We may be in the thick of the winter season, but as parents, we already have to start looking ahead and registering the kids for summer camps. The good ones can fill up fast! I have put together a pretty decent guide (if I do say so myself) to some of Ottawa’s best day camps and overnight camps. Most of these recommendations came from YOU, my blog followers. Thank you for your input and if there are any I have missed, please feel free to comment and I will add them to the list.

I tried to list the camps mostly from Ottawa East to West (so eastern camps being at the top of the list), with camps that happen in multiple locations peppered throughout the list. Hopefully it is helpful. Happy planning!

Day Camps

• City of Ottawa – Huge variety of day camp options offered across the city. E-guides will be available on February 10. Registration for aquatics begins on March 2 and all other programs on March 4, 9 pm online, or in person the following day.
• Earth Path – East Ottawa and Wakefield locations. The camps are offered for ages 4-14 years old. Campers can expect a week of fun outdoor explorations, where youth have an opportunity to solve mysteries, track animals, play games, learn about plants and their uses, craft with natural materials, build shelters, use natural camouflage, and have lots of fun. Registration opens January 31.
• Petrie Island Canoe Club – these summer camps come recommended by blog followers, but so far the 2020 camp info hasn’t been posted online. Stay tuned.
• Tucker House Country Fun Nature Camp – located in Rockland, bus transportation is provided to and from various pick up points in Ottawa. This is a faith based day camp held on the historic Tucker House estate. Activities include theme based eco-activities and games, arts and crafts, sports, nature walks, stories, skits, and swimming in an in-ground swimming pool.
• National Kids Camps – offering a range of camps around the capital region from Survivor Camp, Wilderness Adventure, Mountain Bike Camp, Tennis Camps, Amazing Race Camp and more
• Rideau Canoe Club –  Campers aged 7-12 years old will be introduced to canoeing, kayaking, dragon boating, water safety, swimming, field sports as well as cooperative games and activities. No paddling experience is required but campers must be able to swim.
• Rideau Sports Centre – offers a wide-range of adult and children’s activities such as tennis, volleyball, dek hockey, yoga, fitness, basketball, futsal, and much more. Each day includes a swim time. Camps offered for kids age 5 and up.
• Tumblers Gymnastics Centre – in Orleans. Full day or half day options for recreational gymnastics.
• Starr Gymnastics – three different locations. There are full day and half day camps gymnastics camps.
• Ottawa School of Art – two locations (downtown and in Orleans),. Children aged 6 to 15 will embark on an exciting hands-on exploration of a variety of artistic mediums, themes and styles including drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and sculpture, and clay.
• Ottawa Canine School – located on St. Laurent Blvd, at this unique camp children will bring along their dog and work on training, games, crafts and more together. Last I checked, information for the summer of 2020 hadn’t yet been posted, but worth checking in again with them.
• Sensplex Hockey Camps – run out of the East and West at Richcraft Sensplex and Bells Sensplex. There are skating camps and full day hockey camps offered for many different ages, and girls exclusive camps too.
• Coyote Climbing Gym – on St. Laurent Blvd, for ages 7-14 years old they offer both full day and half day climbing camps.
• Ottawa New Edinburgh Club – 504 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Pkwy. full day and half day options for kids aged 7-17 years old. Sailing camps, tennis, and rowing. 2020 schedule and information has not yet been posted.
• Storm Innovations Camp – 715 Cooper St, for kids between the ages of 6-10 years old. Different themes each week. It promises to provide a confidence building day camp that empowers youth through STEAM activities and martial arts.
• Ottawa Athletic Club –2525 Lancaster Rd, info hasn’t been posted yet, so still waiting to hear registration details but the OAC offers camps such as tennis, golf, karate, swim and more.
• RA Centre Camps – 2451 Riverside Dr. over 35 different camps to choose from. 2020 Camp information will be released later this month and registration opens on February 3.
• Canada Science and Technology Museum – for kids who love adventure, discovery, and hands-on experiments. Registration opens of February 18 at 8:00 pm.  
• Ottawa Circus School – located at 2275 Gladwin Crescent, these day camps are offered for kids aged 6-16 years old. No experience is necessary and kids will learn circus art forms such as juggling, acrobatics, aerial arts, unicycle and more. Registration opens February 1st.
• SONART Day Camps located at Canada Aviation and Space Museum – Each day includes music lessons, aerodynamics demonstrations, outdoor activities and the children also perform in a concert at the end of the week. Full day camps.
• National Gallery of Canada – registration opens February 24 at 9 am. Different camps offered include art camp and photography camp. Camps offered starting at 6 years old. Discount offered for museum members.
• Ottawa Art Gallery – 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, info for the 2020 camps hasn’t yet been released but followers have recommended these “Art in the City” and “Art in the Woods” camps. Camps are fully bilingual. For kids ages 6-12 years old.
• Rag and Bone Shakespeare Camps at Billings Estate – these camps are offered from July 6-24. For young people aged 10 to 18 years old. Young actors will perform Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. The camp is centred on acting skills, including stage combat (with swords), voice work, singing, using the acting clues in Shakespeare’s first folio.
• Ottawa Tennis and Lawn Bowling Club – 176 Cameron Ave. The camps open to everyone. Tennis, beach volleyball and sport camps. For ages 5-13 years. Lunch is provided. Registration opens February 1.
• KV Dance Studio – located in the Glebe. Ranging from half day to one week, camps are offered for a variety of dance styles and levels. Summer camp registration opens on January 15.
• Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group – a range of types of camps offered for children from 2.5 years old to grade 7. Half day camps are offered for the youngest campers. Sports, performing arts, outdoor adventures, pottery, magic camp, science and robotics and more. Also offer overnight camps for different age groups ranging from 2 nights away (a great introduction to sleep away camp) to 4 nights away camping.
• Old Ottawa South Community Association – located at the Firehall on Sunnyside. Weekly themed camps are offered for kids starting at 4 years old. There are more specialized camps for older children. Check out the online guide now available for more.
• Jack Purcell Recreation Association – downtown at Elgin and Lewis, for ages 5-12 years old. ​Program activities are planned around theme weeks such as sports, water events, and adventures. The Summer Camp also offers off-site trips, and the popular sleepover and last-day BBQ. Registration begins January 27.
