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Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are requiredCamp Arowhon
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Focus
Traditional (multi activity) -
Cost
$1,500 to $2,000/week -
Main language
English -
Ages (Gender)
7 to 16 (Coed) -
Capacity
350
At Arowhon your child will make best friends and gain skills that will shape their lives, all while having the time of their lives. Family-run since 1934, we take care of your kids like our own on our private lake in Algonquin Park - a haven from the screens and stress of city life. They'll have fun while learning to canoe, sail, horseback ride, and so much more. With over 20 activities to chose from daily, there's something for everyone. Our 1:2 staff ratio gives campers individual attention and staff are extensively trained to support growth and make learning fun. Campers return home more confident and competent - physically, socially, and emotionally. Come for a summer, get an experience that lasts a lifetime.
- Special needs: Yes, mild support. A few of our campers have special needs.
- LGBTQ+ friendly community
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Focus
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Programs, Rates & Dates
Programs and Sessions Calendar
Arowhon is known for our exemplary facility and activity instruction and our commitment to emotional, social, and physical safety. Our free-choice daily activity selection and variety of activities inspires campers to explore passions, and professional instructors engage everyone from beginners to experts. All campers get to participate in overnight canoe trips in the pristine Algonquin wilderness where they learn to embrace adventure and appreciate nature. Our staff keep a close eye on every campers’ well-being and create a community of respect and inclusion. We look for the reasons behind challenges and work with kids (and parents) to overcome them, fostering emotional intelligence, resilience, compassion, and connection.
Camp Arowhon currently has 4 programs available.
Filter by activities .
Filter Activities
Ages: 7 - 16Overnight Camp
(Coed)Traditional (multi activity)
$8,300 to $14,000Algonquin Park, ON
1 Arowhon RoadJun 25-Aug 17 $14,000 Algonquin Park, ON
1 Arowhon RoadJun 25-Aug 05 $13,000 Algonquin Park, ON
1 Arowhon RoadJun 25-Jul 21 $9,600 Algonquin Park, ON
1 Arowhon RoadJul 23-Aug 17 $8,300 Ages: 7 - 13Overnight Camp
(Coed)Traditional (multi activity)
$4,750 to $4,900Algonquin Park, ON
1 Arowhon RoadJun 25-Jul 08 $4,900 Algonquin Park, ON
1 Arowhon RoadJul 23-Aug 05 $4,750 Ages: 6 - 9Overnight Camp
(Coed)Traditional (multi activity)
$300 to $600Algonquin Park, ON
1 Arowhon RoadAug 07-08 $300 Algonquin Park, ON
1 Arowhon RoadAug 07-10 $600 Ages: 1 - 18+Overnight Camp
(Coed)Traditional (multi activity)
$1 to $350Algonquin Park, ON
1 Arowhon RoadSep 04-06 $1 - $350
Registration Details
Registration is all online and is on a first-come, first-served basis. A $1000 deposit is required to secure a spot and balance of payment is due May 1 (we accept credit cards, cheques, and various methods of online payment). Fees are all-inclusive (only opt-in is bus transportation). Regular sessions start at 2 weeks and only requirement is ability to swim. Kids ages 6-9 who aren't ready for a full session yet can come for a one night "Mini Camp" in mid-August to get a taste of Arowhon. We respond promptly to phone calls and are available for video or home visits. We are happy to provide references from other parents and connect you to other campers before camp. Call (416)975-9060 or email [email protected] for more information today.
Financial Aid & Payment Details
Payment Options:
Deposit required with acceptance Yes Credit card payment Yes -
Reviews & Insider Perspectives
Camp Arowhon reviews on OUR KIDS
5 (10 total reviews)
Get a range of perspectives to understand the day-to-day experience, the program quality, and the skills and personal growth kids gain. Star ratings are calculated from verified written reviews only.
Latest reviews for Camp Arowhon
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Gallery
Photo Gallery
Video Gallery
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Meet the Staff
Director's Message
Camp Arowhon has been family-run for 4 generations. Started in 1934 by their great grandmother Lilian Kates, Directors Mara and Max were mentored by their parents Joanne and Leon (the camp mom and dad) who ran Arowhon from 1989 - 2021.
