Rouge Camps are teacher led day camps and leadership programs run by ambitious teachers and exceptional counsellors. Rouge Camps (Unionville, Richmond Hill, & Woodbridge) provide campers, ages 4-15, with weeks filled with fun, sport instruction, robotics, art and original themed programming and lifelong memories. Rouge Camps is for athletes and non-athletes alike!
Special needs:
Yes, specialized support. A few of our campers have special needs.
We believe that teacher directors with physical education and coaching backgrounds make the best sports camp directors. Our teacher advantage allows us to access our vast networks of teachers to recruit top students to work at our camps. Our teaching background has proven instrumental in developing a sports camp program that even kids who don't like sports will ask their parents to come back to.
Further, our leadership program for young teens is developed based on proven leadership principles from business, student leadership and is a valuable three week program to prepare teens to confidently pursue their dreams. We know how to lead our excellent teams of staff to best care for your children, because it's what we do every day!
Choose the right programs and sessions for your child; Rouge Camps currently has 4 programs available.
Hip Hop|Arts & Crafts|Painting|Robotics|CIT/LIT Program|Leadership Training|Badminton |Baseball/Softball|Basketball|Dodgeball|Flag Football|Gaga|Lacrosse|Rugby|Soccer|Volleyball|Hockey
Registration Details
Registration is quick and easy at rougecamps.com. If you have questions you can reach out at [email protected] or 905-460-7446.
We conveniently sell camp by the week. Some locations sell out before the end of April, so hurry! We have 3 locations across York Region to meet your needs.
Financial Aid & Payment Details
Payment Options:
Credit card payment
Yes
Maximum installments available
4
Discounts
Discount if paid early
15%
Discount for 2nd child
$50
Discount for 3rd child
$50
Discount for 4th child
$50
Scholarships & awards: Total annual scholarship fund: $15,000 CAD
Mirusha Ravindran Campership Fund
Amount: 100%
Deadline: April 30, 2025 annually
Type: Need based Age: 4 to 15 Details: 2 references required outlining parents need and campers benefit as well as CRA documentation (Notice of Assessment of Line 101 of tax return) of household income of $75,000.00 or less. Application Details: Email [email protected] to initiate the process.
The best teachers make for the best experiences for kids. That’s why Rouge Camps extensively vet all of their camp teachers to ensure they are skilled, ambitious, and character-driven. They are also teachers or teachers-in-training. Founder Adam Buchnea is a teacher himself, and knows the value of camp to develop kids’ development. He believes that teaching life skills through sport is the best way to help kids learn discipline, independence, empathy, and confidence. While Rouge Camps has a focus on sports and the outdoors, that isn’t all that they do. Games, dress-up, live theatre, arts and crafts, are also on the line-up. The wide variety of sports activities are rotated throughout the day and lets kids be introduced to new sports or practice the ones they already love. Camps for older kids focus on leadership skills so that kids come back to help teach camp programs themselves. Rouge Camps is one of the best youth employers in the GTA, and that could be a testament to what they teach at their camp.
We just moved to Markham in 2020. At that time, my son was in Grade 1, so we were looking for a summer camp between Grade 1 and Grade 2. I just started Googling. I needed a camp that offered a wide variety of items, and there were lots out there. But the fact that it was teacher-led—that drew me in. I come from a family of teachers and principals, so that really sparked my interest. Then Adam, the founder of Rouge Camps, reached out to me personally. It was during COVID times, and an email went out saying they needed to change the camp location. I immediately canceled my son Ky’s enrollment, and Adam called me right away. He was so personal and really cared, and you don’t get that from a lot of camps. With Adam and Rouge Camp, you’re not just a number.
I said, “Okay, let me just give this camp a try,” and it went really well. Ky is now in Grade 5, and he’s like, “How many weeks am I going to Rouge Camp this summer?” My daughter, who started going between JK and SK, also loves it. They’re both very different children. They have their sports, and there’s basketball, volleyball, dance, STEM, robotics, and leadership activities. Over the years, I’ve been able to see the camp counselors—who are university students—grow. They always remember Ky and Maya. It’s really a caring environment. So yeah, my kids usually go for three or four weeks of summer, and they love it.
What’s unique about the camp?
It’s the fact that it’s teacher culture-led. Every day is completely different. Every week is different. Some camps repeat similar activities week to week, but Rouge caters to kids who return again and again. There is something new from a leadership standpoint, a skill-building standpoint, and a confidence standpoint—and I love that.
Was there any personal growth you saw in your child?
