Parents may find themselves struggling with their teenagers because they participate in negative activities like promiscuity, drugs and alcohol, or other addictive behaviours and/or trouble with the law. In this situation, parents may find themselves searching for outside help, possibly by sending them to what are often called "teen boot camps." Camps for troubled teens in Canada tend to focus on changing behaviours and attitudes through education, the influence of a good environment and positive role models. Read more
Save time, stress, and money by finding the perfect March Break, summer and after-school camps and programs for your child in one afternoon at the Camp Expo.
Saturday, Feb 22 at the Roy Thomson Hall Get My Free Family Ticket
SEARCH ALL CAMPS USING OUR ADVANCED CAMP SEARCH
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Harbourfront Centre Camps
Harbourfront Centre Camps, established in 1979, offers a creative and inclusive environment for campers aged 4 to 15. With over 20 camp options, including circus, arts, and water sports, there’s something for everyone. Harbourfront, Toronto
Traditional (multi activity)
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WillowWood School Camp and Summer School
WillowWood offers 3 different summer programs: camps for Grades 1-6, skills programs for Gr. 7-9 and high school credits for students in Grades 9-12. Don Mills, Toronto
Education (multi)
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YMCA of the National Capital Region
Choose active and fun Neighbourhood Day Camps close to home, with themed weeks and field trips, OR a traditional outdoor day or overnight experience at Camp Otonabee with high ropes, paddling, archery, swimming and more! Ottawa
Traditional (multi activity)
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Camp Tamarack
Muskoka summer camp that welcomes campers of all ages, and staff from around the world. Experience our incredible variety of activities including skiing, wakeboarding, tennis, ropes, climbing and more! Bracebridge
Traditional (multi activity)
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Outward Bound Canada
Outward Bound Canada provides challenging adventures in the outdoors across the country that develop self-respect, awareness of others, interpersonal skills, and a sense of accomplishment. East York, Toronto; Algonquin Park; Kananaskis; Vancouver; Vancouver Island
Adventure (multi)
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Empower Learning Centre
Join our summer camps at Empower Learning Centre! Engage in fun activities, develop new skills, and make lasting memories. Limited spots available. Register now! Mississauga
Traditional (multi activity)
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YMCA of Southwestern Ontario Overnight Camps
The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario offers two amazing overnight camps for campers aged 5-16 - YMCA Camp Queen Elizabeth (CQE) in Georgian Bay Islands National Park and YMCA Camp Henry in Point Pelee National Park. Leamington; London; Port Severn
Traditional (multi activity)
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YMCA of Oakville
YMCA of Oakville Child and Youth Programs and Summer Day Camps are offered at several locations across the community with activities including swimming, day trips and more. Learn more! Oakville
Traditional (multi activity)
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InterVarsity Ontario Pioneer Camp
Ontario Pioneer Camp is a Christian summer camp and outdoor education and retreat centre located in Ontario, offering programs for children, youth, and students. Huntsville
Traditional (multi activity)
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Camp Kennebec
An amazing summer camp experience for campers with special needs. All the fun of camp, with supportive and experienced staff to give your camper the summer of their life! The focus is on fun first! Sharbot Lake
Traditional (multi activity)
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YMCAs of Québec
Located in the Laurentians (Quebec) on a 550-acre site with 3 lakes, Camp YMCA Kanawana has been offering a unique setting to enjoy nature and have fun in the great outdoors since 1894. Saint-Sauveur
Traditional (multi activity)
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Evergreen Brick Works
At Evergreen Brick Works, kids and families can explore and get active in the heart of Toronto's beautiful Lower Don Valley! Leaside, Toronto
Traditional (multi activity)
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uOttawa Engineering Outreach
uOttawa Engineering Outreach offers a wide range of programs in engineering, science, technology, and coding for both kids and teens. From summer camps to clubs and afterschool programs, as well as credited courses. Kanata; Orleans; Ottawa; Ottawa South
Education: STEM
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Medeba Summer Camp
Medeba Summer Camp is an overnight camp that uses adventure and community to provide the best week of your child's summer! We provide a full range of traditional and extensive adventure activities to choose from. Haliburton
Traditional (multi activity)
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COOKSMART
Get the kids cooking and learning more life skills! Our program has both virtual and in-person options! The kids are loving cooking together to make tasty foods for their family. Mississauga
Arts: Cooking
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Bear Creek Outdoor Centre
We are a small camp with a spectacular community of campers and staff. We focus on having a great time building interpersonal skills and connecting with each other in a fantastic natural setting. Ottawa; Renfrew
Traditional (multi activity)
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Active Scholars
A unique summer experience, Where Sports Meets Education and campers get to engage in both STEM Learning & Basketball or Soccer Development. Each week we offer a unique experience for continued growth and engagement. Humberlea, Toronto; Ajax; Whitby