Camp is so much more than a business to us - it's our passion and legacy. Our family knows from experience the impact a summer in Algonquin can have on children, and it is our greatest pride and pleasure to share that with you.
Our mission is to grow and nurture children to find their best selves and build strong friendships. Arowhon campers learn both social and activity skills. We believe in teaching kids how to be problem-solvers themselves, and our highly-trained staff give them the support and encouragement needed to succeed.
Arowhon campers have a great time and make lifelong friendships, but they also come home standing a little taller, being a little more resourceful, and knowing how to contribute to their community. They learn how to sail, canoe, windsurf, ride a horse, and be a good friend while they fall under the spell of the wildnerness, to the tune of the loon's call.
Staff and Counsellors
Most of our staff grew up at Arowhon and are well-versed in our values and practices. New ones are meticulously screened and have extensive childcare experience and references. Each cabin has 3 counsellors (for 12 kids) who are trained in active listening, collaborative conflict resolution, recognizing and responding sensitively to bullying, and making daily life fun. Dedicated activity instructors provide expert coaching and foster love of learning by challenging and cheering kids on. Canoe trip leaders are wilderness professionals with extensive qualification and training. All staff are closely supervised by on-site directors and owners (along with MD, RNs, and social worker) who communicate and collaborate with parents regularly.
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Location & Operations
Address
1 Arowhon Road, Algonquin Park, Ontario, P0A 1B0, Canada
Busing
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Bus 1 (Bus fee: 150)
Location Address Pick up Drop off Herbert Carnegie Centennial Centre 580 Finch Avenue West 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
Property Details
Sports facilities
- Archery Range
- Baseball Diamond
- Basketball Court
- Climbing Wall
- Horseback Riding Arena (indoor/outdoor)
- Rope Course
- Soccer Field
- Tennis Court(s)
Landscape
- Beach
- Forested Area
- Lake/Pond/River
- Nature Trails
- Open Field
More details about property: Camp Arowhon is located on Teepee Lake in the heart of beautiful Algonquin Park. We are on our own lake with access to extensive hiking and horseback riding trails and canoe tripping routes.
Is your property accessible for persons with disabilities? Yes. Camp Arowhon is committed to accommodating people with disabilities upon request.
Accommodations
Sleeping Accommodations
- Cabins
Amenities
- Electricity in Sleeping Area
- Laundry/Linen service
- Toilet in Sleeping Area
Washrooms Facilities
- Flush Toilets
- Showers (indoor)
More details about accommodations: Campers live in rustic but comfortable wooden cabins with 8-12 campers and 3 counsellors who sleep in the cabins with them.
Are meals provided? Yes.
Is Camp Arowhon technology free? Yes. Arowhon is screen-free. Campers can have devices that play music, take pictures, and e-readers, but nothing that can connect to the internet, make a phone call, or play videos or video games.
Rentals & Services
Offers outdoor education program for schools or corporate groups: Yes
Whether you're looking for a school trip with curriculum content, a retreat for your organization, a conference site, a corporate team-building program, we can design a program to meet your needs. Our programs are experiential, adventurous, and affordable! Email [email protected] for more details.Available for private rentals: Yes
What better way to celebrate a wedding or a family reunion that a weekend with your loved ones in beautiful Algonquin Park? Email [email protected] to plan your dream event.Associations
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Bus 1 (Bus fee: 150)
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What's New
Stories
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Our Staff
Arowhon staff work ten times harder at camp than they do during the school year, but then the subjects are a little more important - the growth and development of children. Everything at camp depends on the staff, which is why we hire only experienced staff who have demonstrated competence and caring with children. The majority of our staff grew up at Arowhon. For new staff, we scrutinize ten candidates for every job, looking for sensitivity, experience working with children, and the motivation to support them. A full week of Pre-Camp training equips our staff with tools like active listening, conflict mediation and the skills to nurture both individual children and groups. During the summer Director Joanne Kates works daily with staff to help them support every camper and every cabin group.