Oh my gosh, both of them! Ky is more laid back and quiet. His skills in sports have definitely increased. We can put him in any situation and he will make runs. He’s very kind—he always has been—but I’ve seen him flourish at Rouge Camp. My daughter is more nervous in new situations, and I’ve seen her slowly come out of that. I think Rouge has a part to play in that for sure.
How can a parent support their child to get the most out of this experience?
Honestly, just open communication with the camp counselors. The security—the sign-in and sign-out of your child—is very important. You do have to show your ID. Communication with the camp counselors is helpful. Also, every day you go to camp, you’ll get a newsletter about what happened that day, with pictures of the kids. They also post on Instagram. So be interactive with the social posts and make sure you read the newsletters. That way, when the kids come home, you can ask about something specific, not just, “How was your day?” You can say, “I saw a picture of this—tell me more about that.”
What would you tell other parents about the overall value of sending kids here?
It’s a decision they won’t regret, honestly. Ky has seen the camp counselors grow in their leadership, and they’re there year after year. He’s already asked, “When can I do that? When can I be a camp counselor?” That’s cool, coming from a boy—you usually hear that more from girls. But there are a lot of male role models at Rouge Camps that Ky looks up to, and it only helps.
What does your child say?
They say they love it. They love that there are different options for food every day. They love pizza. They love the water play. I think every Friday, if the weather is good, they take their swimsuits and there’s water play. Sometimes they go for nature walks. Every day is different. There are some static items, and at the end of the week, there’s a production or a play, and there are Campers of the Week. If they didn’t like it, I wouldn’t be sending them back. And I’m comfortable sending them to Rouge Camp.
Our daughters love this summer camp. We first attended in the summer of '23, then again in '24 and we've already signed up for 2025. They offer a positive and fun atmosphere where kids are encouraged ...
I have been sending my kids here for 3 years and they love it! The programs are well run with thoughtful games and creative activities. The counsellors are wonderful and the environment is so fun. The...
Our son's overall experience at Rouge Camp was fantastic. He really looked forward to going to camp each morning and was excited to see his counselors and friends. Each day was well planned out and ha...
For anyone looking for a summer camp, I highly recommend Rouge Valley Sports Camp.
The camp leaders are amazing with the kids, full of energy, nurturing, and always go above and beyond to make sure the kids are happy and safe. The activities are a perfect mix of games, sports, arts and entertainment.
Our daughters had a wonderful time each day at camp and that’s a FIRST for them…happy kids = happy parents!
We loved the welcome dance, the recap emails each day, the special treats for the kids each day, and all the beautiful pictures you posted of the day's activities. My daughters enjoyed themselves tremendously each day and looked forward to the next day!
You delivered on your promise of a memorable camp for them! They can't wait for next year and already miss you all!
Signed A Very Happy Mom!
Sheil ...Show More
Tania, Parent
Happy Parent!
The absolute best camp out there! My son has never enjoyed a camp quite like this one. The activities are exciting and staff members are well organized and pleasant to deal with. At the end of each day I receive an email with a recap of their day and pictures which is so enjoyable for a parent. Their Instagram account is updated often so you get to see your kids in action. Next year both kids will attend!!! Kudos to everyone at Rouge Hill Sports Camp...... job well done ...Show More
Anita, Parent
Highly Recommended
My son & his friend enjoyed this camp so much last summer when they attended for a couple of weeks that they asked to go back for the entire summer this year. The staff is composed mainly of young men & women who are already in teacher's college or headed there, so they have a genuine affection for kids & understand their needs better than staff at other day camps. The staff to camper ratio is low so they really get to know the kids. Overall I was very happy with this camp for my son, he will be returning next year ...Show More
Parm, Parent
Coming back next summer
One of the best summer camps my son ever been to. Amazing and super friendly staff, yet very professional. Definitely recommend this place. So sad it's over and so looking forward to next summer:)
Thank you Rouge Hill staff for making this summer an amazing and memorable one for my son ...Show More
Marcela, Parent
Signing up all summer next year!
My Kids 8 and 12, attended the camp this year for the first time! They were only there for one week as I wanted to tried it out first ... well, they are now asking me to sign them up for the whole 6 weeks next year!, they had a blast. Great job Adam and team, see you next year!! ...Show More
C Ma, Parent
Camp during the pandemic
My son was at Rouge Camps Markham for 2 weeks and had a fantastic time! I was very happy with the safety protocols they had implemented with most of the time spent outdoors and indoor facilities for rainy days. The camp counsellors were great with the kids (shout out to Buzz light year and Moana) Themes each week and a variety of sports kept all the kids busy engaged and happy. I would not hesitate to recommend this camp to anyone and we will be back next year. Great program and camp for kids ...Show More
Sev D, Parent
Happy Dad
My son attended all 6 weeks. My wife and I, and I guess more importantly him are all happy with the experience and look forward to signing him up next summer. The staff provided an excellent environment and management communication was good. I appreciate the focus on sports and outdoors ...Show More
Transcript of our interview with Adam, Camp Director
Your name and role at the camp
My name is Adam Buchnea, and I'm the founder of Rouge Camps.
