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Camp Kodiak
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Type:Overnight camp
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Focus:Traditional (multi activity)
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Cost:$1,700 to $1,950/week
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Ages:6 to 18
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Gender:Coed
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Main language:English
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Capacity:250
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Programs:
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Summary Profile
Camp Kodiak answered our questions
Who are you as an organization?
Camp Kodiak is Canada’s premier overnight summer camp for children and teens with and without learning disabilities, ADHD and high-functioning ASD. Some of our highlights include: • Social skills program • Academic program • 50+ activities • Mature, professional staff • 2:1 camper-to-staff ratio • Programming designed to increase self-esteem and confidence • Leader in Training program for campers 16 to 18 years old • Comfortable log cabins with electricity and bathroom with shower • 425-acre site with 2 miles of waterfront • Located near Parry Sound, Ontario (2.5 hrs north of Toronto) Your camper deserves a summer of fun, friends, and success!
- Special needs:
Yes, specialized support.
Most campers have special needs. - LGBTQ+ friendly community
What do you do differently or uniquely well?
"Campers tell us that they "find their people" at Camp Kodiak. It is empowering for children and youth to meet so many people in one place who genuinely understand and share many of same strengths and challenges as them.
Camp Kodiak programs for success! All sports and activities are taught in an organized, step-by-step fashion to ensure success. Cooperation rather that competition is emphasized. We have over 50 sports, crafts, cultural and educational activities to ensure that all of campers are able to discover and nurture different talents. Campers participate in our "core activities" with their cabin mates as well as select electives from a large variety of activities."Who are your staff and counsellors?
"An important reason for the success of our program is our staff. Of the three counsellors living and working with each cabin group, at least one is trained professional from the fields of education, psychology, social work or recreation. The remaining staff are university and college students, most of whom are working towards a career in one of the helping professions.
Our counsellors undergo rigorous training where they learn about profiles of neurodiversities that may present at camp and how best to meet their social and emotional needs. Our staff also learn a variety of teaching methodologies, camper management strategies, as well as the policies and procedures related to providing safe and successful camp sessions for our campers."What do families need to know about registration?
"Camper application process:
1. Complete an online application form (follow “Apply Now” link on website)
2. Camp Kodiak will contact you to discuss the information you submitted
3. Schedule a time for the prospective camper and parent/guardian to meet with one of the Directors
4. Zoom meeting to determine if we have availability in a cabin group that will provide the camper with a great social fit that is also age appropriate
5. Upon acceptance, a contract will be sent and a deposit is required to confirm the camper’s spot in the cabin group
Camp fees are to be paid in full by April 1st, 2023. If applying for camp after this date, payment in full will be required by June 1st, 2023.
Contact us or apply online to get started today!"
COVID-19 Response
Our primary goal is the health and safety of every camper and staff member at Camp Kodiak. To accomplish this task, we are engaging in conversations with local health agencies, the provincial government, the Ontario Camps Association, and other experts as we plan for the summer of 2023.
View recent COVID-19 updates from Camp Kodiak
Photo Gallery
Video Gallery
- Special needs:
Yes, specialized support.
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Programs, Rates & Dates
Programs and Sessions Calendar
Choose the right programs and sessions for your child; Camp Kodiak currently has 4 programs available.