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Our Campers
Is it magic that helps kids get along and thrive in a group? If magic were real, then kids wouldn't need the Camp Arowhon Social Safety Tool Kit. The Kit is packed with tools that all our staff are trained to use, every day: Active listening, talking circles, conflict mediation, and bully interventions are some of the simple tools we use to support children to treat each other with respect. We grow emotional intelligence at camp. Kids learn to be accountable for how their choices affect others, with attentive staff support. The result is a summer camp where kids treat each other fairly and kindly, where every child feels cared for and noticed, and everyone is included in the fun. Arowhon campers know that if they do struggle in any way, there is always a counselor there to help.
Walk down any Arowhon path and you get a high five, a hug, a hello or a smile. It's a small enough camp that everyone knows you. At meals in the Main Lodge all together, when the whole camp meets at the campfire circle every Friday night, when we cheer each other on for awards won, we are a community. Our camp community has clear values that we all strive to live up to: Caring, Respect and Learning. Everything we do at Arowhon guides and leads our campers and staff towards that commitment to themselves and to others. -
Our Activities
Why do Arowhon campers come home from camp walking taller? It's the love of learning that puts a spring in their step for life. Arowhon is a skill-based learning environment. We teach skills because of the fun and self esteem that result when you windsurf across the lake and back! Or star in a play, or perfect a kayak roll, or learn to control a sailboat, or a horse, or make it to the top of the climbing wall. Also because when children discover the joy of learning a camp skill, that experience goes home with them as lifelong love of learning and ability to accept challenges. Teaching skills so intensely requires two things: Plenty of facility and expert teaching staff - we have enough canoes, sailboats, horses, kayaks, windsurfers, tennis courts etc. that campers can do all their favorite activities every day. And a 2:1 ratio of campers to staff, so instructors can teach small groups at their own level.
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Algonquin Park Tradition
How do 3000 square miles of lakes, rivers and forest give a child the peace and stillness they need to find their best selves? It all starts with Algonquin Park, where for three generations Arowhon campers have been gathering at the same campfire site. When children live on a lake where loons pierce the silence with their song, a part of their character un-nourished by city life flourishes: That safe place is their Algonquin home away from home. Since 1934 Arowhon has been drawing out the love of learning - and resulting self-confidence - in every camper in a wilderness setting on our own lake. We cherish every child in order to build success for them. Arowhon first pioneered the intense teaching of activities to children because their successes are the royal road to self esteem. More recently Arowhon created the Camp Arowhon Social Safety Tool Kit - a set of tools that camp staff use in order to keep children safe on the inside as well as the outside. From conflict mediation to anti-bully interventions, Director Joanne Kates trains and manages every staff member to keep every single child safe and secure at camp.
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A Safe Place to Grow Up
"There are so many things I have to say to you and to thank you for. I think one of the most important things that you have done is make this a bully free zone. I know that may sound dumb, but until I came to this camp 5 years ago I was constantly made fun of. You have helped me to become a stronger and more confident person. I cannot thank you enough. I just hope that one day I will come back and be able to help people as much as you have helped me."
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What Parents Have to Say
"My son developed self-confidence at Arowhon. He felt genuinely accepted. Thank you for providing David with the environment in which to grow, learn and like himself."
"Hartlee is your best advertising!! She loves camp, the staff, the atmosphere - everything!! We love the skills she is learning and knowing she is having a terrific summer!!"
"Staff seems wonderful - loved the personal letters from counselors - facilities seem excellent."
"Our daughter had a lot of positive reinforcement at camp. She came home feeling very confident and independent. She expressed feelings of inclusion."
"Please do not change anything. Your camp is what a camp should be." -
What Really Matters
"Everyone here is accepted for what they can do and who they are and you learn so many things skill-wise. You learn so much more here about yourself and what you can be and what you can do and canoe trips are cool. At other camps it's like social and at our camp it's about skills and you make so many friends and you have so many experiences you never knew you'd ever have in your entire life. Camp Arowhon is the best. Everyone makes friends and no one judges you here. This isn't one of those little camps where you have to look good and stuff this is a camp where you can get dirty."
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A Letter From a Camper
Dear Camp Arowhon, Today I was looking through my camp address book and I thought I would write letters to my counsellors and then I thought I should write one to you. I am really excited about camp and so I used my new camp stationary. I am so sooo eager to be at camp again. My sister Jo and I talk about camp every day. Our day's not complete unless we talk about camp. I hope to be sitting in a canoe once more soon. Love Molly
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Our Staff
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