• University of Ottawa GeeGees Camps – Offering multisport camps as well as specialized sport camps. All the summer camps include an all-you-can-eat experience at the university’s cafeteria, as well as a daily recreational swim in an Olympic-size pool. Camps for ages 5 to 16 years old. Sign up before Jan 30 to receive a 15% discount.
• University of Ottawa Engineering Camps – for kids who have finished JK up to kids who have finished Grade 9. Explore through chemistry experiments, dissections, physics challenges, 3D printing, electrical circuits, robotics and more. Camps provided in English and French. Lunch is not provided.
• Carleton Athletics Mini Ravens – for kids aged 4-5 years old this day camp offers sport activity, aquatics and arts & crafts. Although Mini-Ravens campers will participate in some of the sports and games enjoyed by the regular sports campers, there will be a greater emphasis on play, learning and craft activities. Registration opens on January 15.
• Carleton Athletics Sports Camps – offering multi sports camps, plus sports and art camps, and specialized, high performance camps. Registration opens January 15.
• Carleton Engineering – Discover new and exciting aspects of technology and engineering! Understand the concepts of programming, electronics and multimedia applications. From Senior Kindergarten kids and up..including girl specific camps. Registration opens March 2. The summer camp schedule will be posted February 7. Lunch is provided.
• Pedalheads – half day or full day bike camps offered all over Ottawa. Good for a huge range of ages and abilities from first time riders looking to get off their training wheels to experienced riders. We have done Pedalheads the past two summers and loved it. You can read my review here.
• 123 Petit Pas – this is a special summer program for parents and children to do together. It is a “prep for French school” program that occurs one day a week throughout the summer. There is also a “Mommy/Daddy and me” summer french program that occurs weekly. Locations vary and will be posted in the coming months.
• Elmdale Tennis Camps – located in Wellington West, next to Fisher Park. Half day and full day tennis camps are offered for ages 6-12 years old. Campers will learn tennis but also enjoy multipart off court activities. Registration will open in early February.
• Canada Agriculture and Food Museum – Hands-on activities educate children while they care for the museum’s farm animals and gardens, cook foods, make crafts, and play games. Registration opens on February 18 at 8:00 pm.
• ProCare Summer Camps – located in Westboro, ProCare offers full day camps for kids aged 4-7 years old. Every week has a different theme.
• Ottawa Gymnastics Centre – located in Westboro Village. Offering week long camps for a variety of age groups ranging from 3-12 years old. The week will include gymnastics, trampoline, games, outdoor play and off site activities too.
• Dovercourt – a wide range of summer camps is offered to kids from 4 years old to teens at this Westboro community centre. Registration is already open and camps can fill up fast!
• Jewish Community Centre – located just south of Carling ave, the JCC offers a wide offering of camps. The day camps are open to kids ages 2-14 and include a daily swim lesson and a free swim. There is also a travelling sports camp, and a number of sports, science and arts and crafts specialty camp options. Registration is now open.
• Capital Taekwondo – this Nepean martial arts studio comes recommended by some of the blog followers. So far they have not posted summer camp info yet on their website, but if you are interested it could be worth giving them a call!
• Corona School of Gymnastics – this Nepean gym offers full day and half day camps for kids aged 5-15 years old. There is also preschool summer camp full days for 4 year olds, and half day for 3-4 year olds. There is also advanced camp for gymnasts, dancers and cheerleaders.
• Summer Shake Camp – located near Greenbank and Hunt Club. This is a Christ centred day camp with reasonable rates. There are on site activities as well as day trip excursions.
• Ottawa Forest and Nature School – incredibly popular program where children spend full days outdoors in local woodlands and green spaces. Spots are allocated through a lottery system which will open up after the March Break.
• Royale Equestrian Centre – Horse back riding centre on Woodroffe in Barrhaven. Activities include daily riding lessons, grooming, fun riding activities, practical lessons, crafts, games and sports. For ages 6 to 14. Open to first time riders or experienced riders.
• Precision Gymnastics – two Barrhaven locations for these camps for children ages 4-12. The daily schedule for the camps run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and includes a half day of gymnastics and half day of either outdoor play, crafts, games or special events.
• My Gym Ottawa – located in Barrhaven. For ages 4 to 9 years old, children participate in energizing fitness games, non-competitive gymnastics, sports and more. Half day and full day camps available. Schedule and registration info hasn’t been released yet for Summer 2020.
• Pique Dance Studio – located in Manotick. The summer camps offer full days and half days . The goal of the dance camp is to have fun and learn some new dance steps. There is a show, with costumes, every Friday for family and friends.
• Wesley Clover Parks – horseback riding camp that includes games, crafts, outdoor play, equine theory, hands on learning, and of course horseback riding lessons. Good for ages 7 years old and up, and beginners to advanced all welcome.
• Altitude Gym Climbing Camps – locations in Kanata and Gatineau. Kids aged 6-14 years old will get to do lots of climbing but also enjoy special themes, outdoor activities and an outing on Wednesday. Registration expected to open early March.
• Saunders Farm – 7893 Bleeks Rd. farm camp is geared towards kids aged 5-12 years old. Each day at the farm has its own fun theme. Throughout the week, campers will explore Saunders Farm including farming, Mazes and Labyrinths, farm fresh food, planting, and so much more. Campers will also get the chance to cool off and swim in the pool every day. Lunch is also provided.
• Evolution Wake Park – Located just outside of Carp. Specializing in Wakeboarding, this camp provides on and off the water activities that include wake boarding, wake skating, water skiing, swimming, stand up paddle boarding, on land games and activities. Open to ages 5 to 17 years. No experience necessary.
• 5 Stars Camp – located in Carp. Campers can enjoy a variety of activities, including: archery, low ropes, rock climbing, arts and crafts, swimming, inflatables, and several sports. Cost of camp includes lunch and snacks. Buses from various Ottawa locations offered for a fee.
• Camp Wanago – located in Arnprior this day camp runs from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm. Special themes each week with different sports, crafts and one off site day trip. Lunch is provided.