Filter Activities
Ages: 6 - 18Overnight Camp
(Coed)Traditional (multi activity)
$5,830 to $11,905Parry Sound, ON
200 Kodiak RoadJul 02-29 $7,215 Parry Sound, ON
200 Kodiak RoadJul 02-Aug 20 $11,905 Parry Sound, ON
200 Kodiak RoadJul 31-Aug 20 $5,830 Ages: 6 - 9Overnight Camp
(All Boys)Traditional (multi activity)
$1,950Parry Sound, ON
200 Kodiak RoadJul 02-08 $1,950 Parry Sound, ON
200 Kodiak RoadJul 09-15 $1,950 Parry Sound, ON
200 Kodiak RoadJul 16-22 $1,950 Ages: 6 - 8Overnight Camp
(All Girls)Traditional (multi activity)
$1,950Parry Sound, ON
200 Kodiak RoadJul 02-08 $1,950 Ages: 1 - 18+Overnight Camp
(Coed)Traditional (multi activity)
$1,320 to $3,000Parry Sound, ON
200 Kodiak RoadAug 23-27 $1,320 - $3,000
Financial Aid & Payment Details
Payment Options:
Credit card payment Yes -
Insider Reviews & Perspectives
The Our Kids review of Camp Kodiak
All camps, in varying degrees, personify what camp is all about, though some do that even better than most. Kodiak is one of those camps. It began from a place of pure, unadulterated care, when Dave Stoch explored how camp, particularly, could support kids with a range of special needs. He moved with his family to the US for 7 years, living and learning at a special needs camp there. His daughter, Shari Stoch, says that “in these special needs camping environments that he’d been involved in, he saw the kids really thrive, and they were able to find their place.” And that, right there, is absolutely what camp, any camp, is about. That’s what camp can do that other environments often can’t, or can’t do as well. The family returned to Canada in 1991 and founded Camp Kodiak, building it around all the best practices that they had grown to appreciate. It’s not about separating kids with needs from others, but realizing that, well, all kids have needs, though not necessarily all the same ones. Kodiak is a place where they can be integrated, where their struggles are understood, and programming is managed to provide fun, learning, growing, and inclusion for all. Dave Stoch’s daughters Ilana, Shari and Marni now direct the camp, having started that first year as counsellors and working into the leadership roles. Their expressed interest is to maintain all the goals, dreams, and culture that their father established those years ago. It’s a great story, and a great camp. This is truly what it’s all about.
Visit camp's website
Editor's Review
Three Things: Camp Kodiak
Hear the three things that Our Kids’ editors see when they look at Camp Kodiak
User reviews of Camp Kodiak — Read all 6 reviews
Incredible Place!
A Happy Mom (Parent)This camp is an incredible place! The quality of the administrators, counselors and medical staff is unsurpassed. Our daughter had an amazing experience. She loved the activities and felt accepted and secure. Best of all, ... Read More
It was amazing!
Alex' Mom (Parent)Thank you all for the hard work you put in to making camp an outstanding experience. Alex had a wonderful time there and has grown so much as a result of having attended this summer. Kodiak’s outstanding activities, exce... Read More
Tim's Growth
Tim's Mom (Parent)I wholeheartedly believe Kodiak has been one of the greatest learning experiences for our son. From his first summer, to his last he always gained new skills, new friends and memories to last a lifetime. When I was Tim's a... Read More
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Location & Site Details
Address
200 Kodiak Road, McKellar, Ontario, P0G 1C0, Canada
Busing
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Toronto Bus
Location Address Pick up Drop off Toronto Bus Toronto 1:00 pm 12:00 pm
Accommodations
Sleeping Accommodations
- Cabins
Amenities
- Electricity in Sleeping Area
- Shower in Sleeping Area
- Toilet in Sleeping Area
Washrooms Facilities
- Flush Toilets
- Showers (indoor)
More details about accommodations: Comfortable cabins with full washroom facilities (including shower) located in the cabin. Each building has a deck that provides a beautiful view of the lake.
Are meals provided? Yes
Is Camp Kodiak technology free? Campers are allowed to bring small hand-held gaming devices or music players, but no electronics with a SIM card or texting capabilities. All cell phones brought to camp will be kept in the locked safe in the main office.
Property Details
Sports facilities
- Archery Range
- Baseball Diamond
- Basketball Court
- Climbing Wall
- Horseback Riding Arena (indoor/outdoor)
- Rope Course
- Soccer Field
- Tennis Court(s)
- Weight Room
Landscape
- Beach
- Forested Area
- Lake/Pond/River
- Nature Trails
- Open Field
More details about property: Mini-golf course, bouldering wall
Associations
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Toronto Bus
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What's New
Director's Message
Ilana, Shari and Marni Stoch, Directors
B.Ed., OCTOur father, David Stoch, was a special education teacher who recognized the merits of outdoor education and camping experiences as tools for developing confidence and skills in students, especially those who struggled with the mainstream school environment. His dream of creating an overnight summer camp for kids and youth with and without learning disabilities became a reality, and Camp Kodiak was born. Since our father's passing, we have undertaken the responsibility of ensuring that his legacy continues. It is our honour to ensure that the spirit and direction of camp remain focused on providing campers a summer full of opportunities for success.
We take great pride in the inclusive, nurturing environment that we have created, and the incredible progress we see in our campers. Our staff is dedicated, creative and talented in a variety of ways - from the program areas they run to the relationships they develop with the campers and parents. We are also proud of our campers for demonstrating courage, resiliency, and support for each other.
