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  • Type:
    Overnight camp
  • Focus:
    Traditional (multi activity)
  • Cost:
    $1,395 to $1,495/week
  • Ages:
    7 to 16
  • Gender:
    Coed
  • Main language:
    English
  • Capacity:
    50 to 150
  • Programs:
Request more info
  • Summary

    Camp Davern answered our questions

    Who are you as an organization?

    Established in 1946, Camp Davern uses outdoor adventures & experiences to provide opportunities for kids to take safe risks, build independence and socialize with peers. Located 1 hour from Ottawa/Kingston we're an unforgettable experience that's close to home. At Davern, we think every camper should strive to make new friends, and try new things. Everything else will follow.

    • Special needs: Not available
    • LGBTQ+ friendly community

    What do you do differently or uniquely well?

    "At Davern, campers enjoy a balanced schedule that includes major activity picks and electives each day. Mornings are scheduled activities with their cabins. This rotation ensure all campers experience all the major summer camp activities, canoeing, ropes etc. Each afternoon campers participate in electives. Elective activities are picked each day on a first come first served basis. These activities change each day and offer campers daily variety as well as the opportunity to return to activities they are passionate about. This unique blend of programing allows for learning alongside cabinmates in helping to develop friendship and trust in the cabin as well as developing skills that are important and specific to the individual. "

    Who are your staff and counsellors?

    "The staff team at Camp Davern consists of passionate; child focused camping professionals who are devoted to passing on their love of summer camp to the campers in our care. We believe in exceeding qualifications standards set out by the Ontario Camps Association. As a result, as a minimum requirement, all staff must hold current First Aid and CPR certifications and all waterfront supervisors are required to hold their NLS (National Lifeguard certification). Additionally, each staff member is experienced and trained in the area of specialization they instruct while at camp. Davern is proud of our dynamic staff team. Each year we benefit from a core of returning staff, paired with new, dynamic and talented new staff. "

    What do families need to know about registration?

    "Our camp registration process is completely online using the CampBrain portal. For returning families, please navigate to our registration page using the same log in credentials as previous years, as this avoids duplicate family accounts (and also saves you time when registering!)

    If you are a new family to Davern, we can't wait to meet you! Our database registers in real time so when working through your registration, any selection you make will remain in your cart for 30 minutes. We hope the enrollment process is straight forward and fast, but if you have any questions, we're happy to help. Our registration portal opens in late fall each year & remains open until one week before the session starts as long as there is availability."



    Camp Davern - profile photo

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  • Programs, Rates & Dates

    Programs and Sessions Calendar

    Choose the right programs and sessions for your child; Camp Davern currently has 7 programs available.

    Filter activities available:


