Camp and Outdoor Education are both a huge part of the Canadian outdoors experience, and each serve a special role in the development of our youth!
A summer camp is a supervised program for children and youth where the focus is on FUN – and the added benefit is the development of essential soft skills such as:
Outdoor Education is learning – outside! Facilitators guide a group through outdoor experiences to meet curriculum or learning goals. This can include learning about the environment, or learning outdoor skills.
Outdoor Recreation is also offered at many Outdoor Education centres. Outdoor Recreation is not linked to curriculum; these programs are for soft-skill development like team building and communication, while having FUN!
Everyone. No, really! People can go to camp at any age.
Plus, Ontario camps come in many forms:
No matter a person’s abilities, interests, or skill level, there’s a camp designed for them. You can learn more by visiting the camp ahead of time and/or speaking to other parents to find out if it’s a good fit for your camper.
Outdoor education centres welcome a diverse range of participants such as school children and adults attending corporate retreats. Non-school groups are also regular participants of outdoor education centres.
Outdoor education centres can provide full-program, partial program or simply be a venue to host a conference where the group provides their own workshops and sessions.
People of all ages benefit from going to camp! Research shows that camp helps children grow into independent and self-confident adults. Camps contribute to healthy child development. Age-appropriate activities give campers the resilience and confidence to tackle any obstacle.
A camper’s day is filled with learning, laughter, and plenty of adventures. Participants can use their newfound skills in the classroom, their extracurricular activities, and their adulthood.
After a camp experience, many campers show improvement in the areas of:
Outdoor education centres provide education outside the classroom. Teachers can visit outdoor education centres to achieve specific curriculum outcomes or simply to help with classroom dynamics.
Participants of all ages and abilities will have an opportunity to participate in and/or develop:
Whether it’s a corporate team-building retreat or a traditional outdoor adventure, participants develop a deeper understanding of the natural world and the role they play within.
Look for our OCA Accredited logo on camp websites or take a look at our Camps Guide for a complete list of Accredited Camps and Outdoor Education Centres. OCA Accredited Camps and Outdoor Education Centres follow OCA Standards.
Look for our OCA Accredited logo on outdoor education centre and/or program websites or take a look at our Camps Guide for a complete list of accredited outdoor education centres.