Most of our campers come to us with very little confidence, very few friends their age and often with a defeatist attitude. Everything that is important to kids is hard for them: school is hard, maintaining friendships is hard, and team sports are hard. They often consider themselves failures. We work very hard to change that negative self-concept. We structure the camp environment to ensure that every camper experiences many successes. They leave camp with their heads held higher, with many new friends and with countless successful experiences and achievements under their belt. They almost always leave feeling empowered by their newly acquired confidence, improved social skills and a greatly enhanced self-concept.
The feedback we receive from parents, schools and the kids themselves encourages us to keep doing what we're doing. Many of our parents have told us that their children get more out of a few weeks of camp than they do from an entire year at school. Before long campers are more engaged with their friends, they start getting invited to social events and their increased confidence results in improved academic achievement.
As parents, we know that choosing the right camp for your child is not an easy decision. The idea of letting go and sending your child away to camp is even more difficult if you are the parent of a child with special needs. Please be assured that every child who comes to our camp becomes part of the Kodiak family and is treated as family.
Stories
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Thank you from Chicago
Hello from Chicago. There have been so many times that I have wanted to write and tell you what an amazing experience Camp Kodiak was for Mack. I don't have a good excuse, except that life keeps marching on at a very intense pace. But tonight when he was digging into a SALAD like it was ice cream, I just knew I couldn't let any more time go by. This from the boy who subsisted on only Life Cereal before becoming a camper. The salad is only a metaphor for the many new (and healthy) experiences Mack had with you all. Before camp he had had such a tough year, having to switch schools half way through, that he was feeling really down and negative and unsuccessful. Of course, on Mack, that just looks combative, aggressive and loud, but we knew he was hurting. Going to Camp was the most positive thing that had happened to him in years. He still talks about something wonderful at camp every day. A counselor he connected to, a funny joke, a serious hurdle he overcame, and of course the production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We get to re-live that a lot. The patience and friendship you and your staff showed to Mack will never be forgotten by him or us. I know now that he has an example of times where he was able to fit in and feel happy. He is so excited to come back and we are happy that he has you all to return to. What you are doing matters so much to so many kids. A few nights ago, Mack came downstairs worried about something he had "lied about at Camp Kodiak." He said he had told the other kids in his cabin he was 12 when he was only 10 and he just couldn't fall asleep that night, fearing what would happen when he met up with everyone again this summer. We assured him that everyone wants to feel a little closer to people in their group and we knew that when he saw his friends again, it would feel great, no matter how old he really was. We moved on by talking about some of the great things he was able to do with you and his fear and anxiety went away. Thank you for all you are doing by offering such an experience to kids like Mack. I hope you are enjoying the off season with a sense of pride and accomplishment. You deserve it. Looking forward to planning another summer as the temperatures start to fall here. all the best, Ellen
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Libby's story
Dave, WOW! I can't believe the summer that Libby had. She has not stopped talking about camp, her friends and all the things they did and talked about. To top it off - our phone has been ringing daily with another call from another camp friend. She is conversant on the telephone, which was impossible before she came to camp. I am not sure what you do or how you do it...but you've done it with Libby. All I had hoped for! Her goal for the summer was that she have one friend at the end of the summer to ride the bus to Toronto with. What I got instead is a 12 year old talking on the phone, recounting stories about more friends than I can count and talking of her new boyfriend!!! I would have never imagined it was something we would ever see from Libby 6 months ago. When we were shopping in Parry Sound, she asked if she could have a plaque - it read -"Sometimes to see a rainbow you have to go through the rain". I couldn't believe that she connected with that - it embodies what we have known she needed to understand for the past year. I think that Kodiak and your conversation with her really helped her to see that sometimes you have to participate in things you may not love to get to the best part of an experience. Thanks to you and your staff for making Libby's summer all that it could be and recognizing the terrific person that is inside of her. It is sad how many people miss that when people do not conform to their definition of "normal". I knew if we just found the right environment, she would love the camp experience. Thanks for making her summer so great, and helping us to help her as she grows and begins to encounter more and more of the social situations that have been such a challenge for her. We all look forward to her spending another great summer with you. Libby's mom
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Kevin's story