What's unique about Rouge Camps?
What makes Rouge Camps special and unique is that myself, our camp directors, many of our assistant directors, and other staff members are Ontario certified teachers. That gives us a large network of teachers who are able to refer to us their top students. We're getting executives on student councils, subject award winners, athletes of the year, and other staff members who score highly for empathy, academic aptitude, proven leadership, and a stated desire to work with children. They’ve consistently performed over four years. I think that's a huge advantage over other organizations that rely on a 15- to 30-minute interview. That’s what's driven great reviews for Rouge Camps since day one, and I hope it will continue to do so into the future.
What type of child is successful there?
Rouge Camps is designed so that all children can thrive and get closer to reaching their full potential. Our largest program is our healthy sport program. We often have top-level athletes attend, and we also have campers whose parents simply want them to be physically active and off their screens. Both types of campers have a great time at Rouge Camps because there’s such a variety of programming. There are opportunities to improve no matter your entry point. We're not an elite sports camp, and while fun is central, physical activity is our form of delivering camp—whether it's our multisport program, arts camp, or robotics. You can enter at any skill level, and you’ll learn something, have fun, and make new friends.
How does your staff deal with behavioural issues?
At Rouge Camps, we believe in invisible discipline. That starts with our staff being intentional about forming relationships and building rapport with campers. We believe every child is inherently good, though from time to time there are behaviors that need to be addressed. When that happens, our staff ensure everyone is safe. Then our director team—who are Ontario certified teachers—guide our staff, campers, and families through the issue while keeping it positive and focused on the behavior. We address behaviors because we understand that one camper’s actions can negatively impact another camper’s experience. That’s something we take very seriously, and we act quickly with transparent communication with all families.
What do campers value the most about an experience at your organization?
The thing we hear most from parents is that our staff are the reason their campers ask to come back year after year. We have a fully programmed day where every minute is accounted for and campers are engaged, but it’s the staff and the connections they make that draw everyone in. Camp is a social place, and it ultimately comes down to the relationships that are formed and the environment the counselor helps facilitate in each cabin group. We’re blessed with a wonderful staff at Rouge Camps.
What message do you have for new campers?
To a prospective camper, I’d say: come with an open attitude, look to engage. Yes, it’s the summer. Yes, we’ll keep you off your screens. Yes, we might be more physically active than you're used to—or even want—in the summer. But time and time again, I see campers come in with hesitation that quickly turns into enthusiasm. They end up discovering new skills they didn’t know they had, making new friendships, and forgetting about their screens entirely. So come with an open attitude, participate, and I’m very confident you’ll have a fantastic time.
Rouge Camps is a safe place for young campers to explore their interests, grow in character, develop movement skills and be adventurous. Our exciting programs include over 15 different sports and activities, including camper favourites soccer, dance, basketball, floor hockey and fully themed camp-wide-activities. Our campers love our programs because they offer a variety of different activities through our exploratory sport periods, but also allow our campers to participate in the activities that they love most in our elective periods. Parent's are also happy to hear that we offer fun educational periods twice a week to keep their campers mentally engaged during the summer months. With 12+ years of teaching experience and 16 years of camp experience I have seen the power camp has on a young person's development. In only a week our young campers grow in confidence and become more comfortable in their own skin. We are able to do this effectively, at Rouge Camps, because a network of teachers from around the region refer to us their best students. We have top university and high school seniors who have been chosen for their leadership, strong character and desire to work with children leading our activities. It is our exceptional staff that allow us to deliver on our motto of teaching life through sport and earn ratings of 9/10+ by both campers and their parents. Furthermore, our Camp Directors are all trained teachers and understand that you as parents want to be informed of what your campers are doing at camp. You will thoroughly enjoy our daily recap emails and video's posted to social media throughout the day to keep up to date on all of the fun your camper(s) are having. Register with Rouge Camps this summer to find out what the buzz is about and experience the Rouge Difference for yourself!
Staff and Counsellors
Our staff are carefully selected high school seniors and university students from our network of teachers. Our staff are diverse and selected for their strong character, desire help kids grow, academic aptitude and sport skill. We believe and our parents tell us that are staff are exceptional!
Is Rouge Camps technology free?
We encourage campers to leave their devices at home and they are only permitted to be used during the lunch period. Rouge Camps are a place to be active and have fun with your friends who are really in front of you!
