Top Traditional summer camps for 2024/2025

What are traditional camps?

Traditional camps offer a wide range of programs and activities. This includes long-established camp activities, such as hiking, canoeing, arts and crafts, camp fires, and watersports. It also includes more specialized activities, in sports, arts, education, and other areas.

Traditional camps are a great option for kids of all stripes—of different ages, interests, backgrounds, and abilities. Whether your child is a preschooler who mainly needs stimulation or a teenager looking to broaden their horizons, traditional camps can be just the ticket. March break programs are a fun way to fill time and save on daycare. 

These camps are often ideal for active and extroverted kids, especially those who enjoy getting out, meeting new people, and participating in lots of different activities. However, they’re suitable for many different personality types. For instance, they can be a great way for introverts to come out of their shell, make friends, improve their social skills, and become more active.

What are the benefits of these camps?

Traditional camps have plenty of benefits. Compared to specialty camps, which focus exclusively on one or two activities, they tend to offer far more variety.

Other benefits of traditional camps include: 

• A wide range of recreational, educational, and physical activities.
• Lots of social opportunities.
• A nice balance of structured and unstructured time.
• Opportunities to develop leadership and teamwork skills.
• Opportunities to build confidence, independence, and self-esteem.
• The chance to improve physical fitness and overall health.
• Exposure to creative, physical, emotional, and intellectual outlets.
• The chance to develop new interests and pursue old ones.

Of course, these camps aren’t for everyone. If your child is looking to focus on one specific interest, then a traditional camp likely isn’t the best fit. However, if they’re looking to participate in lots of activities, make new friends, learn new skills, and have fun, then a traditional camp may be just what the doctor ordered.

What's the best way to choose one of these camps?

There are a wide array of traditional summer camps to choose from. It’s important to find the right fit for your child. 

Beyond the basics, such as location, cost, and session dates, it’s important to find out as much about a camp as possible.

Here are some questions to get you started:

• Do you offer transportation, such as busing?
• Do you provide food, and if so, at what times of day and what kinds?
• What are your supervision and safety policies?
• What does a typical day look like and do you have a daily schedule?
• Which activities will my child participate in, and how much choice will they have in this?
• Do you have field trips?
• Are there any extra costs beyond registration fees?
• How do you build community?

You’ll also want to think seriously about your child. What kind of camp is the right fit given my child’s interests, abilities, personality, and more?

Here are some child-specific questions to think about:

• What activities does my child enjoy?
• Are there any skills they need to learn or develop?
• Any passions they want to pursue?
• Is my child outgoing, or more of an introvert?
• Will they have difficulty making friends?
• Do they have any special needs?
• How much structure and how much freedom is ideal for them?
• How active are they?
• How would I like my child to expand their horizons?
• How much down time do they need?

During this process, you can use OurKids.net/camps to come up with a shortlist of traditional camps for your child. Use our advanced search, camp reviews, and advice guide to narrow down your search. You can then research each of these camps through their in-depth Our Kids profiles. 

You can do that right on this page, which lists hundreds of traditional camps in Canada. Click on a camp profile to learn all about it, including its location, fees, session dates, programming, and much more. You can also click through to a camp’s website, contact them directly, and register your child for one or more sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Traditional summer camps are there?
There are 15 programs specializing in Traditional (multi activity) . Use the filters to narrow by age and program type, then click on matched programs to see daily activities, dates, rates and registration information.

What are the fees to attend Traditional summer camps?
Fees for Traditional summer camps range from $70 to $2,155 per program (program types and lengths vary). Use the filters here to narrow programs by age and type.

What age do Traditional summer camps start at?
There are programs available for children aged 1 through 19.

Where can parents meet with Traditional summer camps?
Meet with program directors and staff at the Our Kids Camp & Program Expo. The Expo is held annually in February, and is a fun and informative day for parents, kids, and teens. Find event details and free tickets here.