How to choose a summer camp in Canada

Choosing a camp is easier when you decide a few things first: what your child needs from the summer, what your family needs (hours, location, budget), and which questions to ask before you pay a deposit. This checklist walks you through it.

1. Start with your child, not the brochure

Ask your child what they want to do this summer. Some kids want one passion all week (hockey, coding, dance), others want a bit of everything. A traditional camp with swimming, crafts and games suits the second group; a specialty camp suits the first.

2. Decide between day camp and overnight camp

Day camps run on weekdays, usually from about 9 to 4, and many offer before- and after-care. Overnight camps keep campers for a few nights up to several weeks. Read our guide Day camp vs overnight camp for the pros and cons.

3. Check the age range and grouping

Every listing on this site shows the ages the camp states. Ask how campers are grouped: by age, by grade or by skill. A 6-year-old and a 12-year-old need very different days.

4. Look for accreditation and ask about staff

724 camps in our directory are listed as accredited by a provincial camp association. You can filter for them with “Accredited camps only”. Whether or not a camp is accredited, ask:

• What is the ratio of staff to campers for my child’s age?
• How old are counsellors, and what training do they get (first aid, lifeguarding, safeguarding)?
• Do staff have a police check (vulnerable sector screening)?
• Who is on site for medical care, and how are medications handled?

5. Compare the full cost

The listed price is a starting point. Ask what is included: lunch, transportation, extended care, equipment, field trips, and whether there are sibling or multi-week discounts. See how much summer camp costs in Canada for typical prices by province from our data.

6. Ask about the details that make or break a week

• Daily schedule and what happens on rainy days.
• Swimming rules and how swim levels are tested.
• Food, allergies and dietary needs.
• Support for children with special needs, and how they adapt activities.
• Communication with parents during the session.
• Refund and cancellation policy.

7. Shortlist three camps and ask them directly

Use the filters on our camp search to shortlist camps by city, type, age and budget, then click “Request info” on each camp page. We pass your questions on and reply by email.