Overnight Camps

• Camp Otterdale – located just one hour west of Ottawa, near Lombardy. Camp Otterdale offers one week (for ages 7-8 yrs) or two week (for ages 7 to 16 yrs) sleep away camp. Huge variety of activities offered from on the water sports to biking, archery, woodworking and more. Campers will also experience and overnight camp out.
• Golden Lake Camp – this overnight camp is located in the Ottawa Valley and for kids aged 6-14 (with younger kids being able go for a shorter week). It is a Christian camp, but all are welcome. You can expect games, canoeing, swimming, hiking, campfires.
• Bear Creek Outdoor Centre – a small, family run, overnight camp located 90 minutes from Ottawa. There is a one week camp for younger campers, two weeks for older. Campers experience canoe tripping.
• Camp Walden – located on a private lake in Palmer Rapids, around two hours from Ottawa. This traditional overnight summer camp for girls and boys aged 7-16 years. Campers enjoy a balanced mix of sports, arts & crafts, and music, all in a beautiful lakeside setting. (I personally know the owners of this camp and can highly recommend them as an AMAZING family!)
• Silver Lake Wesleyan Camp – located just outside of Perth this is an overnight camp for ages 7 and up, as well as a family camp.

Special Mentions

• Ausome Camps – camps offered for those on the spectrum. These came highly recommended by some blog followers. The camps are for ages 6 to 13 years old. Currently the summer camps are not yet listed on the website. But contact them if you have questions!
• Camp Misquah – an Ottawa based non-profit summer camp that provides a special residential camping experience for adults and children with special needs in a beautiful setting on Lac Bitobi near Gracefield.