Camp Kawartha

Overview
Here's what makes Camp Kawartha stand out
For over 100 years, Camp Kawartha has provided unforgettable day and overnight camp experiences, fostering community, connection, and impact to last a lifetime. With environmental kinship at the heart of all we do, we inspire campers to develop a love of the natural world, build leadership skills, and discover the best in themselves and others. Located on Clear Lake near Lakefield, ON, Camp Kawartha offers a range of activities - from swimming and boating to archery and rock climbing. Our 180+ acre property offers hiking trails, wetlands, and forests to explore. We offer programs for campers aged 4-17 including classic camp experiences, canoe tripping, and leadership programs. Length ranges from 3 days to 4 weeks.

Special needs: Yes, mild support.
A few of our campers have special needs.

LGBTQ+ friendly community
Visit the Camp Kawartha website

Programs, Rates & Dates

Programs and Sessions Calendar

Camp Kawartha offers a small, close-knit community that prioritizes inclusion, connection, and the 'magic' of summer camp. In small cabin groups with dedicated staff, campers form meaningful friendships, build their confidence, and create shared memories. Our programming focuses on connection with the natural world, providing campers with the opportunity to learn about and be immersed in nature. Our canoe tripping programs give campers the chance to challenge themselves, work as a team, and experience the beauty of Ontario's wilderness. For older campers, our Leadership programs foster the skills of collaboration, communication, and initiative, inspiring young people to become passionate community leaders.

Choose the right programs and sessions for your child; Camp Kawartha currently has 8 programs available.

Filter activities available:

Name

Type/Gender

Specialty

Location

Date

Bus

Cost

Counsellor Skills Development (4 weeks)

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Overnight Camp
Coed
Ages: 15 - 16

Traditional (multi activity) , Leadership Training

$5,195

Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jun 27-Jul 23		$5,195
Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jul 27-Aug 22		$5,195

Leader In Training (4 weeks)

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Overnight Camp
Coed
Ages: 16 - 17

Traditional (multi activity) , Leadership Training

$5,195

Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jun 27-Jul 23		$5,195
Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jul 27-Aug 22		$5,195

Wilderness Counsellor Skills Development (4 weeks)

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Overnight Camp
Coed
Ages: 15 - 16

Traditional (multi activity) , Leadership Training

$5,195

Lakefield, ON
1010 Birchview Road

Jun 27-Jul 23

$5,195

1-Week Sessions

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Overnight Camp
Coed
Ages: 7 - 15

Traditional (multi activity)

$1,300 to $1,500

Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jun 29-Jul 05	$1,500
Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jul 06-12	$1,500
Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jul 13-18	$1,300
Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jul 20-25	$1,300
Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jul 27-Aug 02	$1,500
Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Aug 03-08	$1,300
Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Aug 10-16	$1,500
Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Aug 17-22	$1,300

3-Week Pre-Leadership Camp

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Overnight Camp
Coed
Ages: 13 - 14

Traditional (multi activity)

$4,000 to $4,200

Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jun 29-Jul 18		$4,000
Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jul 27-Aug 16		$4,200

2-Week Sessions

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Overnight Camp
Coed
Ages: 7 - 15

Traditional (multi activity)

$2,700

Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jul 06-18		$2,700
Lakefield, ON 1010 Birchview Road	Jul 27-Aug 08		$2,700

Wilderness Leader In Training (4 weeks)

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Overnight Camp
Coed
Ages: 16 - 17

Traditional (multi activity) , Leadership Training

$5,195

Lakefield, ON
1010 Birchview Road

Jul 27-Aug 22

$5,195

Introductory Overnight Camp (Session N)

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Overnight Camp
Coed
Ages: 7 - 14

Traditional (multi activity)

$840

Lakefield, ON
1010 Birchview Road

Aug 24-27

$840

Registration Details

Online registration opens November 1! Sign up for day, overnight, canoe tripping, and leadership programs all in one place. Our team is always happy to support families through the registration process, and to help find the best program for your camper. We offer flexible instalment payment plans, and the option to apply for subsidy. Please visit our website for details about our dates & rates, cancellation policies, and more. Campers interested in our Leadership programs must submit an application in late October, and families of successful applicants will be contacted in November. Late applicants may be considered depending on availability, and we encourage families to reach out if they have any questions about our Leadership programs.

