Ontario Girl Guides of Canada

Express yourself! Arts Adventurers gives your camper the freedom to discover and nurture their interests with a wide range of artistic activities. Campers are immersed in an imaginative environment that will inspire and develop their creative passions. For up to four hours a day, girls may explore some of the following activities:

• Drama: Storytelling, role playing, improvisation, theatre games, developing characters and using voice and movement.
• Photography: A sampling of digital photography techniques and photo composition through various projects including nature, portrait and candid shots (we provide the cameras).
• Visual Arts: sculpture, painting, printmaking and drawing.

What better way to explore Ontario than in a canoe! Canoe tripping at a Girl Guide camp is a great way to experience Ontario’s wilderness. Our qualified, trained and experienced camp staff members are ready and excited to head out on these travelling adventures with your girls. We offer trips for the novice and the experienced camper. Special equipment lists can be found in our Parent and Camper Handbook (provided by April 2020). Please note, we reserve the right to alter routes.

This is a one-week program which includes a three day canoe trip. Campers will learn basic canoe tripping skills in a fun and interactive way. Our experienced camp staff will provide campers with the training needed prior to heading out and while on the journey. This is a great introductory program with a route steeped in Doe Lake camp tradition. Paddle the beautiful lake for three days with two overnights in tents on wilderness sites Reazin Island and Heroka, which are remote parts of Doe Lake camp property. This program will provide excellent experience to springboard into any of our longer canoe voyageur programs.

While on the trip, girls will be self-sufficient and will not be returning to the main camp until the completion of the trip.

This is a one-week program which includes a five day canoe trip. Campers will at camp briefly to review paddling skills and packing then will be off to Algonquin Park. Our experienced camp staff will provide campers with the training needed prior to heading out and while on the journey. Campers will learn wilderness camping and travel skills to safely navigate the wilderness setting. This beginner route will be an excellent transition from our three-day route to our longer trips. The experience requirement is two consecutive nights/three days on canoe trips and sleeping in a tent.

This is a terrific two-week program which includes a six-day canoe trip. Tour the wilderness of Algonquin Park in the most traditional way;: in a canoe! Building on the skills developed on shorter canoe trips, this six-day trip is a great skill and confidence booster. Campers will spend five nights in tents on reserved Algonquin Park sites and become more independent in their meal and equipment packing as they go. Daily paddles will be a bit longer and portaging between lakes and the routes are more difficult than the shorter canoe trips. The experience requirement is two consecutive nights/three days on canoe trips and sleeping in a tent.

This two-week program includes an eight-day canoe trip to explore the wilderness with a small group of campers and expert staff. Campers will build on the skills developed on shorter canoe trips and become more confident and independent. Campers will spend seven nights in tents on a reserved provincial park site preparing meals and carrying equipment as they go. Daily paddles will be a bit longer and portaging between lakes and the routes are more difficult than the shorter canoe trips. The experience requirement is two consecutive nights/three days on canoe trips and sleeping in a tent.

This program focuses primarily on seeing beauty through the lens. This program is designed to help campers use the camera to 'see' the environment around them. Campers will learn how to use the camera as an effective means of capturing images and portraying concepts. We teach campers how to communicate these ideas to others and to understand the technical skills behind the art of a photograph. Campers will participate in the Summer Camp Roberta Bondar Challenge which aims to help campers develop a lifelong affinity for both the joy of photography and a love of nature. We provide the cameras at camp for this program. Campers may bring their own camera, but we are not responsible for lost or damaged equipment.

Giddy up! This program is so popular we have added extra weeks! Perfect for girls new to riding to learn all about horses or for experienced riders looking to expand their skills. Our stables start with the basics; teaching campers about stable management and grooming but also providing ample opportunities for campers to ride! Campers will be fully involved in the riding program for four out of five weekdays of camp (one weekday is spent back at camp participating in classic camp activities). This program is offered away from our main camp site and campers will travel in a camp van/bus to the privately-owned stable. Our horseback riding providers have minimum age standards and require their own waivers. Capacity is limited so apply early!

