Our Kids logo

Request information from: Camp Wenonah
Your message (optional)

Camp Wenonah

1324 Bird Lake Road
Bracebridge, Ontario, P1L 1X1
Camp Wenonah logo
 

Camp Wenonah  

1324 Bird Lake Road, Bracebridge, Ontario, P1L 1X1

  • Type:
    Overnight camp
  • Focus:
    Traditional (multi activity)
  • Cost:
    $1,625 to $1,700/week
  • Ages:
    5 to 17
  • Gender:
    Coed
  • Main language:
    English
  • Capacity:
    300 to 350
  • Programs:
Request more info
  • Summary

    Camp Wenonah answered our questions

    Who are you as an organization?

    Camp Wenonah is trusted by families from across Canada and around the world. Located in the beautiful Muskoka region of Ontario, Wenonah is an overnight summer camp for 5–17 year olds with 30+ different activities. 1 month, 2 week, and 3-7 day introductory periods. One month leadership programs for 16 & 17 year olds. Experienced and caring staff team, including full-time medical staff. Special diets are supported by our professional food service team.

    • Special needs: Not available
    • LGBTQ+ friendly community

    What do you do differently or uniquely well?

    "We believe that the Summer Camp experience can have a life-long impact on a child. Camp provides a child with opportunities to become more independent, foster their self-esteem, make new friends, learn new skills, and develop an appreciation for the natural world. Our child-centred approach combined with a modern facility and a fully qualified, dynamic staff team ensures the highest quality experience for every Wenonah camper."

    Who are your staff and counsellors?

    "Wenonah Summer Camp staff are outdoor education professionals, teachers, university and college graduates/students or senior high school students that share one thing in common: they are committed to providing making a positive difference in the lives of every Wenonah camper. Our excellent staff to camper ratio (1:4 on average, 1:3 in water-based activities) means that every camper receives consistent individual attention everyday. We know this is the key to campers succeeding and having fun in both our instructional programs and daily recreational activities."

    What do families need to know about registration?

    "Apply to reserve space for your child at Camp Wenonah for the 2024 Summer Camp season! Registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and all Summer Camp periods will sell out!"



    Camp Wenonah - profile photo

    Video Gallery


  • Programs, Rates & Dates

    Programs and Sessions Calendar

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

    Filter activities available:


