Camping Opportunities Fund (COF)
It takes a village to raise a child. United Church wilderness camping programs help kids learn that our families are bigger than we think: they can include the whole village – our friends and neighbours. At camp, we practice what we as Christians preach. The programs of Ryde Lake Camp, Sparrow Lake Camp, Camp Big Canoe, Camp Simpresca and Lake Scugog Camp benefit from the fund’s contributions.
Every year, the Camping Opportunities Fund (COF) helps send 600 children and youth to camp.
In 2020 and 2021, the Camping Opportunities Fund focused on sustaining partner camps as they responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing a prolonged loss of income from registrations, Camp Scugog, Ryde Lake Camp, Sparrow Lake Camp, Camp Simpresca and Camp Big Canoe were able to use COF funds to maintain and revitalize their campsites in anticipation of the day when their gates could reopen to campers.
This year the COF returned to funding camperships that enable young people whose families are unable to cover registration fees, to experience a summer at camp. This year, more than ever, the gift of a session at camp has meant the world to children and youth whose lives are enriched by the friendship, healthy outdoor activity and Christian community they find there; in 2022 COF contributions of more than $200,000 have given more than 300 campers a summer of their dreams.
We are grateful to our network of churches and individual donors whose generosity makes it all possible. To make a gift to the COF, please click the button below.
The Camping Opportunities Endowment Fund
Launched with a few generous gifts from faithful camping enthusiasts, the COF Endowment Fund also helps send kids to camp. The Fund and other endowed “camping” funds contribute more than $30,000 to the COF annually. If your passion is for the long term good health of your church’s camping programs, consider a gift to the fund that contributes annually, and in perpetuity, to sending kids to camp.
The Wesceneaskin Legacy Fund for Camp Renewal
From the 1950s to the 1990s Camp Wesceneaskin operated camps for children and youth under the auspices of the United Church Young People’s Union.
Proceeds of the sale of Camp Wesceneaskin in 2019 established funds which contribute annually to the maintenance of the camp properties.