Financial Aid & Payment Details

Payment Options:

Deposit required with acceptance	Yes
Credit card payment	Yes

Scholarships & awards:

Camp Kawartha Subsidy Fund

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: Rolling

Type: Need based
Age: 7 to 17
Details: Financial assistance is available for overnight campers from low income families who do not have the financial means to afford the total cost. Subsidies may, at the discretion of our subsidy committee, be limited in some camp sessions based on demand for those programs. (Sorry, we do not provide funding for day camps.)
Application Details: Complete the Subsidy Application Form and return it to our main office. Be sure to answer all questions and provide all required documentation. This helps ensure that we provide assistance in a fair and consistent manner, in accordance with our obligation to our donors. The subsidy committee will review your application and contact you as soon as possible. Incomplete forms will be returned, delaying the processing of your application.

Reviews & Insider Perspectives

The Our Kids review of Camp Kawartha

Since 1921, Camp Kawartha has offered a traditional camp experience based in outdoor activity and camp craft. The Clear Lake site, which includes 186 acres forests, wetlands, and lakefront, is the locus of the overnight programs. The environment centre, next to Trent University, is the mustering point for programs relating to environmental stewardship as well as host to the day camps. It's also a teaching facility, associated with the Trent School of Education, used to introduce concepts and strategies for effective environmental education and alternative, sustainable living. There campers gain a first-hand experience with environmental initiatives, both passively and actively, including sustainable architecture, solar ovens and cookers, and other innovations. Sessions offer a range of duration, allowing campers to start early, easing into the camp concepts and values as they move from the primary programs up through leadership training. Staff is well-versed in the culture of Camp Kawartha, including camp alumni, which adds to the quality of the camper experience.

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Meet the Staff

Director's Message

Hello Camp Kawartha Family!

I am eager to get to know staff and camper families better as we embark on Camp Kawartha’s next century of creating magical summer camp experiences! For those of you who don’t know me too well, I’ll share a little bit about myself and my roots here at camp!

I started as a camper at Camp Kawartha in 2006, when I was 7 years old. I was in Maple with one of my best friends from school. I remember playing Phobias during Evening Program that summer and just having an absolute BLAST and thinking that I had to return year after year. I completed Leaders in Training in 2015, and I was a cabin counsellor in the two years following. I was lucky enough to have several current staff members as campers in my cabin during those years. My years as a Cabin Counsellor were some of my favourite at camp and I loved creating ‘WOW’ moments for my campers wherever possible. In 2018 I was the Resource Specialist, and in the following year I acted as the Program Director. This most recent summer I was privileged to fill the role of Assistant Summer Camp Director and it was very meaningful to me to get to be a part of creating summer camp in such an imperative year during the pandemic.

Separate from Camp, I completed my degree in Drama in Education and Community at the University of Windsor, and I hold a minor in child psychology. I am passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion, and I am always seeking to learn how I can better support various communities. I love spending time outdoors, particularly hiking and canoeing, and I am always looking for ways that I can minimize my impact and positively contribute to the rewilding and rejuvenating of natural spaces. Some of my hobbies include playing guitar, baking, and recently, collaging (picked that one up in summer 2021).

Through my history filling a variety of positions at Camp, I have been lucky to get to learn the ins-and-outs of what it means to run a summer camp. I am confident that through coming together, and forming a strong team, we will be able to keep the vision of summer camp alive and flourishing.

I can’t wait to begin working with our wonderful community to keep the spark and joy of summer camp alive and burning bright in the coming years!

- Emma Robert (Geller)
Summer Camp Director

Staff and Counsellors

Our staff are dedicated to facilitating positive, memorable experiences for campers, and their energy brings our programming to life. Many have developed their skills and passion for camp through our Leadership programs. Our small camper to staff ratio (2:1) allows for attentive care and meaningful connection. Each year, our full week of staff training prioritizes safety and risk management, accessibility and inclusion, and supporting campers as they navigate the experiences of being away from home, living with their peers, and trying new things. All staff are certified in first aid and have a police check. Many also hold certifications in lifeguarding, canoe tripping, challenge course facilitation, and wilderness first aid.

