For some troubled teens, teen boot camps have been the much-needed answer to their self-destructive behaviour. When other options like grounding, revoked privileges, detentions, family counseling, one-on-one therapy, even self-help and parenting books yield no decrease in the harmful habits of troubled teens, families have turned towards teen boot camps across Canada as a radical solution. Read more
These places help at-risk teens gain life skills and perspective through programming tailored to their needs. Camps here may have professionally-trained leaders and professionally-developed curriculum designed specifically to support them.
Other results on this page: Camps with some basic support for struggling teens
Harbourfront, Toronto (View map) Harbourfront Centre Camps, established in 1979, offers a creative and inclusive environment for campers aged 4 to 15. With over 20 camp options, including circus, arts, and water sports, there’s something for everyone.
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Burlington; Guelph; King (View map) All-Girls Leadership & Wellness events led by professional coaches, school teachers, & female leaders. Camps featuring Adventure, Arts, Horses, Spa, Fitness, Leadership, Business, Friendship & Emotional Intelligence
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These camps and programs may have a general population of teens, while also offering an environment where kids with struggles can find some support.
Other results on this page: Camps with therapeutic programming focused on helping struggling teens
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Choose active and fun Neighbourhood Day Camps close to home, with themed weeks and field trips, OR a traditional outdoor day or overnight experience at Camp Otonabee with high ropes, paddling, archery, swimming and more!
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Royal Ontario Museum Kids (ROMKids) South Annex, Toronto (View map) One of Toronto's most creative & diverse camps for over 80 years, offering an exciting array of fun, activity-based programs inspired by the collections and research of a world-class museum!
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Mississauga (View map) Join our summer camps at Empower Learning Centre! Engage in fun activities, develop new skills, and make lasting memories. Limited spots available. Register now!
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East York, Toronto; Algonquin Park; Kananaskis; Vancouver; Vancouver Island (View map) Outward Bound Canada provides challenging adventures in the outdoors across the country that develop self-respect, awareness of others, interpersonal skills, and a sense of accomplishment.
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InterVarsity Ontario Pioneer Camp Huntsville (View map) Ontario Pioneer Camp is a Christian summer camp and outdoor education and retreat centre located in Ontario, offering programs for children, youth, and students.
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YMCA of Southwestern Ontario Overnight Camps Leamington; London; Port Severn (View map) The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario offers two amazing overnight camps for campers aged 5-16 - YMCA Camp Queen Elizabeth (CQE) in Georgian Bay Islands National Park and YMCA Camp Henry in Point Pelee National Park.
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Camp YMCA Kanawana - YMCAs of Québec Saint-Sauveur (View map) Located in the Laurentians (Quebec) on a 550-acre site with 3 lakes, Camp YMCA Kanawana has been offering a unique setting to enjoy nature and have fun in the great outdoors since 1894.
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The YES (The Youth Excellence Society) Lake Cowichan; Victoria (View map) Overnight leadership camps at beautiful Cowichan Lake! Expand your co-operative leadership and team building skills while connecting with youth from around the province. Experience a summer camp like no other.
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Downtown West, Toronto; Parry Sound; Southern Niagara Region (View map) Campfire Circle brings healing through happiness to kids and families affected by childhood cancer or serious illness through our in-hospital, community, and overnight camp programs, at no cost to families.
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Bancroft (View map) Cedar Ridge Camp is a place where campers have the opportunity to get outside, develop friendships, and build confidence.
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Throughout British Columbia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island (9) (View map) Scouts Canada summer camps offer exciting outdoor adventures where youth build skills, gain confidence, try new activities, make friends, and create lifelong memories.
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Sharbot Lake (View map) An amazing summer camp experience for campers with special needs. All the fun of camp, with supportive and experienced staff to give your camper the summer of their life! The focus is on fun first!
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Oakville (View map) A character-building organization offering Personalized Coaching, Mentoring Programs for Boys and Girls, Leadership Programs, and Etiquette Programs for children ages 5 to 17. Cost varies from $0 - $450.
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WillowWood School Camp and Summer School Don Mills, Toronto (View map) WillowWood offers 3 different summer programs: camps for Grades 1-6, skills programs for Gr. 7-9 and high school credits for students in Grades 9-12.
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Riverdale, Toronto (View map) Joy of Dance Camps are exciting, challenging and rewarding. It’s the perfect way to spend the break, learning, making new friends and having a blast—perfect for kids & teens!
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YMCA of Greater Toronto Summer Day Camps Throughout Ontario (55) (View map) YMCA of Greater Toronto operates 55 Day Camps across the GTA. With over 60 programs, we are sure to have a program that meets the interests of your child! Busing & extended hours are available at many of our locations!
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Haliburton Highlands (View map) A co-ed camp offering Overnight Kids Camp, Day Camp and year-round Family Camps. We offer leadership development, a wide range of activities, tripping, a sense of belonging and fun. Come have the time of your life!