    Name
    Type/Gender
    Specialty
    Location
    Date
    Bus
     Cost
    Email
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 16
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $5,250 to $5,550
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Feb 28-Aug 24 $5,250 - $5,550
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jun 30-Jul 27 $5,250 - $5,550
    First-aid/lifesaving |Archery|Canoeing|Fishing|Golf|Hiking|Kayaking/Sea Kayaking|Sailing/Marine Skills|Soccer|Swimming|Tennis|Volleyball|Rock Climbing|Ping Pong|Gaga|Arts & Crafts|Painting|Drawing|Pottery|Guitar|Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Ceramics
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 8 - 12
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $1,625 to $1,700
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jun 30-Jul 06 $1,625 - $1,700
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jul 28-Aug 03 $1,625 - $1,700
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Aug 11-17 $1,625 - $1,700
    Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Guitar|Arts & Crafts|Drawing|Painting|Pottery|Nature/Environment|Canoeing|Fishing|Kayaking/Sea Kayaking|Sailing/Marine Skills|Swimming|Archery|Gaga|Hiking|Ping Pong|Rock Climbing|Soccer|Tennis|Volleyball|Ceramics
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 8 - 15
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $5,250 to $5,550
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jun 30-Jul 27 $5,250 - $5,550
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jul 28-Aug 24 $5,250 - $5,550
    First-aid/lifesaving |Archery|Canoeing|Fishing|Golf|Hiking|Kayaking/Sea Kayaking|Sailing/Marine Skills|Soccer|Swimming|Tennis|Volleyball|Rock Climbing|Ping Pong|Gaga|Arts & Crafts|Painting|Drawing|Pottery|Guitar|Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Ceramics
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 14 - 15
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $3,050 to $3,200
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jun 30-Jul 13 $3,050 - $3,200
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jul 14-27 $3,050 - $3,200
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jul 28-Aug 10 $3,050 - $3,200
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Aug 11-24 $3,050 - $3,200
    First-aid/lifesaving |Archery|Canoeing|Fishing|Golf|Hiking|Kayaking/Sea Kayaking|Sailing/Marine Skills|Soccer|Swimming|Tennis|Volleyball|Rock Climbing|Ping Pong|Gaga|Arts & Crafts|Painting|Drawing|Pottery|Guitar|Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Ceramics
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 9 - 15
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $3,050 to $3,200
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jun 30-Jul 13 $3,050 - $3,200
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jul 14-27 $3,050 - $3,200
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jul 28-Aug 10 $3,050 - $3,200
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Aug 11-24 $3,050 - $3,200
    First-aid/lifesaving |Archery|Canoeing|Fishing|Golf|Hiking|Kayaking/Sea Kayaking|Sailing/Marine Skills|Soccer|Swimming|Tennis|Volleyball|Rock Climbing|Ping Pong|Gaga|Arts & Crafts|Painting|Drawing|Pottery|Guitar|Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Ceramics
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 17 - 18
    CIT/LIT Program
    $5,250 to $5,550
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jun 30-Jul 27 $5,250 - $5,550
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jul 28-Aug 24 $5,250 - $5,550
    First-aid/lifesaving |Archery|Canoeing|Fishing|Golf|Hiking|Kayaking/Sea Kayaking|Sailing/Marine Skills|Soccer|Swimming|Tennis|Volleyball|Rock Climbing|Ping Pong|Gaga|Arts & Crafts|Painting|Drawing|Pottery|Guitar|Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Ceramics
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 9 - 15
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $1,625 to $1,700
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Jul 07-13 $1,625 - $1,700
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Aug 04-10 $1,625 - $1,700
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Aug 18-24 $1,625 - $1,700
    Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Guitar|Arts & Crafts|Drawing|Painting|Pottery|First-aid/lifesaving |Canoeing|Fishing|Kayaking/Sea Kayaking|Sailing/Marine Skills|Swimming|Archery|Gaga|Golf|Hiking|Ping Pong|Rock Climbing|Soccer|Tennis|Volleyball|Ceramics
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 5 - 7
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $425 to $500
    Bracebridge, ON
    1324 Bird Lake Road
    Aug 26-28 $425 - $500
    Wilderness Skills|Arts & Crafts|Drawing|Painting|Archery|Canoeing|Fishing|Gaga|Hiking|Ping Pong|Swimming

  • Insider Reviews & Perspectives

    The Our Kids review of Camp Wenonah

    our take

    There’s a lot to love about Camp Wenonah, one of the foremost being Jeff Bradshaw, the director since he founded the camp in 1982. The goal, then as now, is to provide “a healthy respect and appreciation for one’s self, for others, and for the natural world.” To say that they do exactly that is an understatement. Wenonah has long been an example of what camp can be in the lives of children, often in surprising, remarkable ways. For example, Wenonah was one of the first camps in Ontario to host Syrian refugees, something Bradshaw did without a blink. The program was an inspiration to others, and continues to be. Tellingly, the camp website doesn’t talk about future campers but rather “future families,” and that’s really how the experience is envisioned: as one that involves families, and does so over the longer term. The activities are those we associate with the core of the camping tradition, though have been thoughtfully augmented over the years. The site, too, continues to grow, something that furthers the breadth of what Wenonah is able to offer and the number of campers it’s able to offer it to.

