How many campers are there in a cabin and how many staff?

Eight to 10 campers live in a cabin, and two counselors live in the cabin with them.

What activities do you have?

We offer sailing, swimming, canoeing, windsurfing, horseback riding, tennis, kayaking, arts & crafts, nature, drama, climbing, high ropes, canoe trips, archery, guitar & drums, basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer. You can find out more about all our activites here.

Do campers get to choose their activities?

Yes! Every morning each section (or unit) of campers has Section Meeting, where they sign up for which activity they’ll go to for each of four periods that day. Their Section Head tells them which three or four choices they have for each of that day’s periods, and they sign up for the one they choose for each period. The “menu” varies for every period, so kids can’t do the same thing all day. They do have to “shop around” and try everything. Once they sign up for their activities, off they go to 1st period. And yes, we do check to make sure that everyone goes where they signed up….. and doesn’t sit around in the cabin either! As well as the four periods, there’s a 5th one called General – At General every activity in camp is open, and kids have to go to an activity and participate. Which activity? Whichever one they choose – as long as they do one.

How do you supervise children at night?

After the campers in a cabin are asleep, their counselors are free to leave the cabin for a few hours. They must sign out with Night Duty (one counselor for each one of our six sections). The Night Duty counsellor does constant rounds to take care of any camper concerns (for example, if someone wakes up with a tummy ache or a nightmare), and there is also a Senior Staff person on Night Duty to support and supervise the Night Duty counsellors. At 1 am counselors must sign back in with Night Duty, and go to bed in their cabins to ensure non-stop coverage of camper cabins.

Where do your campers come from?

About 70% from Toronto, and the rest from cities all over Canada and the U.S. (Cleveland, Miami, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Detroit, Buffalo etc.) and some from Europe, Central America, and South East Asia. We cherish Arowhon’s diverse camper base because we know that no matter how hard a camp might try to stop cliques and “cool rules,” at camps where everyone comes from one or two cities, the kids pack their cliques and “cool rules” in their “invisible baggage” and bring those unfortunate social hierarchies to camp. When kids come from all over, less of that “invisible baggage” comes to camp.

What’s the daily schedule?

Take a peek into a Day in the Life of a Camp Arowhon camper.

What kind of training do your counselors have?

85% of our staff have been at Arowhon before, as campers, Leaders-in-Training and on staff previous years. So the training is, for most of them, a long term immersion in Arowhon’s values of respect, caring and learning, and in the Social Safety Tool Kit that we use to keep every camper safe “on the inside.” For new staff: We hire one out of every 10 candidates, and we only hire staff with a proven track record in both working with children and sharing our values of nurturance and sensitivity. We do a full week of Pre-Camp training for all staff, to brush up their counselling and teaching skills, and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals of supporting every child to be the best they can be, and to be a valued member of their cabin group.

What are the cabins like? Are the toilets outside?

Our cabins are rustic but comfy wooden buildings with toilets and sinks in every cabin. Each section’s shower-houses are about a one minute walk from each cabin.

My child is a picky eater. What is the food like?

Camp food isn’t what it used to be. Thanks to our director, the professionally picky eater Joanne Kates (restaurant critic of The Globe and Mail newspaper), we eat fresh fruit and vegetables, home made soups, a menu like home, with a huge salad bar, and alternative meals three times a day, so kids have enough food choices that everyone finds something they like. See the link for more menu info.

Where do you provide transportation from?

Camp has chartered buses to and from Toronto. For children from far away, our staff pick them up at Toronto Pearson International airport and whisk them onto our airport bus…. And board them on their flight home at the end of camp.

Canoe trips? How long?

Except for our two-week Junior Campers, every Arowhon camper goes on a canoe trip. Juniors (ages 7 – 10) go on a three-day canoe trip, Inters (ages 11 – 13) go on a four-day trip, and Seniors (ages 14 – 15) go on a five-day trip. We’re lucky enough to be deep in the Alqonquin interior, so canoe trips leave right from camp, unlike so many camps that have to truck kids to Algonquin Park.

How long is the session? Can my child stay two weeks?

The two-week program is only for children ages 7 – 10 (born 2000-2003). Most new campers stay for four weeks. See HERE for more info on our dates and fees.

Are swimming lessons compulsory? How often?

Yes, every camper has required swim class three times a week, and they work towards Red Cross swim levels, and then towards Bronze Medallion lifesaving certification.

How many campers and staff do you have?

We have 300 campers and 150 staff.

My child takes medicine every day. How do you deal with that?

Camp has two RN’s and a doctor on staff, on site. We’ll keep your child’s medication in our Med Lodge and our nurses will 1) make sure your child takes the meds as you’ve instructed, and 2) log it daily.

My child is allergic to nuts. Do you have nuts?

We endeavour to be 100% peanut, nut and seed-free... Because of allergic children and staff.

My child wants to come with their friend. Can they be in a cabin together?

If two children who request to be together are the same age and grade, we do everything we can to honour their request to bunk together.

Do you have a religious affiliation or practice?

No, we’re a proudly non-denominational camp, because our experience is that a heterogeneous community is more inclusive than a homogeneous one.

I’ve lost my camp forms… can I download them from the website?

Yes, camp forms can be downloaded from the Camp Office

Do you take credit cards?

Sorry, we don’t take credit cards. We accept cheques, cash, electronic bank transfers, and wire transfers.