About Camp Awakening

Celebrating 40 years in 2022, Camp Awakening offers overnight summer camp & leadership programs for youth with physical disabilities 8-29 years. We partner with established camps - Kilcoo Camp for boys; Camp Oconto for girls; and Cedar Ridge Camp for all gender leadership and adult programs - in 3 different regions of Ontario to deliver our accessible & adapted programs. Just one session at camp has campers building important life, social, and wilderness skills and realizing greater independence.  Most importantly, they're having a ton of fun and making great new friends! Financial Assistance and transportation between Toronto-Camp available.

Visit the Camp Awakening website

• Special needs: Yes, specialized support. Most campers have special needs.

COVID-19 Response 

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Photo Gallery

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Financial Aid & Payment Details

Payment Options:

Credit card payment	Yes

Accommodations

Sleeping Accommodations

Amenities

Washrooms Facilities

More details about accommodations: The Camp Awakening cabins are located in the heart of each host camp – and across from the dining halls! Each cabin has electricity; ramps; two wheelchair-accessible washrooms with showers, plus storage and a single bed for each camper. Staff sleep in the same cabin, but in a separate room.

Are meals provided? Yes

Is Camp Awakening technology free? Yes The average child spends 7.5 hours a day in front of a screen! Camp is one of the last places in the world where children can experience life ‘unplugged.’ At Awakening, we want campers to enjoy nature – and new friends - without the distraction of screens and electronic devices. Camp provides an opportunity for campers to leave those items behind and focus on having fun through face-to-face connections and experiencing life in the great outdoors. One of the greatest impacts that camp can have on your camper is an increased sensation of self-confidence and independence. A large part of this comes from campers being away from home for a short period. They need to “disconnect to reconnect”.

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Property Details

Sports facilities

Landscape

More details about property: Camp Awakening operates out of established Ontario summer camps – Kilcoo Camp for boys; Camp Oconto for girls; and Cedar Ridge Camp for leadership and adult programs.

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Associations

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Director's Message

Stories

• Discover the wonders of nature!

  Camp Awakening took me on my first trip to Algonquin Park which nearly 20 years later is still one of the most amazing experiences in my life. Those 5 days in the backcountry of Algonquin were incredible. - Malcolm, alumni camper

  Wilderness canoe tripping is a special part of the Camp Awakening summer camp program. Every camper, age 9-18, spends between 2 to 6 days of their session on canoe trip.

  Depending on the age and experience of the cabin group, the canoe trip could be a simple overnight on Gull or Eagle Lake (home to our host camps) or an expedition to one of Ontario’s beautiful Provincial Parks (such as Algonquin or Frontenac).

  Campers learn how to paddle a canoe, pitch a tent, and cook over a campfire.

• From a First Time Camper Parent

  Just by chance, I found Camp Awakening one night while surfing the net.  I knew this was going to "make or break her" (for lack of a better term).  Well, Camp Awakening changed her life. Sheilagh had a spark.  A confidence that I knew was in her, but never had the chance to come out.  Sheilagh was able to experience and participate in so many different things and not feel defeated. She was able to be herself and not be judged. The fact that Sheilagh was able to make new friends without them already having a preconceived idea of who or what Sheilagh is all about was the best feeling. They took her for her.

  I cannot thank you enough for opening up the world to my daughter...

• You are totally unique!

  Camp Awakening is totally unique! I have found no other camp which caters to children who have physical disabilities, but who are not affected cognitively. Until now my daughter was a fish out of water at camps which serve the typical population and at camps for disabled kids. She has found a home at Awakening!

  This past summer was wonderful. I felt safer putting our daughter on that bus at Bloorview Kids Rehab in Toronto and going 2,000 km back to Nova Scotia than I did having her 25 minutes away from us at a Nova Scotia camp last year.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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