Dear David: Kevin attended your camp for three weeks last year. It was an experience he will never forget and talks about it often. True to your word, he never realized that the true purpose of attending your camp was to help him with his social difficulties, but help him you did. For the first time in his life, he has maintained friendships for the entire school year. His friends (two in particular) call him frequently, (in fact,, almost too much!!) and invite him over and come over here pretty much every weekend. He has made new friends throughout the last few months, and all of the friends are nice, clean-cut, polite kids with a great sense of humor like Kevin's. Kevin's self-esteem has improved incredibly and his dad and I feel very confident that he will do well next year in high school. So, THANK YOU. The results were astounding and almost immediate. Your camp gave Kevin the gift of a lifetime. That and a love of sailing and water-skiing! You have a truly unique and special camp and we wish you every success in the future. Kevin's mom, Thousand Oaks, California
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Krista's story
Dear Dave: I can honestly and sincerely say that my experiences at Camp Kodiak helped me to become the person I am today. Before camp I was shy, nervous, quiet and had low self-esteem. I didn't want to go to camp since the idea of all of those new people, in a new setting that I knew little about, scared me. I went anyway and I'm glad I did. For the first time ever I felt adequate; I was an equal. Everyone was so friendly, open and welcoming from the moment I stepped off the bus. I was not afraid anyone was laughing at me, just with me. I have made hundreds of friends of all ages at camp, many are friendships I know will last a lifetime. Camp was the place for many firsts that gave me confidence. It was the first time I went horseback riding, canoeing and water-skiing. I had tons of support from the counselors as well as the other campers. For someone who felt she could achieve so little, it was a great rush to have so many people believe in me, and show it. The entire experience has raised my self-esteem. I finally felt I can do anything I put my mind to. When people ask me about camp, I have only positive things to say. When talking about camp I am likely beaming, smiling from ear to ear. I have been going to camp for years and have no plans to stop any time soon. Camp has made a difference in my life and has been a very important part of it. Krista
(Krista is a former camper, LIT and staff member. She is now an elementary school teacher who lives in London with her husband and children.)
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Jonathon's story
Dear Dave: Thank you once again for a wonderful camp experience. As you know, Jonathon's troubles started very early. In kindergarten he was diagnosed with learning disabilities and became very despondent. As a result of a very uncaring psychologist, Jonathon's self-esteem plummeted and he began to feel that he was stupid and worthless. At the age of 7 he was depressed and so unhappy that he cried every day. School was a nightmare, and we had to physically put him on the bus many times. When Jonathon decided he would like to go to camp, you met with us and answered all of our questions, showed us photos and a video of the camp. It was very difficult, I will admit, to send Jonathon to camp that first year. He had never been away from us for so long and I was concerned. After all, he was only 8 years old. I got a really good feeling at the bus pick-up point. Many of the counselors were there, and we could see that a lot of the kids were anxious to get to camp again. You all made Jonathon very comfortable, and a counselor from his cabin sat with him. The first few days of camp were difficult for me. I think I called every day, but no one gave me the feeling that I was a bother. I now know, of course, that my concerns about Jonathon feeling lonely or scared were quite unfounded. Jonathon's letters were very hard to read due to the nature of his disability, but we could tell he was happy at camp. My favorite letter was the one with the rock in it from an overnight camping trip. When we picked Jonathon up at the end of the three weeks, I was floored by the changes in him. He literally bounced off the bus! He was happy! After two years of long faces and tears, he was happy! He oozed confidence and he seemed so sure of himself. It was almost too good to be true. When we got home he showed us his academic workbook. Wow! A lot of time and effort went into his work. I really like the fact that you check with parents and teachers to determine what work needs to be done. It's hard to describe the difference in Jon. He was proud of himself and the things he had done. We were amazed at the list. Archery, canoeing, swimming, horseback riding, go-carts, photography, arts
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Camp Kodiak have good reviews?
We've collected reviews from past attendees. Read 6 reviews of Camp Kodiak here.What types of programs does Camp Kodiak offer?
Camp Kodiak runs: Traditional (multi activity) overnight camps. Browse the program calendar for rates and dates.What age does Camp Kodiak start?
Camp Kodiak has programs for children aged 6 to 18.How much does is cost to attend Camp Kodiak?
Fees to attend Camp Kodiak range from $1,700 to $1,950/week.Does Camp Kodiak offer support for children with special needs?
Camp Kodiak has trained staff and programming designed to support children with special needs.Does Camp Kodiak offer busing?
Yes, Camp Kodiak offers transportation. Find busing info and fees here.
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Thank you from Chicago
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Our Kids: The Trusted Source for Families since 1998. |
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