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Get the kids cooking and learning more life skills! Our program has both virtual and in-person options! The kids are loving cooking together to make tasty foods for their family.
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Neighbour Note Music Camps & Lessons Bloor West Village, Toronto; High Park, Toronto (View map) Toronto's premier camps run by University Professors, TDSB Teachers, and extraordinary Musicians! (PhD, DMA). Our Rock Band camp instructor performed for over 10 000 people when his band opened for KISS in Mexico City!
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Huntsville (View map) HOC offers 3 main overnight programs including Hockey, Ultimate (traditional camp) and Water Skiing. HOC offers something for anyone wanting an overnight camp experience in Northern Ontario.
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Don Mills, Toronto; York Mills, Toronto (View map) Located centrally in Toronto, this summer camp boasts ample outdoor greenspace, a full size turf sports field, and air conditioned buildings. They offer specialized sports, arts, and coding/robotics camps.
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Kandalore is one of the finest overnight camps in Canada, providing the best of both canoe tripping and in-camp activities. For over 75 years, Kandalore has given campers the chance to get to know and be themselves.
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Oakville (View map) YMCA of Oakville Child and Youth Programs and Summer Day Camps are offered at several locations across the community with activities including swimming, day trips and more. Learn more!
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University of Toronto, Department of Mathematics South Annex, Toronto (View map) The Mathematics Outreach Office at the University of Toronto encourages the love of learning mathematics through various programs, including enrichment programs, math contests and preparation courses, camps and more.
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Throughout Ontario, Quebec (24) (View map) Montreal, North & South Shore, and West Island's #1 Lifestyle Summer day camp! We blend education & specialty training in arts, sports and more! Weekly program for kids ages 3 - 15! Registration opens January 2nd 2023!
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Kanata; Orleans; Ottawa; Ottawa South (View map) uOttawa Engineering Outreach offers a wide range of programs in engineering, science, technology, and coding for both kids and teens. From summer camps to clubs and afterschool programs, as well as credited courses.
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Rosseau (View map) An extraordinary Overnight Summer Program, designed to cater to the most talented and passionate youth in Ontario, providing them with an unparalleled, all-encompassing basketball experience.
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International; Rothesay (View map) Inspiring academic summer camps - choice of languages, maths, sciences, social studies & arts. You get to explore beautiful the New Brunswick or the cosmopolitan City of London in the UK. Be a Leader course is included.
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ARTSies Youth Theatre Programs White Haven, Toronto; Markham (View map) ARTSies provides unique and specialized musical theatre classes, camps, workshops, and exciting performance opportunities for youth ages 5 through teens! There's no experience necessary to join our programs.
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Haliburton (View map) Medeba Summer Camp is an overnight camp that uses adventure and community to provide the best week of your child's summer! We provide a full range of traditional and extensive adventure activities to choose from.
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A STEM / STEAM maker academy for kids that offers after-school programs, year-round 400-hour classes, along with fun camps.
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Torrance (View map) With 100+ years of overnight camping excellence, we provide programming for campers who want to gain independence, interact with nature, make friends , and develop leadership skills. Overnight canoe trips are a staple!
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Leading educational counseling and coaching for students. We offer personalized executive functions coaching, career exploration, post-secondary preparation and application, and strategies for success in school and life.
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Sharbot Lake (View map) Founded in 1924, Oconto is a traditional girls overnight camp located on the beautiful shores of Eagle Lake north of Kingston, Ontario. Over 20 activities are offered on 80 acres of land and 2km of shoreline.
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Leaside, Toronto (View map) At Evergreen Brick Works, kids and families can explore and get active in the heart of Toronto's beautiful Lower Don Valley!
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Bloor West Village, Toronto; East York, Toronto; Haliburton Highlands (View map) Ontario's leading nature connection organization, offering year-round outdoor education programs for children and youth. Time in nature makes kids happier and healthier. Join us to learn, play and grow in nature!
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Ottawa (View map) The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees pride ourselves in offering a wide variety of bilingual sport camps to youth in the Ottawa and Gatineau area.
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London; Vaughan; Whitby (View map) Explore the wild world of reptiles at any of our Reptilia Zoo locations; London, Whitby & Vaughan! See 250+ animals; reptiles, amphibians & arachnids. Kids can join our exciting camp program with hands-on learning.
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Halton Hills (View map) We are a fairly traditional camp providing sports, crafts, swimming, games & horseback riding. We encourage imagination, creativity and teamwork. Weeks through the summer have unique themes and varied program leads.
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Ross Creek Centre for the Arts Canning (View map) SummerArts combines the best of camp with the best of the arts! Great food, a full rec schedule, campfire & a core of incredible arts programming on a beautiful campus overlooking the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia.
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Kelowna; Shawnigan Lake; Squamish (View map) Easter Seals camps are for children and adults (6-49+) with physical and cognitive disabilities. With fully accessible facilities and specially trained staff, our programs can accommodate campers with all abilities.
