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Camping programs help children and youth develop healthy lifestyles, self-esteem, independence, leadership skills and environmental awareness. The camps' natural environment opens young minds to dream the impossible, and active programming helps campers to develop practical outdoor skills and small groups to care for each other.
United Church camping programs are recognized for their excellence in leadership development, outdoor skills and environmental education, and for their inclusiveness. Camp staff and volunteer leadership provide great programming to children with special needs and to those whose families cannot fully fund their participation, helping break entrenched cycles of disenfranchisement. Campers and staff represent many Christian faith groups, non-Christian faith traditions and families with no faith tradition at all.
Toronto United Church Council owns the land and buildings where Toronto Conference camps operate. We are a proud partner in the care and development of our camping programs.
United Church camps serve 2,200 children and youth from Toronto and southern Ontario every year and these experiences are open to every child through two important principals that guide our programs: No child should miss a chance to go to camp for a lack of money; and our "helping hand" should not stigmatize a child at home or at camp. The Camping Opportunities fund quietly helps to send more than 500 children to camp each year.
Camp Big Canoe for boys and girls is located near Fraserburg in the beautiful Muskoka district on a 240-acre wooded site surrounding Hart Lake. The program gives campers every opportunity to experience the challenge and rewards of outdoor living and to appreciate their natural environment. Centralized permanent buildings provide facilities for cooking, eating, crafts, health care, washrooms with showers and housing for senior staff. Campers and counsellors live in large airy tents on raised wooden floors.
Camp Simpresca is situated on the wooded shore of beautiful Georgian Bay just 8 km. north of Midland. The 82-acre site provides an atmosphere that invites campers to challenge themselves physically, mentally, spiritually and socially. The camper cabins, program buildings and dining facilities are excellent. A new washroom centre has been built and other projects to enhance the site are underway. The camp also features a large playing field, basketball court, archery range, woodland trails and sandy beach.
Lake Scugog Camp has been serving mothers, youth and children since the late 1920's. The camp is located on Lake Scugog, 22 km. east of Port Perry near the village of Nestleton. The site consists of 325 acres of varied terrain, including vast meadows, mixed forest, grass lawns, adventurous swamp and 1,100 feet of shoreline with a view of beautiful sunsets. Considerable planning and site improvements have taken place in the past 5 years including construction of a new washroom with showers. Program facilities and buildings are continually being upgraded.
Begun in 1912, Sparrow Lake Camp provides the highest standards of residential camping for boys and girls. The property is 100 wooded acres with just under 2 km. of shoreline. The facilities include large cabins, modern washrooms and showers, a professional ropes course, safe sand beaches, a huge recreation hall, and a fully equipped kitchen. This marvelous setting provides an opportunity for campers and staff alike to enjoy and value the wonders of the natural environment.
Ryde Lake Camp is an independent affiliated girls' camp founded in 1952. It serves 320 children and youth annually.
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