Traditional (multi activity)
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The Pine Project
Ontario's leading nature connection organization, offering year-round outdoor education programs for children and youth. Time in nature makes kids happier and healthier. Join us to learn, play and grow in nature! Bloor West Village, Toronto; East York, Toronto; Haliburton Highlands
Education: Nature/Environment
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Camp Hermosa
A freshly renovated overnight Christian summer camp for all ages offering a wide range of summer activities, including swimming lessons, nature hikes, sports, campfires, crafts, worship, and Bible study. Goderich
Traditional (multi activity)
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Fallbrook Trail Ranch
We are a fairly traditional camp providing sports, crafts, swimming, games & horseback riding. We encourage imagination, creativity and teamwork. Weeks through the summer have unique themes and varied program leads. Halton Hills
Sport: Horseback Riding/Equestrian
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Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada summer camps offer exciting outdoor adventures where youth build skills, gain confidence, try new activities, make friends, and create lifelong memories. Throughout British Columbia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island (9)
Traditional (multi activity)
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Steamoji
A STEM / STEAM maker academy for kids that offers after-school programs, year-round 400-hour classes, along with fun camps. Throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario (17)
Education: STEAM
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Gee-Gees Sports Camps
The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees pride ourselves in offering a wide variety of bilingual sport camps to youth in the Ottawa and Gatineau area. Ottawa
Traditional (multi activity)
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The YES (The Youth Excellence Society)
Overnight leadership camps at beautiful Cowichan Lake! Expand your co-operative leadership and team building skills while connecting with youth from around the province. Experience a summer camp like no other. Lake Cowichan; Victoria
Education: Leadership (multi)
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Sparrow Lake Camp
Since 1912! Sparrow Lake Camp is a traditional Co-Ed Summer Camp where all are welcome, all are valued, and all belong. Overnight camps for kids 6-16, as well as our friends and family 'Holiday Camp' for all ages! Orillia
Traditional (multi activity)
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ARTSies Youth Theatre Programs
ARTSies provides musical theatre classes, camps, and exciting performance opportunities for youth ages 5 through teens! There's no experience necessary to join our programs. White Haven, Toronto; Markham
Arts: Musical Theatre
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Campfire Circle
Campfire Circle brings healing through happiness to kids and families affected by childhood cancer or serious illness through our in-hospital, community, and overnight camp programs, at no cost to families. Downtown West, Toronto; Parry Sound; Southern Niagara Region
Traditional (multi activity)
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Reptilia Zoo Inc.
Explore the wild world of reptiles at any of our Reptilia Zoo locations; London, Whitby & Vaughan! See 250+ animals; reptiles, amphibians & arachnids. Kids can join our exciting camp program with hands-on learning. London; Vaughan; Whitby
Education: Zoology
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Hear & Now Music
Hear & Now Music offers in-home and virtual lessons in piano, guitar, ukulele, singing, and more. Our March Break and summer camps for kids 5+ focus on instrument exploration, band collaboration, and performing live. The Beach, Toronto
Arts: Music (multi)
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L&E World Camps
L&E offer a unique overnight international summer camp experience in British Columbia, Canada & Winchester, UK. L&E inspires & nurtures young people with their award winning multi-activity program & specialised courses. International; Shawnigan Lake
Traditional (multi activity)
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Academic Camp Canada
Inspiring academic summer camps - choice of languages, maths, sciences, social studies & arts. You get to explore beautiful the New Brunswick or the cosmopolitan City of London in the UK. Be a Leader course is included. International; Rothesay
Education (multi)
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Devenish Educational Consulting & Summer Camp
Leading educational counseling and coaching for students. We offer personalized executive functions coaching, career exploration, post-secondary preparation and application, and strategies for success in school and life. Oakville
Traditional (multi activity)
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Neighbour Note Music Camps & Lessons
Toronto's premier camps run by University Professors, TDSB Teachers, and extraordinary Musicians! (PhD, DMA). Our Rock Band camp instructor performed for over 10 000 people when his band opened for KISS in Mexico City! Bloor West Village, Toronto; High Park, Toronto
Arts: Music (multi)
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Easter Seals Summer Camp
Easter Seals camps are for children and adults (6-49+) with physical and cognitive disabilities. With fully accessible facilities and specially trained staff, our programs can accommodate campers with all abilities. Kelowna; Shawnigan Lake; Squamish
Traditional (multi activity)
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Bayview Glen Camp
