With gratitude ...

Dankbaarheid – a Dutch word for gratitude. This is a time for reflection and appreciation, to take stock of the good things we are privileged to have, even in a challenging world.

I was born in Holland, and my parents immigrated to Canada when I was small. Like many newcomers, they worked hard to build a life here. They often expressed dankbaarheid for the beauty of Canada’s natural world and the space it offered compared to their crowded homeland.

Today, I’d like to express dankbaarheid for the incredible community we have here at Camp Kawartha – a community of people who make amazing things happen every day.

To our outdoor, environmental educators and office staff, some of whom have been with us for more than 20 years, thank you for your dedication. To our passionate summer camp staff, who create a welcoming and inclusive space, and to our resourceful maintenance team, who manage the unexpected with promptness and professionalism – from power outages to wild weather – dankbaarheid for all that you do.

A special thank-you to our food services team, who provide nutritious and delicious meals for everyone, including those with special dietary needs, and to our intrepid health care team, who look after the health and safety of more than 15,000 visitors each year. And gratitude to our housekeeping team – who do such a thorough and effective job of cleaning and caring for our facilities.



Finally, to our funders and supporters – I extend a warm dankbarrheid for helping us to do what we love to do – activate and empower the stewards of tomorrow. With your belief, help and support – we will continue this important work long into the future.

Thank you to all of the campers who have graced our camp with your laughter and songs, your courage and enthusiasm, and your joy of being part of our family!

From the early days of Camp Kawartha when the kids arrived by boat and their first chore was to fill their mattresses with straw (today, we fill our buildings with straw!) to next year when we're looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones, it's our campers (all of you!) who make this the wonderful place it is!

Thank you!

(Psst... only 201 sleeps until the first week of summer camp!)

If you haven't yet signed up, come join us! We have Day Programs, Overnight Camps, Canoe Trips and Leadership Adventures! All registration is open and spots are filling up!

To register or inquire about sessions, please reach out to our registrar Serhii at serhii@campkawartha.ca. 

We love sharing what we do...!

Check out our Resources for Teachers and Parents!

We have lots of ideas for engaging kids, both in the classroom and at home! Glen is sharing some snow fun in the video above! We also have videos on Tracking with Jacob and Snow Games with Jacob and Glen. Why not link what you're doing in the classroom with a Winter Scavenger Hunt! There's lots to explore on our website!

Special Winter Rates for Teachers!

We are proud of our Winter Programming and want to share it with you! We are offering special rates (Dec-March) so that more kids can enjoy learning in the outdoors! Come out and find out what it was like to be a Coeur de Bois or learn more about the Fur Trade (our programs integrate Indigenous Perspectives and Knowledge). We offer Snow-shoeing and Cross-Country Skiing on our trails. For younger kids, learn about the Wonders of Snow! Or Nature Sculpture!

If you are Priority School or a class that just can’t afford an outdoor education visit, we offer 70% off of our regular pricing for a winter visit. Our heartfelt thanks to the Williams Wilson Sherport Foundation for making this possible!   



Come out and explore winter at our beautiful Clear Lake site! We offer Overnight Visits, Day Visits as well as our New Extended Day Visits (with campfires and s'mores!). If you'd like to keep your class closer to home, why not book us to come to you! Our team of award-winning educators loves to bring our programming to your classroom and schoolyard!

Immerse your students in a hands-on outdoor learning adventure. Camp Kawartha’s school trips include engaging, curriculum-linked activities, comfortable accommodations, healthy meals, and seamless support to ensure an unforgettable experience for educators and students alike.

Teachers! Bring your class to the Environment Centre!

Winter is an exciting time at the Environment Centre! Bring your class for day visit to discover a Day in the Life of a Squirrel or explore Renewable Energy! Try out some Snowshoeing or Tracking! We love teaching Felting and Papermaking as well as exploring Wind Energy (students make wind turbines!).

Check out our extensive range of programming options centred at one of the most sustainable buildings in Canada, designed by Fleming students in 2009.

We know that getting out on field-trips comes with additional costs of bussing students to and from the Environment Centre. For local schools, we offer a bus subsidy generously supported by the Gainey Foundation to help make our mandate of connecting kids with nature a reality.

Come join the Environment Centre Nature School for our Winter sessions! Winter is when the world opens up to new possibilities! Animal stories abound in tracks and sightings of wildlife without the summer camouflage of leaves. Winter at the Environment Centre is full of outdoor fun that brings joy and resilience.

Our programs foster whole-child learning through experiential learning and play. Our students gain a deep understanding of and connection with the land. Their knowledge of plants, animals and the way nature works goes well beyond curricular expectations. At the Environment Centre Nature School, we foster well-being so that our students can engage fully with their world and become the environmental leaders of the future, whatever career road they end up travelling!

We still have some space in our Fall programs and registration is now open for our Winter sessions! Come join us!

Forest Explorers (Mon & Wed: Ages 4-7); Woodsy Wednesdays & Forest Fridays (Wed & Fri: Ages 8-13); Rootwood (Tues: Ages 13-17); and Forest Adventures, our new monthly Saturday program for ages 8-13!

Team Building for Businesses

Winter fun isn't just for kids! Camp Kawartha’s award-winning team-building programs are designed to energize, motivate, and strengthen your team. Through interactive activities and expert guidance, we help build communication skills, foster collaboration, and inspire new strategies to thrive in today’s fast-paced work environment. Perfect for corporate retreats, group workshops, and professional development.

Come bring your team to do cooperative games and team-building or enjoy our range on snow-shoes or skis. Businesses love combining work with pleasure. Book team-building activities for the morning, enjoy a delicious lunch and then settle down for some work sessions in the afternoon!

We also book Weddings and other Events at both our Clear Lake and Environment Centre Sites!

Camp Kawartha a 'Diamond Winner' for Best Learning Centre!

Camp Kawartha was the Diamond Winner for the 2024 Reader's Choice 'Best Learning Centre'! Thanks to all those who voted for us. We strive to create exceptional outdoor learning experiences through experiential and inquiry-based programming. Thanks to all our educators, staff and, of course, our school visitors who make this possible!