    Three Things: Camp Wenonah
    Hear the three things that Our Kids’ editors see when they look at Camp Wenonah

  • Location & Site Details

    Address

    1324 Bird Lake Road, Bracebridge, Ontario, P1L 1X1, Canada



    Busing



    Accommodations

    Sleeping Accommodations

    • Cabins
    • Platform Tent

    Amenities

    • Electricity in Sleeping Area

    Washrooms Facilities

    • Flush Toilets
    • Showers (indoor)

    More details about accommodations: Campers are housed in cabins while pre-leadership and leadership participants live in tabins. All cabins and tabins are a short walk from either a central male or female washroom and shower house. Washroom facilities feature flush toilets, private showers, and multiple sinks.

    Are meals provided? Yes

    Is Camp Wenonah technology free? Yes We want campers to live in the moment and enjoy and appreciate their Camp experience, and we think they can do the best when they are free from the expectations and pressure associated with social media and technology. If families decide that they want to send their child to Camp with a cell phone or similar device, we have strict rules about their use.



    Property Details

    Sports facilities

    • Archery Range
    • Climbing Wall
    • Rope Course
    • Soccer Field
    • Tennis Court(s)

    Landscape

    • Beach
    • Forested Area
    • Lake/Pond/River
    • Nature Trails
    • Open Field

    More details about property: The main Camp area is comprised of one hundred acres of spectacular forests, including twenty-four acres of pristine untouched wilderness, set in the heart of the rugged Muskoka woods. Beyond Camp lie thousands of acres of Crown Land that provide visitors with tremendous opportunities for exploration in a private outdoor setting. Our Muskoka facility is located two hours north of Toronto, just 25 minutes from the town of Bracebridge, Ontario. We offer a site and facility maintained in excellent condition and featuring highly-developed program areas. All facilities at Wenonah meet and exceed the highest standards of the local Health and Fire Departments, and the Ontario Camps Association.



    Rentals & Services

    Offers outdoor education program for schools or corporate groups: Yes
    Wenonah Outdoors welcomes school and community groups from a number of cities and regions across Ontario for field trips and visits to our beautiful facility in Muskoka. Our distinct full-program, full-service outdoor education experience is available to groups in May, June, September, and October. Most groups join us for stays ranging from two to four nights. Our customized programs are tied to the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum and offer students a hands-on experience that values community, interdependence, personal development, and an appreciation for the natural world. We can’t wait to welcome your group to Wenonah!


    Associations

    Ontario Camps Association Associations
    Canadian Camping Association/ Association des camps du Canada Associations


  • What's New

    Director's Message

    Jeff Bradshaw, Executive Director
    Vice President, International Camping Fellowship / Past President, Ontario Camps Association

    As the Founder and Owner of Wenonah, I take great pride in the experiences provided for our campers. My first year attending Summer Camp was 1968 and I loved it! I experienced first-hand the many benefits of Summer Camp (greater independence, growing confidence, a sense of belonging, valuable principles of community living, a very real connection to the natural world and lifelong memories) and it continues to be a huge part of my life over 45 years later. I’m pleased that my three daughters have come to understand, appreciate and grow through Summer Camp just as I have. My inaugural season as a Camp Director was in 1982 and every year since, the commitment to providing a Summer Camp experience of the highest order has never wavered. We are very proud of Wenonah and equally of the generations of campers that have grown through our unique programs.



    In the News

    November 29, 2019
    Welcome back Stewy & Welcome JJ!

    We are thrilled to announce that two of Canada’s most well-regarded and highly respected camping leaders are joining our team.... Read More

    November 29, 2019
    Spots filling fast for 2020!

