Make it a summer to remember!

Winter can feel long and leave you dreaming of warmer weather and sunshine. To help you plan for the summer, the City of Vaughan has released its lineup of more than 80 camps, including 10 brand-new ones, offering an array of options with specialties in creative, culinary and performing arts, enrichment, leadership, recreation, sports, outdoor adventures and water adventures. 

Registration opens at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at vaughan.perfectmind.com. 

Camps begin on Tuesday, July 2 with one- and two-week sessions running until Friday, Aug. 30. Camps are located at Vaughan community centres, heritage homes, parks, the City Playhouse Theatre, and Vaughan Studios & Event Space for children four to 16 years of age.

City camps encourage teamwork, co-operation and communication, where campers can forge meaningful friendships and build essential social skills. Vaughan camp staff are trained and certified in the HIGH FIVE Principles of Healthy Child Development and Standard First Aid and CPR-C, contributing to a safe and supportive atmosphere that promotes self-confidence, resilience, empathy and adaptability among young campers.

A sneak peek at some of the new summer camps for 2024

• Camp Corral (for kids and youth seven to 14 years old): Delivered in partnership with Pathways on Pleasure Valley, wonder awaits each camper at this breathtaking and tranquil western-style riding ranch. Daily riding instruction and supervision are provided for approximately one hour by experienced and well-trained stable staff, complemented by a 30-minute horse activity (grooming, general care, stable management), and a horse show on Friday afternoon. But adventure extends beyond the saddle, with everything from invigorating hikes, sports and hands-on crafts to engaging nature exploration and farm animal interaction.
• Curtain Call (for kids 10 to 14 years old): Dance, act, sing and design the set. Bring characters to life in a two-week theatrical production, culminating in a live stage performance at the City Playhouse Theatre. Whether you're new to theatre or a seasoned actor, staff trained in theatre arts will hone and develop campers’ natural skills, emphasizing the teamwork required to build a production.
• ECO-Seedlings (for kids four to six years old): The preschool edition of the popular ECO-Kids camp, where campers learn about Canada’s plants, wildlife, birds, insects and our interdependent ecosystem. Enjoy nature explorations, hikes, games, arts and crafts and waterplay.
• Safari Kids Adventure (for kids seven to 10 years old): Whether you’re interested in mammals, birds, reptiles, fish or insects, this camp will surely ignite the animal lover in you. Explore diverse habitats and learn about animal behaviours and conservation through daily trips to local farms, the aquarium, nature reserves and the zoo.
• Safety Squad (for kids seven to nine years old): From firefighters to police, learn the roles and duties of an emergency responder and meet your local heroes. This dynamic and action-packed experience involves junior detective investigations, fire escape planning and honing your skills in emergency preparedness.
• Summer Art Studio (for kids eight to 13 years old): Sharpen your artistic skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media art and more! Plus, there’s special event days, other camp-related activities and an end-of-session art expo for family and friends.

A preview of inclusion camps

• Cuisine for Life (for kids eight to 12 years old):  Campers use fresh, seasonal and healthy ingredients to create a new menu each day, becoming more independent and learning life skills such as creativity, nutrition, being adaptive and how to make healthy lifestyle decisions. Additional recreational activities include swimming.
• Kool Summer Dayz (for youth 13 to 21 years old): Spend the days cooking, creating arts and crafts, playing co-operative games, enjoying theme days and meeting special guests with new friends. Counsellors provide an intensive level of attention, support and encouragement to help campers improve social skills and stay active.
• Nature Pursuits (for kids six to 12 years old): Campers pursue a love of nature through play, games, crafts and scavenger hunts. Participants get to explore and experience the wonders of the environment (plants, animals, bugs) with different nature-themed outdoor and indoor activities.

Returning favourites 

• Camp Oradaca: Soar to Boyd Conservation Park and connect with nature close to home in this outdoor recreation adventure day camp, filled with nature-oriented activities led by a designated nature specialist, plus sports, arts and crafts and outdoor water play. There are three age cohorts to choose from, including Hummingbirds (for kids four to six years old), Orioles (for kids seven to 11 years old) and Hawks (for youth 12 to 14 years old), with a special overnight event complete with tents, campfires and a night hike for the Orioles and Hawks.
• Mer-kids (for kids seven to 12 years old): Learn how to safely swim wearing a mermaid fin, practicing core skills such as dolphin kick and sculling. An impressive workout and incredible fun!
• ECO-Kids (for kids seven to 10 years old): Learn about the impact humans have on nature through lessons about conservation, wildlife preservation, biodiversity loss and sustainable habits and alternative resources. Build your own eco-shelter and hike local trails, enjoy arts and crafts, archery and games. ECO-Kids is a transformative outdoor program where campers thrive amidst nature’s elements.
• Trip Takers: Splash N’ Go (for kids 10 to 14 years old): Water lovers embark on daily aquatic excursions to some of the coolest water locales, including trips to lakes and water parks.
• Pirate’s Life (for kids seven to nine years old):  Campers will live the pirate life by creating their own pirate persona through dress-up and games. They’ll walk the plank, capture islands, design treasure maps, build ships and plan defenses — all while developing swim-to-survive skills, and learning about water, ice and boat safety.
• Sports All Day (for kids seven to 12 years old): Practice daily athletic drills and recreational scrimmaging in basketball, soccer, ball hockey, tennis and volleyball—with a focus on teamwork, fair play, and sportsmanship. Outdoor active play and themed activities, including special event days, complement the sports play.
• Counsellor in Training (for youth 15 to 16 years old): Under a brand-new format, this summer course offers five days of theoretical training and the opportunity earn valuable, nationally recognized certifications, including HIGH FIVE Principles of Healthy Child Development and Standard First Aid and CPR-C, followed by a one-week hands-on placement at a City summer camp to prepare youth for a job as a camp counsellor.
• Learning to Lead (for kids 12 to 14 years old): Learn leadership skills that can be applied anywhere, including at school and future jobs (like a camp counsellor). Gain practical skills during workshops focused on problem-solving, team building and child-centred learning. Participants develop and implement an activity for campers to enjoy at an existing City summer camp.

View the full camp lineup in the digital 2024 Summer Camps brochure at vaughan.ca/camps. The interactive publication features direct links to online registration, and photos and videos from previous camps and programs. 

For more information, visit vaughan.ca/camps. If assistance is required with creating an online registration account, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or email rec@vaughan.ca or watch this short informational video.

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