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Location & Operations
Address

Peterborough, ON
2505 Pioneer Road, Peterborough
Lakefield, ON
1010 Birchview Road, Douro-Dummer, Ontario, K0L 2H0
Accommodations

Sleeping Accommodations

Cabins
Platform Tent

Amenities

Electricity in Sleeping Area

Washrooms Facilities

Flush Toilets
Outhouses
Showers (indoor)
Showers (outdoor)

Is Camp Kawartha technology free? Yes.
Rentals & Services

Offers outdoor education program for schools or corporate groups: Yes
Our Outdoor Education Centre operates throughout the Fall, Winter & Spring (September -June), providing dynamic and innovative programs grounded in the Ontario Curriculum for elementary and secondary students.

Available for private rentals: Yes
Our outdoor centre (located at 1010 Birchview Road, Douro-Dummer, ON) offers a scenic and relaxing venue for your group’s next weekend retreat, conference, or team building program. Camp Kawartha has over 186 acres of beautiful land with trails, forests and wetlands, and 800 feet of waterfront. Our facility rentals offer the opportunity for your group of 25-150 to explore the natural world and learn about the environment. Our Environment Centre (located at 2505 Pioneer Road, Peterborough) is available from September to June for day or evening rentals to host meetings or workshops for up to 65 people.

Associations
What's New
Stories

Focus on environmental stewardship
We LOVE Camp Kawartha. The Environmental Center staff continues to challenge our children to think beyond themselves and connect to the community and forest. The focus on environmental stewardship is amazing, our girls were so proud to do something for the Earth, something that would help their world in the future.

A nurturing, nourishing day camp experience
The Environment Centre has become an integral part of our son's summer - a nurturing, nourishing day camp experience where he can immerse himself in a small group setting and connect with great outdoors.

Our kids enjoyed a fantastic experience
Preparing for camp during the pandemic (summer 2021) was hard and I had my doubts about all the steps to go through but it was all well worth it. Our kids enjoyed a fantastic experience and we felt reassured by all the measures put in place. After a delayed start to overnight camp they are now asking to go for 2 weeks!

Developed a love of camping and canoeing through his summers at Camp Kawartha
Our oldest started his CK experience with a one week session, went back the next year for two weeks, did PLC for year three followed by two years of leadership training, and is now a staff member with two years of experience. He has developed a love of camping and canoeing through his summers at Camp Kawartha and says, when asked, that the best part of working at CK is leading the canoe trips. He has had personal growth that is specifically attributable to his experiences at Camp Kawartha. Our second camper is a shy guy who has to be gently forced out of his shell. He's a technology-loving geek who grumbles when he has to leave his computer behind, but the first thing out of his mouth on pickup day is that he wants to go back next year. The experience for both of our campers has been very positive and, as we found out in 2020, irreplaceable.

Thank you Camp Kawartha for the gifts you give children!
Almost a year into the Pandemic (summer 2021), I could see that my children's ability to experience the thrill, struggles, and joys of independence had been thwarted. I had always wanted to send them to camp and seeing this need to give them space to 'grow-up', I decided camp would be the ideal way to give them that opportunity. I had no idea how right I was! My children both came back happier and with great memories, but equally, they returned more mature, more capable of handling life's little bumps, more confident, more self-assured, and more grounded in who they are. What a gift! They are already planning their time their next summer and all the way through wanting to become counsellors themselves. Thank you Camp Kawartha for the gifts you give children!

Building Confidence and Maturity
As an alumni, sending my child to Camp Kawartha has been a dream come true! Even in the middle of a pandemic (summer 2021) he had a blast and got to experience camp (mostly) the way it was meant to be. The counsellors always had a smile on their face (under their masks) and greeted us and our son with enthusiasm and warmth. Classic camp activities and games filled his days and it was so fun to talk with him each night about all of the memories and friends made and skills gained. As a staff member, I had always had families tell me how camp, even after a few days, changed their child in terms of confidence and maturity. I saw that too, especially when my timid boy attempted the rock wall on his last day! Thank you to the CK staff of 2021 for continuing the amazing legacy that is Camp Kawartha! Bravo!

Culture of Inclusiveness and Positivity
Camp Kawartha exceeds my expectations - beyond learning about nature, arts and crafts and outdoor skills, this camp has a culture of inclusiveness and positivity. My child always comes home with funny stories, warm memories and experiences that can only be made at summer camp.