    Registration for the 2020 Summer Camp season is well underway, and we have already filled to 97% capacity.... Read More



    Stories

    • "What Wenonah Means To Me"
      Erica Zucker - Age 14 When I think “camp,” I think of the same words each time; friends, family, home, love. I think of the cabins, the lake, and the campgrounds. Put together, all these things create my summer home, my Camp Wenonah. Over the years, I have grown to love camp more and more. Some may ask “why do you love camp so much?” and for that there is no simple answer. To me, camp is a home, with a family that loves you unconditionally. It is a home in which you are never left alone or without anything to do. A home where you don’t want to sleep or even blink, because when you do, you miss so much, so you try your hardest to live every moment. I love camp and I am counting down the days until I arrive there, returning home but at the same time feeling like I never left. Nathan Flegel - Age 8 Camp Wenonah means having fun everyday. I really like their choices of activities and food. My favourite activities are rock climbing, art and archery. They taught me how to shoot an arrow and I even hit the bulls-eye two times. I was really happy that I hit the bulls eye. Art is really fun, we made our own chia pet that grew grass hair from his head. His name was “grassy”. I also liked rock climbing a lot, it was really fun. I liked the obstacle course one the best. I liked the morning dip, it really wakes you up. My favourite meal was the hamburgers that the chefs made. It had green peppers, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and red peppers. They were so good. I can’t wait to go back this summer. Sage Cryderman - Age 13 Have you ever had one of those moments, where you don’t care about what happens next, or why it happens? Where you don’t have any worries in the back of your mind about school, or conflicts? Where you don’t want to be anywhere but where you are, you don’t want to be anyone but who you are, and you don’t want to feel anything but what you feel in that exact moment. Where so many things make sense, yet you are fine with not knowing about the things that don’t. Where you are completely engulfed in that particular moment and surrounded your own bliss which is magnified by the bliss of those around you. Imagine being in this state, but being able to feel it for a month. THIS, is what Camp Wenonah is to me.
    • End of Month Closing
      The last full day of at the end of each month is a special one at camp. A banquet dinner is served in our dining hall, and then campers and staff gather together at our main campfire for one final night of song and reflection prior to their departure the next day. The much awaited slide show after our final campfire is composed of images from the past month of camp.
    • Wenonah Games
      Wenonah Games are a highlight of the end of the month at Camp. Campers are placed into one of three houses Zibbins, Aki, or Dawaa. Once you are a member of a house, you belong to that house for life. Campers will belong to the same house as any family members who have attended camp in the past. For three days at the end of each month, campers have the opportunity to choose from a selection of literally hundreds of different activities to participate in for their house team. There is something for everyone, and all activities take place in the spirit of healthy competition. At the end of the Summer all house points are tallied up and the Wenonah Games Challenge cup is awarded to the winning house.
    • Leadership Development
      Our acclaimed Camp Wenonah leadership programs (POLARIS
    • PIC Programs
      Wenonah campers have the choice of participating in programs that meet their individual interests and needs. Each camper selects activities that present a challenge or that provide a new experience. Campers may preselect three instructional badge level programs (swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, archery), or recreational programs (tennis, environmental programming, climbing, land or water-based sports) in advance of Camp.
    • The Meaning of Camp
      While I was at camp this year, Jeff asked me to talk about the meaning of camp at the closing campfire with Melissa, the girl's section director. Jeff asked me right after dinner, when I was leaving the lodge with an apple I had stolen for a camper who had missed dinner on account of an ambiguous stomach ailment. He was standing just by the Boy's Section path, concealed behind a hedge. "Mr. Babiak," he called, "Would you come here a moment?" When he called me over, I was petrified. There was a distinct possibility that Jeff had seen me pilfer the fruit, but I couldn't imagine it meriting a lecture from the camp director. Was there an ulterior motive behind his beckoning, And why was he hiding in the foliage, I noticed Melissa standing next to him. If I was petrified before, I was transmogrified into a mobile stone statue. I immediately began browsing any interaction I'd had with a female camper in the past forty-eight hours, for any clue as to the reason for this sudden