    Name
    Type/Gender
    Specialty
    Location
    Date
    Bus
     Cost
    Email
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 6 - 18+
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $725 to $895
    Perth, ON
    3555 Bolingbroke Road
    Jun 07-09 $725 - $895
    Perth, ON
    3555 Bolingbroke Road
    Aug 30-Sep 02$725 - $895
    Ropes Course|Wilderness Skills|Ballroom|Breakdancing|Hip Hop|Jazz|Guitar|Jam Camp|Theatre Arts|Arts & Crafts|Drawing|Painting|Woodworking|Archery|Basketball|Canoeing|Fishing|Football|Gaga|Hiking|Hockey|Sports-Instructional and Training|Swimming|Ultimate Frisbee|Volleyball|Yoga
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 6 - 16
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $4,695
    Perth, ON
    3555 Bolingbroke Road
    Jun 30-Jul 26 $4,695
    Perth, ON
    3555 Bolingbroke Road
    Jul 28-Aug 23 $4,695
    Ropes Course|Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Acting (Film & TV)|Ballroom|Breakdancing|Hip Hop|Jazz|Guitar|Jam Camp|Theatre Arts|Arts & Crafts|Drawing|Painting|Woodworking|Archery|Basketball|Canoeing|Cheer|Fishing|Football|Gaga|Hiking|Hockey|Sports-Instructional and Training|Swimming|Ultimate Frisbee|Volleyball|Yoga
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 7 - 15
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $1,495
    Ropes Course|Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Guitar|Jam Camp|Theatre Arts|Arts & Crafts|Drawing|Painting|Canoeing|Fishing|Kayaking/Sea Kayaking|Swimming|Archery|Basketball|Cheer|Football|Gaga|Hiking|Hockey|Soccer|Ultimate Frisbee|Volleyball|Yoga
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 6 - 16
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $2,495
    Perth, ON
    3555 Bolingbroke Road
    Jun 30-Jul 12 $2,495
    Perth, ON
    3555 Bolingbroke Road
    Jul 14-26 $2,495
    Perth, ON
    3555 Bolingbroke Road
    Jul 28-Aug 09 $2,495
    Perth, ON
    3555 Bolingbroke Road
    Aug 11-23 $2,495
    Ropes Course|Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Guitar|Jam Camp|Theatre Arts|Arts & Crafts|Drawing|Painting|Canoeing|Fishing|Kayaking/Sea Kayaking|Swimming|Archery|Basketball|Cheer|Football|Gaga|Hiking|Hockey|Soccer|Ultimate Frisbee|Volleyball|Yoga
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 14 - 16
    CIT/LIT Program
    $4,695
    Perth, ON
    3555 Bolingbroke Road
    Jun 30-Jul 26 $4,695
    Perth, ON
    3555 Bolingbroke Road
    Jul 28-Aug 23 $4,695
    Ropes Course|Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Guitar|Jam Camp|Theatre Arts|Arts & Crafts|Drawing|Painting|Canoeing|Fishing|Kayaking/Sea Kayaking|Swimming|Archery|Basketball|Cheer|Football|Gaga|Hiking|Hockey|Soccer|Ultimate Frisbee|Volleyball|Yoga
    Overnight Camp
    Coed
    Ages: 6 - 16
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $1,495 to $2,495
    Ropes Course|Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Guitar|Jam Camp|Theatre Arts|Arts & Crafts|Drawing|Painting|Canoeing|Fishing|Kayaking/Sea Kayaking|Swimming|Archery|Basketball|Cheer|Football|Gaga|Hiking|Hockey|Soccer|Ultimate Frisbee|Volleyball|Yoga
    Overnight Camp
    All Girls
    Ages: 7 - 14
    Traditional (multi activity)
    $1,395
    Ropes Course|Wilderness Out-tripping|Wilderness Skills|Guitar|Jam Camp|Theatre Arts|Arts & Crafts|Drawing|Painting|Woodworking|Canoeing|Fishing|Swimming|Archery|Basketball|Cheer|Football|Gaga|Hiking|Hockey|Ultimate Frisbee|Volleyball|Yoga



    Financial Aid & Payment Details

    Discounts

    Discount for 2nd child $50
    Discount for 3rd child $50
    Discount for 4th child $50
  • Insider Reviews & Perspectives

    The Our Kids review of Camp Davern

    our take

    Davern was established in 1946, and the values that it was founded with remain to this day. Of course, the world in 1946 was very different than today, but then, as now, there was a desire to get kids away from the stresses of life, to allow them to spread their wings a bit in a place beyond the concerns of school and home. It’s a place where kids have an opportunity to spend some time closer to nature and, by extension, through a different set of priorities and at a slower pace. The program is overseen by executive director Andrew Martin, who also directs Camp Can-Aqua, another great Canadian camp. He’s a champion of what traditional camping can bring to a young person’s life. The facilities are wonderful in that they continue to display the long history of the camp, while being up to date in all the essential ways. The site is gorgeous, which is a draw, though the values, spirit, and culture of the camp are the things that families and campers appreciate most.

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


    More reviews of Camp Davern

    Lisa Greaves, Parent

    This Gorgeous Place

    Read review

    Vanessa, Parent

    Best camp ever!

    Read review

    Parent, Parent

    Camp Celiac Success!

    Read review

    Matt, Parent

    Mosquito Bites Fade But the Memories Never Do!