For the many great memories, thank you Camp Kawartha!
Camp Kawartha is a highlight of the summer, anticipated all year. From the smooth registration process (thank you!) and super courteous staff (always), to the enthusiasm of the counselors and lasting friendships made, it is an experience we feel very fortunate to have – and have not missed for nine years! And must mention the amazing food – my picky eater raves! For the many great memories, thank you Camp Kawartha!

My kids will forever cherish their memories from camp!
I have 4 children, who are now teenagers. The youngest was 11 when she attended Camp Kawartha in Lakefield for the first time with her 12-year-old brother. We wondered how they’d do without their phones or gaming systems. When we picked them up, they both said they wanted to come back for 2 weeks the following year! Camp Kawartha is a unique place and my kids will forever cherish their memories from camp!

Camp is a special place
I was a Camp Kawartha camper for seven years as a child and now over 20 years later my own children are having the same experiences that I had at camp. My heart swells every time we drive into camp and I am so proud that my children get to have Camp Kawartha as part of their childhood. Camp is such a special place that it cannot be explained in words, but is a feeling of happiness and belonging that resides in your heart and soul year round and stays with you even into adulthood.

Builds up their self worth, leadership skills and independence
My 2 daughters have attended Camp Kawartha for 8 seasons now. They started with day camp at first and are now in their teens and attending the pre-leadership camp this summer. They have made such good friends through the years. They have had so many experiences that they would otherwise have not had by attending. This year it was a 3-day hike and portage with cooking over an open fire that brought adventure and a sense of accomplishment and teamwork. The staff and other campers are always there to make her feel welcome and happy that she is there. There are tears when I pick them up because they are not ready to go home. It is go on so may levels and builds up their self worth, leadership skills and independence. It is always the highlight of the summer.

A big part of my boys` summers for seven years
Camp Kawartha has been a big part of my boys` summers for seven years. We return each year due to the exceptional staff and programming. My boys are turning into wonderful young men, in part because of the mentoring they have received at Camp Kawartha, and the new experiences they have each year. My eldest was on staff this year, and I like to think he is providing the same mentorship to new campers that he was so lucky to receive. I would recommend Camp Kawartha without hesitation.

Lots of new experiences
My boys had a great time at the daycamp. I thought it would be a great way to introduce the camp before they did a sleep over camp. At the end of the first day, they asked to go to sleepover camp!! The staff were energetic, organized and fun! My kids had lots of new experiences and came home everyday, tired, dirty and happy!! A perfect way for young kids to spend a few weeks. We will be back next summer, for sure.

What two weeks did for us!! Increased self-confidence & self-esteem
My daughter went to Camp Kawartha not knowing anyone there. This was a huge step for her as she really enjoys just being at home. She was a very shy girl with low self-esteem and very little confidence in herself. What two weeks did for us!! She has so much self-confidence and her self-esteem is incredible. She learned a new sport (Archery) that she continues to do! She tried new foods, which she continues to eat! She met new friends which she continues to talk to! She has changed so much! And for the better! What an amazing kid! What an amazing camp! Thank-You Camp Kawartha!

Time for our daughter to start spreading her wings
This was our first experience in sending our daughter to an overnight camp. We were very nervous about doing this, but knew that it was time for our daughter to start spreading her wings. We are originally from the Peterborough area, so I had always heard about Camp Kawartha. So when it came to booking a camp for her to go to, this was a fairly easy decision. The price was within our budget amount and the activities appeared to be really awesome. So we booked our daughter with her friend (the camp was very accommodating in keeping the girls in the same cabin) We picked our daughter up on Saturday and have not stopped hearing about how awesome of an experience she had! As parents, this is what you hope for!! She definitely wants to go back next year…so what more can we say? This truly was an amazing experience for our daughter and our family! We have all spread our wings! Thanks Camp Kawartha!! See you in 2015!…oh and we will be sending our younger son next year too!

Family Tradition
Our 10 year old daughter had a fantastic time at Camp Kawartha again this year - following in a fine family tradition. It is wonderful to see how she grows and develops as a person at camp. I'm envious of her canoeing, archery and sailing skills - as well as the daily swims! Thank you to all the great staff at CK - we couldn't be happier with our choice of camp.

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