interview. "I'd like you and Melissa to talk at the closing campfire about what camp means to you." For a moment, I really didn't know what to say. I was relieved that I hadn't violated one of the many subtle rules of polite company and conduct that exist for leadership campers at Wenonah, so his question really didn't sink in until Melissa invited me for tea in the lodge to talk it over. "Talk what over?" was my question. Melissa paused. My eyes stared back blankly. "The meaning....of camp?" As a human being living at camp, I belong to a complex hierarchy of individuals from varying walks of life, all bringing to camp their own unique experiences. For me, this is a facet of the camp experience. Going to camp really is like traveling to a very exclusive, very foreign destination. At camp, you are basically sequestered from the bombardment of audio/visual/textual media that we consume on a day-to-day basis in our own society. Camp is life beyond prejudice. You exist as individual who is judged first and foremost by their actions and their words, not their gender or their race. Camp life shocks me more than city life now, because the older I get, the more conscious I become of the differences and inequalities that exist in the world around me. To see, in an instant, those inequalities leveled in a place I've been taking for granted seven years of my life is the truly astounding part. To ask the meaning of camp is to ask who I am. Melissa and I both voiced this opinion at our teatime discussions: we don't know where the individual ends and camp begins. I can't imagine my life without camp. Well, actually, I can. I'd be lazier and apathetic and antisocial and anecdote-less. Camp is my life. It's as simple as that.
    • The Place I Belong
      There's no doubt in my mind when I say the place I most belong is Wenonah. Wenonah is the most amazing summer camp in the world which I have been blessed to attend for the past eight years of my life. For the last half of my life I have had an amazing opportunity that not many experience. Camp Wenonah is situated in beautiful Muskoka just twenty minutes from Bracebridge. My camp is fantastic because it is located between two picturesque lakes, Saw and Clear. Clear Lake is the larger of the two where the swimming, kayaking, canoeing, sailing and water sports happen. The lessons learned at camp are priceless! The principals of respect, determination and ambition are taught to us through group activities and living in loving and nurturing environment. The counselors are remarkable people who have the same passion, love and drive for camp as I do. They do their best to make each camper feel respected and important. They are able to do this by creating a real relationship not only in a leadership role but in a friendship role as well. These counselors are caring, dedicated people who instill values and push us to excel and try new things we wouldn't have necessarily attempted. My counselors have been outstanding role models and friends and have definitely made my camp experience enjoyable and unforgettable. The friendships that I have made at Camp Wenonah are the strongest most genuine bonds I could ever ask for. I have grown up with people who I consider my best friends. I love them all and I am so grateful that I was able to meet these extraordinary people at my camp. It just wouldn't be the same without all of them. I have made a memory with every single person, and when it comes down to it, all I have are the memories and anticipation for next summer. I know that as I awake each day in my small but oh so cozy bunk I don't know exactly what to expect but I know I should appreciate each moment because it has to come to an end sometime. The last night of camp is the worst. You have a bittersweet sense of life. You are ecstatic because you know you just had the most remarkable month of your life, but feel the worst sense of pain because you are being ripped away from all that you know. Camp is almost unexplainable, and each August as I return back to the city, I try and put to words what I have just experienced and each year not being able to express the love I posses for camp. It's not until I'm home in my own bed that I sincerely know what I have just undergone. Camp is who I am and Wenonah is the place I belong.


    Social Feeds


Our Kids logo

Go back to profile
Our Kids logo

Go back to profile
Camps.ca logo

Session: (Camp Wenonah)
Date:
Location:

Your contact info:
Your message (optional):

Questions about Camp Wenonah?

Contact:     View Phone Number   •   Send email   •   Visit website

Disclaimer: Information presented on this page may be paid advertising provided by the advertisers [schools/camps/programs] and is not warranted or guaranteed by OurKids.net or its associated websites. See Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Our Kids ™ © 2023 All right reserved.

Sign up to receive our exclusive eNews twice a month.

You can withdraw consent by unsubscribing anytime.


Name

Email

verification image, type it in the box

 


Our KidsFrom Our Kids, Canada’s trusted source for private schools, camps, and extracurriculars.