Starting Up Smart programs will provide hands-on learning opportunities for youth. More information coming soon, registration opens March 15.
CGIT Camp Kalalla
Since 1949, Camp Kalalla in Alcove has provided empowering experiences for girls and young women (ages 7 to 16) through a traditional camp program, including swimming, kayaking, canoeing, crafts, hiking, campfires, overnights, Discovery Time (facilitated group discussions), evening Vespers, and our Leader-in-Training program. Accredited by the Ontario Camps Association, Kalalla grows skills and self-confidence in campers, builds lifelong friendships, and creates fun, laughter, and magical moments at the camp’s beautiful 100-acres in the Gatineau Hills. Camp runs from July 23 to 30. For more information visit kalalla.com or email: registrar@kalalla.com (camper info); staffing@kalalla.com (staffing); or rentals@kalalla.com (site rentals).
Danford Lake Summer Camp
Danford Lake Summer Camp is located in the village of Danford Lake at Henry Heeney Memorial Park, surrounded by lush landscape, which includes a creek, play structures, splash pad, and 30 acres to explore. The camps’ goal is for children to have fun in a safe environment and discover new adventures. Programming includes: sports, crafts, games, and outdoor activities (different themes weekly). It offers a bilingual program that is certified to meet the provincial safety standards of the Association des camps du Québec. Camp is open to children ages 5 to 12. For more information, phone 819-467-2941 or email projets@alleyn-cawood.ca.
Earth Path's nature camps are a week of fun, outdoor adventuring, where youth have an opportunity to explore forests, creeks and meadows, track animals, play games, learn about edible and medicinal plants, craft with natural materials, journal, and build shelters! They’ll also practice wilderness skills, develop safety awareness, and learn to care for each other and the natural world. The camp's mentor-to-child ratio of 1:5 ensures each child can explore their interests and grow in a supportive community. The camps take place at Eco Echo from: June 26 to 30; July 10 to 14; and August 14 to 18, each day between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Camps are available for ages 6 to 12. Visit earthpath.ca for more information or contact corinne@earthpath.ca.
Gatineau River Yacht Club
The Gatineau River Yacht Club is located in Chelsea on Summerlea Road. It has been promoting sailing on the Gatineau River for 61 years. Its Youth Program provides a fun-filled environment for kids ages 9 to 18, under the supervision of certified instructors. The club’s objective is to foster a lifelong love of the sport, as sailing teaches independence, the love of the outdoors and of the Gatineau River in particular. The Youth Program has a small instructor-to-student ratio, providing a safe learning environment. It offers basic, advanced and racing courses in concordance with the CANSail Program from Sail Canada and Voile Québec standards. Four, two-week sessions are planned in July and August. Cost for non-members of the Gatineau River Yacht Club is $680 per session. The club can provide financial support for camp registration through a limited number of bursaries from its Allen Richens Memorial fund. Registrations will open in March. Visit gryc.ca/sailing-school/youth-sailing for more information or reach out to youthprogram@gryc.ca.
Kinéactif Come have fun at camp Kinéactif, a multidisciplinary camp located at Philemon-Wright High School in Gatineau, as well as at 112 Commandeur St. in Cantley. The camps are open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from June 27 until August 12. Kineactif offers sport camps, such as rollerblading, mountain biking, soccer and more. Activities such as cooking, photography, ecology and science are also available. Visit kineactif.com for more details and to register.
Lac-Ste-Marie Tennis Camp
Tennis Lac-Ste-Marie and The Level Tennis will again host children and adult tennis camps this summer. There are two, week-long camps for children and adults. Both camps run from July 3 to July 7 and August 7 to August 11. Arthur Cuenco, a certified Tennis Canada Professional will be running the camps again this summer. The children’s camp is for kids ages 6 years to 17. It runs from 9 a.m. to noon each day. Participants must have their own racquet. There will be a maximum of 10 children per group. The cost of the camp is $250 for one week or $480 for both weeks. The adult camp is for ages 18 and up, and runs from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m each day. The cost of the camp is $190 for one week; or $380 for both weeks; or $50 per session. For both the children and the adults camps, there’s an additional $20 a person to join Tennis LSM, unless the participant already has a family Tennis LSM Membership for 2023. There’s an additional $20/person to join Tennis LSM, unless you already have a family Tennis LSM Membership for 2023. Registration for the children and adult camps is available at tennislsm.ca. The camps fill up fast!
