Our Mission

The Ontario Camps Association supports, advances, promotes and accredits camps throughout Ontario.

Since 1933, the Ontario Camps Association (OCA) has played an important leadership role in promoting and encouraging children and youth camping in Ontario. The OCA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that draws its membership from camps, individuals and like-minded organizations and agencies, all devoted to maintaining high standards for organized camping, and to sharing information and ideas that maintain these standards.

The OCA takes pride in our history while positively looking forward to our future. We hope that you find everything you need on our website.

OCA Vision

Enriching the lives of children, youth and families one camp at a time.

OCA Values

Integrity – Demonstrating honesty and fairness at all times.

Respect – Recognizing and protecting the inherent worth of every person, including oneself.

Responsibility – Being dependable and accountable for choices, actions and commitments.

Inclusiveness – Fostering a sense of belonging for all.

Caring – Building relationships and demonstrating concern for the needs of others.

Openness – Ability and willingness to embrace new and different ideas and to be open to change.

An Ontario Camps Association (OCA) Member, staff or volunteer is recognized as an honest, responsible and fair individual who acts in the best interests of the OCA community, stakeholders and the public. Our mission to support, advance, promote and accredit camps throughout Ontario relies on our Members, staff, and volunteers to uphold our values.

OCA’s Standards

OCA requires Accredited Members to follow and maintain standards for operational excellence.

More than 600 OCA Standards keep Members accountable and operating at a level of excellence. For parents and guardians, it means peace of mind that the facilities they send their children to are safe, accessible, and professionally operated.

We also offer our Members on-going educational workshops, conferences, and other professional development opportunities.

Why We Do It

We’re a community of passionate people from all walks of life with one thing in common: our love for camp and outdoor education. Working together as a community, we make Ontario the very best place for people to go to camp.

Looking out of a tent at two young people around a campfire.

Our History

Read about the history of the Ontario Camps Assocation.