    Read review

    Pat, Camper

    A Great Experience

    Read review

    More reviews of Camp Davern


    Lisa Greaves, Parent

    This Gorgeous Place

    Davern is a gorgeous place which will take kids away from the city and technology into a place where people get to know their best friends and their best selves. So thrilled to see Davern continuing to make magic and to see a camp that is more accessible financially than so many other places ... Show More


    Vanessa, Parent

    Best camp ever!

    Best camp ever! My son had an incredible experience. If you’re looking for an authentic, traditional camp with great activities and nothing but fun, this is the one. This will be our summer tradition.


    Parent, Parent

    Camp Celiac Success!

    My daughter just returned from Camp Celiac hosted by Camp Davern and she is brimming with joy and confidence about her experience. She loved the counsellors, the cabins, the food, the “polar dip” every morning, the activities (especially the paddleboarding and bracelet making). Thank you to Camp Davern for hosting children with celiac and making camp accessible for them. We are so grateful and will send more kids next year - for two weeks if you host it! Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐� ... Show More


    Matt, Parent

    Mosquito Bites Fade But the Memories Never Do!

    Our 12 year old daughter returned from Camp Davern yesterday exhausted, mildly bruised, and bitten (by mosquitos) after having the time of her life. She's told us she can't wait to return next year. From a parental perspective, the booking was straightforward and communication was prompt and courteous. Big recommend from our family ... Show More


    Pat, Camper

    A Great Experience

    I wasn't sure about Davern initially, maybe it was just the thought of being away from my parents for the first time in my life. After my first night there my mind was changed. Amazing people, beautiful site, tasty food. Overall just a great experience ... Show More


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  • Location & Site Details

    Address

    Kingston, ON
    623 Fortune Crescent #100, Kingston, Ontario, K7P 0E5
    Perth, ON
    3555 Bolingbroke Road, Maberly, Ontario, K0H 2B0



    Busing



    Accommodations

    Sleeping Accommodations

    • Cabins

    Amenities

    • Electricity in Sleeping Area

    Washrooms Facilities

    • Flush Toilets
    • Outhouses
    • Showers (outdoor)

    More details about accommodations: Traditional in its rustic facilities, our cabins have electricity along with most of our program buildings. Our brand new showe facilities and indoor flush toilets are just icing on the cake!

    Are meals provided? Yes

    Is Camp Davern technology free? Yes Campers are asked to leave technology at home! All cell phones, tablets, laptops or electronic gaming devices that accidentally get packed will be checked into the Camp Davern office, until your camper’s departure. Since campers are only here for a short period of time, we feel it is a great time to take a break from screen time. Summer camp is all about connecting with peers face to face. We encourage families to speak with campers prior to arrival about our stance on electronics, so they are prepared to spend time unplugged.



    Property Details

    Sports facilities

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

    Landscape

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

    More details about property: Camp Davern was established in 1946 as a traditional overnight residential camp for girls ages 6-16. With some equipment acquired from the War Assets Corporation and the former Service Canteens & Leave Centres, Camp Davern opened in July of 1946 on it’s stunning 200 acre site located just 25 kilometres from Perth, Ontario and just over an hour from Ottawa and Kingston



    Rentals & Services

    Offers outdoor education program for schools or corporate groups: Yes
    Welcome to COEL @ Camp Davern~ The Centre for Outdoor Education and Leadership We are a growing outdoor and experimental education facility focusing on grade specific programs for students ages 11-15. Open your classroom to the dynamic learning platform nature provides. COEL @ Davern offers teachers safe, creative and fun educational opportunities for their students. We have a wide range of program offerings to support common interests in the learning scopes of leadership, team building and environmental education. Consider bringing your class or the entire school and let us provide a memorable learning experience that promotes personal growth, problem solving, cooperation and collaboration. In addition to our general program selections, we thrive in creative unique and group specific curriculum to meet and surpass the needs and interests specific to your school, group of company.


    Available for private rentals: Yes
    We have a multitude of private rental options for groups of varying sizes. Our site can accommodate a wide variety of needs so please contact us for more specific details regarding the facility.


