• Summer Camps

Types of camps in Hamilton

Camps in Hamilton offer kids and teens a wide range of activities that will keep them busy, active and learning new things. Whatever your child's interest, you'll find a Hamilton camp they’ll love. Check out all your options!

Camps outside of Hamilton

For families interested in broadening their horizons, there's a much greater variety of camps in Southern Ontario and the GTA. You owe it to yourself to look at our pages dedicated to camps in the following cities and regions.

Advantages of attending kids’ camps

There are many advantages to any kind of camp.  In an overnight camp, your child experiences greater independence, self-reliance and a sense of accomplishment, venturing out on their own (perhaps for the first time). With a day camp, youth enjoy many of the same benefits as an overnight camp – like strong friendships, exploring new activities, challenging themselves and pushing their limits, but can return home each night to the comfort, support and love of their family.

Get a full overview of the benefits of attending any kids’ camp.

How to find the ideal Hamilton kids’ camp

You’ve determined whether you want a day or overnight camp experience for your child, and what your chosen activity is. There are more things to consider, though.

Camp structure and organization

Camps vary widely in their size and organization. You may want to know how kids are grouped and how big the groups are. You might ask camps if you can meet the group leader who will be watching over your child. 

Day-to-day camp environment

Be sure you understand pickup and dropoff times and how strictly those are expected by the camp. You should also confirm prerequisites of the camp and what, if anything, your child is expected to bring to camp. Some camps have take-home projects at the end of the session, too, so make sure your child tells you about this. 

Safety

All camps should have police checks of counselors and all others. You might also find out if counselors are specially trained in conflict resolution or restorative justice. Get a rundown from the camp as to all the measures they take to protect children’s safety.

Meet camps face-to face

Many camps in Hamilton offer open houses or other means of communicating with them face-to-face. Better yet, just down the QEW, there is the annual Our Kids Camp Expo every February. Here, you’ll find representatives of 50 or more camps, not only from Hamilton but elsewhere in the province, as well. Get your free family tickets today.

Elsewhere on our site there are many other ways of looking at camps and advice about finding and preparing for camp.