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Goderich (View map) A freshly renovated overnight Christian summer camp for all ages offering a wide range of summer activities, including swimming lessons, nature hikes, sports, campfires, crafts, worship, and Bible study.
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International; Shawnigan Lake (View map) L&E offer a unique overnight international summer camp experience in British Columbia, Canada & Winchester, UK. L&E inspires & nurtures young people with their award winning multi-activity program & specialised courses.
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Orillia (View map) Since 1912! Sparrow Lake Camp is a traditional Co-Ed Summer Camp where all are welcome, all are valued, and all belong. Overnight camps for kids 6-16, as well as our friends and family 'Holiday Camp' for all ages!
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Ottawa; Renfrew (View map) We are a small camp with a spectacular community of campers and staff. We focus on having a great time building interpersonal skills and connecting with each other in a fantastic natural setting.
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Bracebridge (View map) Muskoka summer camp that welcomes campers of all ages, and staff from around the world. Experience our incredible variety of activities including skiing, wakeboarding, tennis, ropes, climbing and more!
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Humberlea, Toronto; Ajax; Whitby (View map) A unique summer experience, Where Sports Meets Education and campers get to engage in both STEM Learning & Basketball or Soccer Development. Each week we offer a unique experience for continued growth and engagement.
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With little luxury in the barracks, “tough love” attitude from the drill sergeants, and military-style physical conditioning, teen boot camps are often used as disciplinary measures when a troubled teen has committed a particularly offensive act or as a way for parents to make their teen appreciate their home life. The experience is not easy, so before you send your troubled teen to a boot camp, you need to decide if all other options have been exhausted, and that your teen will be able to make it through the grueling demands of the program. Fortunately, it is likely they will. Researchers have found that 75%-95% of teen boot camp participants completed the course, and many displayed improvements in reading and math skills, even found jobs after leaving the boot camp facilities.
In the United States, "troubled teens" has become its own privatized industry, and this includes teen boot camps. In Canada, however, the government pays much closer attention to schools and camps that deal specifically with troubled teens. Therefore, Canadian families can rest assured that those who instruct at teen boot camps across the country are respected professionals who have the training to deal with upset teens that most parents lack. This can also include educators, psychologists, drug counselors, and vocational trainers, who are more and more frequently being added to the staff at teen boot camps as longer-term, more rehabilitative programs become evermore popular. As always however, it is important to ask each program about their philosophy, curriculum and learning, financial aid and accreditations. A useful list of questions to ask is available here.
The decision to send a child to such an intimidating environment as a teen boot camp must be made carefully, but there are definite benefits that a teen can reap from their experience there:
Their fitness increases
A tangible benefit is an improvement in fitness and health from the physical exercises a teen must complete with the rest of the group and the nutritional food they’re given.
They can escape their harmful environment
Teen boot camps are drug-and-alcohol free zones, and the complete removal of these dangerous temptations can often cut harmful habits permanently. Also, without the negative influences of friends or significant others a troubled teen may have acquired no longer wield control over a teen’s behaviour, leaving room for a councilor’s supportive advice.
They develop self-worth and confidence
Teens at boot camp are given many difficult tasks to accomplish, and giving up when the going gets tough is not an option accepted by drill sergeants. Teens are constantly pushed to their limits, far beyond what they ever thought they could accomplish. The completion of daily tasks, culminating in finishing the entire program, results in newfound feelings of pride and self-respect, which often leads to higher motivation to reflect on their passions and feelings, set goals for their future, and make wiser choices in their home life. The process of accepting and facing their past mistakes, as is essential in the success of a teen boot camp, is also helpful in a teen moving forward in their life post-camp.
They learn mutual respect
While a troubled teen may be self-centred at home, teen boot camp forces them to work in a team setting. This new environment not only helps forge lasting friendships, it lets the participants know they are not alone in their problems. They learn to build trust and rely on others to supplement their weaknesses, which is something many troubled teens find difficult. But most importantly they learn how their actions affect those around them, and appreciate the feelings of others.
They gain a new perspective
Being catapulted so far out of their comfort zone at a boot camp makes a teen realize what they love about being at home. They recognize the love of their family, and the privilege they have to live with freedom and independent thought. At a teen boot camp, teens can reflect on their current situations from a new perspective, which can lead to a much happier, more appreciative family life at home.
How many Teen boot camps: the benefits are there?
There are 50 Teen boot camps: the benefits that are Our Kids trusted members. Use the filters to narrow options by age or type, then click on each organization to read reviews, browse program schedules, and access registration details.
What are the fees to attend Teen boot camps: the benefits?
Fees for Teen boot camps: the benefits range from FREE to $8,500 per program (program types and lengths vary). Use the filters here to narrow programs by age and type.
What age do Teen boot camps: the benefits start at?
There are programs available for children starting at age 1. Family and adult programs are also available.
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