    Associations

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


  • What's New

    Director's Message

    Josie Mageau & Matt Williams, Co-Camp Directors

    Josie
    Josie is a lifelong camper who has attended camps across Canada since she was a child. Committed to creating environments for kids that are both safe and dynamic, she feels that camp has the ability to encourage positive change in everyone. Josie’s creative flare and and love of the outdoors ensures that your kids will return home with experiences and adventures they will remember for a lifetime..

    In her role as the summer camp director, Josie oversees administration, camper care and health and safety.

    Matt

    Originally from a small town in the United Kingdom, Matt has been working full time in camping since 2018. His passion for sports, climbing and the outdoors has brought him to Davern, where he oversees the implementation of our instructional programs and camper picks. In the winter, Matt spends his time at his home in Banff, Alberta, where he continues his passion for the outdoors on the slopes of Lake Louise.

    In addition to his work on programming, Matt oversees the site and facility staff team at Davern.

    They can be reached at [email protected]



    In the News

    November 23, 2023
    2024 Registration Now OPEN!

    Camp Davern invites returning families who registered in 2023 to register for 2024 at last year's rates.... Read More

    May 26, 2023
    Bussing Available in 2023!

    2023 At Camp Davern will have some amazing new offerings, including some great bussing options!... Read More

    October 19, 2022
    Goodbye 2022!

    That's a wrap on the 2022 season!... Read More



    Stories

    • Kingston, Ont., summer camps prepare for potential season

      On Sunday, Doug Ford announced that summer camps will be in operation by their usual start date of July 4th. But this statement left many organizers unclear of what they should prepare for as the province remains under tight restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19.

      Camp organizers in Kingston have started to set things up for potential programs in the summer months — maintaining the sites and reaching out to staff and volunteers. But even still, there isn’t a solid plan.

      “The later it gets in the summer, the more difficult it will be for all summer camps,” says Camp Davern director Peter Vooys.

      Camp Davern has started to prepare for the summer in the event that they are allowed to commence camps, as the premier suggested, with COVID-19 safety protocols in place.

      “We would have to have our campers present negative COVID tests prior to arrival, self isolate prior to arrival at camp. We’ll have picnic tables spaced out, individual meal times,” Vooys says.

      Rapid testing is another tool that Camp Outlook in Algonquin Park is hoping to use. The organization hosts canoe trips for youth facing barriers in the Kingston area. They’ve reached out to government officials for help in screening for the novel coronavirus.

      John Hissink, director at Camp Outlook says “we’ve signed up for a waiting list through the Red Cross, who might be able to provide us with some of those. That’s one of the things that we’re hoping to be able to get.”

      At least one camp in the region will be pivoting to a different operating model this summer. RKY camp in Parham is planning to offer family cabin rentals with the possibility of offering some camping for counsellors in training towards the end of the summer.

    • Andrew Martin Takes Over Camp Davern

      The organization announced in February [of 2017] that Andrew Martin, had purchased the property and would reopen the camp in the summer. Martin has made a career out of the camp industry for more than 15 years, and said he believes in the value of camping, “especially going into a future that is overwhelmed with technology and a lack of social integration for young people.”

      He said he was attracted to the “remarkable property” and “amazing facility” because it holds a lot of history as one of Ontario’s older camps. He’s looking to find out the “silly things” that made the camp unique such as “the name of that hill or the secret path that takes you to Finnigan’s house where kids go and write letters if they’re homesick.”

    • Once A Davern Girl, Always A Davern Girl

      It was on a warm July day in 1948 that nine-year-old Judy Coleman became a Davern girl.

      Boarding a train at Union Station, she and some of her cousins and friends travelled to Maberly, near Perth. There, they put their bags on a horse-drawn hay wagon and, after being greeted by Camp Davern’s director and staff, began to walk to the all-girls YWCA camp on Davern Lake, a 7-km journey that would have taken at least an hour and a half to complete.

      As one of the younger campers at Davern that year, Judy slept in one of two cabins on the site, while others slept in tents pitched on wooden platforms. It was the first of six summers she spent at Davern.

      “There was something very magical, special and bonding about a summer at camp,” says Coleman (now Laughton), “and the friendships made … have continued to this day, almost 67 years later.”



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