La RoccaXC Mountain Bike School
La RoccaXC Mountain Bike School, founded in 1997, is located 15 minutes from Wakefield on private farm land. The school’s wellness and mountain bike programs, offered in the beautiful Amik Lodge. La RoccaXC’s popular summer camps for kids and teens includes four pillars of mentoring: developing forest stewardship, trail design, self responsibility in injury prevention, and bike repairs. The camp costs $375 per week (includes trail pass), with a 15 per cent discount per child for the second week. Visit forestgym.ca for more information; phone 819-456-2786; or email, creativewheel@bell.net. La RoccaXC is located at 327 Rte. Principale, Val-des-Monts.
Meredith Centre Day Camps
Introducing Meredith Centre Day Camps 2.0! Families have described the camps as amazing, inclusive, welcoming, safe, fun and unique. It will be staffed by passionate counselors with all the necessary certifications, including instructors who specialize in sports, arts, science and dance. The camp supplies quality materials and equipment, and the themes vary each week. Before and after childcare is always included and at no additional cost. Once you become part of the camp family, you'll be hooked! More information for summer camps will be available as of Feb. 13 at centremeredith.ca, and online registration begins Feb. 20 for Chelsea residents and Feb. 21 for non-residents of Chelsea.
National Kids Camps
This summer Camp Fortune in Chelsea is host to four great camps: Survivor Camp, Mountain Bike Kids Camp, Amazing Race Camp, and Wilderness Adventure Camp. The camps are for ages 8 to 16, and all camps include swimming and zip-lining! Phone 613-723-1101 or visit nationalkidscamps.com for more information.
Theatre Wakefield Summer Camp
Theatre Wakefield is thrilled to offer two one-week theatre camps this summer, both directed by the wonderful Jesse Kahat. Last summer’s popular Hooray for Hollywood! will be offered again July 24-28 for ages 5-8, and Hooray for Broadway! will run July 31-Aug. 4 for ages 9-12. Your son or daughter will help write the musical performed for parents on the last day – maybe even choreograph a Battle of the Noodles (a big hit last year!). Camps will likely take place at the Centre Wakefield La Pêche and cost $300. Check Theatre Wakefield’s website next month to register! (www.theatrewakefield.ca).
Vortex Studio
Vortex Art Studio is excited to host the sixth summer of day camp! Vortex is based in Wakefield and runs outdoor programs surrounded by nature in wedding tents. Vortex runs immersive art-based programming as well as a new fun camp geared towards non-art-based day camp, specializing in lots of play-based projects for high energy children. This year Vortex is offering over 20 exciting art and fun themes as well as original favourites. Summer camp runs June 26 to August 18. It hosts children ages 5 to 15, and each activity will be geared towards the child/youth's interests and abilities. Vortex is located at 903 Ch. Riverside in Wakefield. The price for the week is $369. More information on Vortex’s camp can be found at: vortexstudio.ca and/or call Stella Pagani at 416-629-6504. Registration opens Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.
Wood, Clay and Play Camp
Lorna Phillips Art is excited to host children ages 8 to 12 this summer, for days filled with wood working, clay sculpture and slab work, nature trails, and swimming. Children will use hand tools to make functional wooden pieces and get creative with clay, making sculptures, slab mugs or coil pots. They can cool off in the pool and chill out in our 10 acres of forest. Sound like fun? Check us out at lornaphillipsart.com or email, lorna.phillips.art@gmail.com. Weeks run Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.