This exhilarating two-week program is popular with campers that wish to spend half their time (or more!) on the water. The first week focuses on providing sailing instruction and the next focuses on wind surfing. Our instructors balance theory with plenty of hands-on instruction and lots of practice! Beautiful Doe Lake offers consistent wind for learning to sail in a safe, supportive and sheltered environment. Campers will be given the opportunity to try stand-up paddle boarding and test out paddling skills in canoes and kayaks. What could be better than feeling the breeze off the water on a beautiful summer day?

Make the beautiful camp waterfront your home for the week! Ready, set, bounce, splash, dip, dip and swing. This program allows campers to spend half their time both in and on the water. Activities include swimming, bouncing on a water trampoline, stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking and joining in water games. The program includes a special day trip paddle away from camp. Girls will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of land or arts-based classic camp activities too!

At this specialty camp, girls will enjoy the great outdoors and experience the joy of their surroundings. Campers will put their adventurer skills to the test as they learn to plan and participate in an overnight tent excursion on camp property. Supported by counselors who are passionate about the great Canadian outdoors, campers will experience hiking, outdoor cooking, shelter building, fire lighting, knot tying and more. This program is an excellent base program for campers who are looking to try the Canoe Adventurers programs in future years.

Based on the Girl Guides values, this program is a great way for girls to learn about their leadership strengths and develop new skills. Under the supervision of our experienced leadership staff, campers will:

• Investigate leadership styles and study what makes an effective leader
• Continually receive guidance and mentoring from our leadership staff
• Put their learning into practice as they spend time working with younger campers through a "Big Sister/Little Sister" mentorship program during a few activity sessions
• Learn to plan and assist with the delivery of larger events like a camp-wide game or a showcase
• Earn five volunteer service hours

Girls will sample the LDP program and develop new skills and self-awareness under the leadership of experience staff. They will learn to plan an assist with delivery of a special activity for the Try-It campers.

Campers will continue to learn about different areas of leadership and how to work well with others. Campers will:

• Participate in large group leadership tasks, observe the leadership styles of camp staff members and assist in leading activities for younger campers
• Continually receive guidance and mentoring from our leadership staff, working on personal development through self-reflection and journaling
• Work one-on-two with younger campers through a "Big Sister/Little Sister" mentorship program, helping her "sisters" adjust to overnight camp
• Earn eight volunteer service hours

Please note: girls in this program do not have an option of going home or being visited at camp on weekends.

This program focuses on differing styles of leadership and how to effectively communicate with various audiences to ensure success. Campers will:

• Play a role in all camp activities and assist with delivery of these larger scale programs (with up to 100 participants)
• Continually receive guidance and mentoring from our leadership staff, working on personal development through self-reflection and journaling
• Have opportunities to work one-on-two with younger campers through a "Big Sister/Little Sister" mentorship program, spending time with her 'sisters' and attending a sleepover with her 'little sisters' while at camp
• Perform duties of an Assistant Instructor, working closely with an Activity Facilitator to assist program sessions in all disciplines available at the camp; Land, Water, Ropes and Arts
• If instructors are available we may offer girls the chance to earn swimming and first aid certifications at camp
• Earn 15 volunteer service hours

Please note: girls in this program do not have an option of going home or being visited at camp on weekends.

In this one-month long leadership program, girls are encouraged to discover their full potential while passing along the skills, confidence and qualifications to enhance their leadership capabilities in a camp setting. The LDP 4 program focuses on skills required for leading children, including specific instructional skills in many different program areas. Girls will be given many opportunities to practice their growing leadership abilities with campers, including:

• Continually receive guidance and mentoring from our leadership staff, working on personal development through self-reflection and journaling
• Plan a camp-wide program for a large mixed group of campers (up to 100 participants) and implement the rules, activities, safety considerations and timing of the activity as well as a debrief afterwards
• Perform duties of a Junior Camp Counselor, working with a group of campers, helping girls and staff with all aspects of daily camp life
• Perform duties of an Assistant Instructor, working closely with a staff member to assist in the program sessions in all disciplines available at the camp; land, water, ropes and arts. LDP4 campers perform duties of a Lead Instructor, working closely with a staff member to lead a program session offered at camp
• A two-night introductory canoe trip adventure to a campsite allowing the group to bond as a group away from the influences of our busy summer camp
• Earn 40 volunteer service hours

NEW IN 2020 - Campers in this program will NOT be coming home on the second weekend. There are no visiting opportunities while your camper participates in LDP 4.