Located centrally in Toronto, this summer camp boasts ample outdoor greenspace, a full size turf sports field, and air conditioned buildings. They offer specialized sports, arts, and coding/robotics camps. Don Mills, Toronto; York Mills, Toronto
Traditional (multi activity)
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YMCA Wanakita
A co-ed camp offering Overnight Kids Camp, Day Camp and year-round Family Camps. We offer leadership development, a wide range of activities, tripping, a sense of belonging and fun. Come have the time of your life! Haliburton Highlands
Traditional (multi activity)
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Cedar Ridge Camp
Cedar Ridge Camp is a place where campers have the opportunity to get outside, develop friendships, and build confidence. Bancroft
Traditional (multi activity)
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Camp Oconto
Founded in 1924, Oconto is a traditional girls overnight camp located on the beautiful shores of Eagle Lake north of Kingston, Ontario. Over 20 activities are offered on 80 acres of land and 2km of shoreline. Sharbot Lake
Traditional (multi activity)
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Hockey Opportunity Camp
HOC offers 3 main overnight programs including Hockey, Ultimate (traditional camp) and Water Skiing. HOC offers something for anyone wanting an overnight camp experience in Northern Ontario. Huntsville
Traditional (multi activity)
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Kandalore
Kandalore is one of the finest overnight camps in Canada, providing the best of both canoe tripping and in-camp activities. For over 75 years, Kandalore has given campers the chance to get to know and be themselves. Leslieville, Toronto; Minden
Traditional (multi activity)
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Laurus Summer Camp
Montreal, North & South Shore, and West Island's #1 Lifestyle Summer day camp! We blend education & specialty training in arts, sports and more! Weekly program for kids ages 3 - 15! Registration opens January 2nd 2023! Throughout Ontario, Quebec (24)
Traditional (multi activity)
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YMCA Camp Pine Crest
With 100+ years of overnight camping excellence, we provide programming for campers who want to gain independence, interact with nature, make friends , and develop leadership skills. Overnight canoe trips are a staple! Torrance
Traditional (multi activity)
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Wholesome Character
A character-building organization offering Personalized Coaching, Mentoring Programs for Boys and Girls, Leadership Programs, and Etiquette Programs for children ages 5 to 17. Cost varies from $0 - $450. Oakville
Traditional (multi activity)
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Ross Creek Centre for the Arts
SummerArts combines the best of camp with the best of the arts! Great food, a full rec schedule, campfire & a core of incredible arts programming on a beautiful campus overlooking the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. Canning
Arts (multi)
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University of Toronto, Department of Mathematics
The Mathematics Outreach Office at the University of Toronto encourages the love of learning mathematics through various programs, including enrichment programs, math contests and preparation courses, camps and more. South Annex, Toronto
Education: Math
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MVP'S Camps
An extraordinary Overnight Summer Program, designed to cater to the most talented and passionate youth in Ontario, providing them with an unparalleled, all-encompassing basketball experience. Rosseau
Sport: Basketball
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YMCA of Greater Toronto Summer Day Camps
YMCA of Greater Toronto operates 55 Day Camps across the GTA. With over 60 programs, we are sure to have a program that meets the interests of your child! Busing & extended hours are available at many of our locations! Throughout Ontario (55)
Traditional (multi activity)
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Of course, parents may need to look at and change some of their own behaviours and attitudes and how these might be negatively impacting communication with their teen. Simply relying on an outside "fix" like a teen boot camp is not a holistic approach to making real change.
On the other hand, there are many cases where teens simply need a radical change in order to break negative patterns. There are many troubled teens who do not fare well in traditional counseling environments, and there is some evidence that these teens are finding success in long-term treatment programs such as those offered at some camps. The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs conducted a study showing that teens with problem emotional and behavioural issues improved during treatment at a residential program. In addition, they maintained a healthier outlook long after they left the treatment programs. Among the problems these teens faced were ADHD, depression, and oppositional defiant disorder.
The study provided hard evidence over the anecdotal evidence traditionally provided by the industry. It followed 1,027 graduates of troubled teen treatment programs for one year after they completed their program and focused on how consistent the teens' behaviour remained.
For parents dealing with problem teens, we wish you wisdom as you search for a solution. We urge you to investigate the industry deeply to make the best-informed decision you can. Consult the list above and enquire how these camps can help you with your troubled teen and how they believe they are different from dubious "treatment programs" of the past.
Feb 22 |
Your Neighbourhood Camp Kids Night Out February 22, 2025 |
Feb 23 |
Hear & Now Music First Concert of the Year! February 23, 2025 |
Feb 24 |
The Aakowa Parables Inc. Storytelling for Mental health February 24, 2025 |
Feb 28 |
J. Addison School Summer Programs Winter Early Bird Registration February 28, 2025 |