FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT OVERNIGHT CAMP

WHAT ARE THE CABINS LIKE? HOW MANY CHILDREN CAN BE IN A CABIN GROUP? CAN WE REQUEST CABIN MATES?

Camp Couchiching's cabins have electricity, hot and cold running water, toilets and bunk beds. A shower house is nearby.

Our cabins host 2-3 staff members plus 8-14 campers in every cabin.

Campers can request each other and we will guarantee one mutual request from each camper if within 1 calendar year of birth from each other.

Cabins are structured around campers' gender identity first then age.

Images of our cabins and the facility can be found here.

HOW DO WE APPLY?

The Online Applications are accessible clicking the Apply Now buttons throughout this website. You are taken to our database, Camp Brain, for on-line applications, forms, policies and procedures, medical forms, permission forms, waivers and payments.

All of your completed applications will be available on our site for the remainder of the application period. You may return at any time to view and print your application. Login here: http://couchiching.campbrainregistration.com with the username and password you selected. If you have forgotten your password, click the Password reset button under the login button.

Apply Now

DO YOU HAVE ANY DISCOUNTS OR INCENTIVES? WHAT IS YOUR PAY IN FULL DATE?

Camp Couchiching's Overnight Camp has a few kinds of incentives:

The earlier you book and pay, the less you pay. The opening rates will always be the best rate of the year. Camp fees can go up as we get closer to our start dates. We will notify the public via social media at least two weeks before rates go up. If you are a returning family, we will also email you to notify you of this change with two week's notice.
Keener Bonus- Apply on or before February 28 and receive Camp Swag when at Camp.
Newbie Bonus- All, new to overnight camp, campers and LDP who apply on or before April 30 receive a Cooch Games house shirt on the first day of Cooch Games
Sibling Discount- $50 is removed from every camper or LDP after the first child, if the family applies on or before April 30

For our Overnight Camp, the pay in full date is also when there are no further financial refunds for withdrawals. The pay in full date is May 14.

WHAT PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES WILL MY CAMPER DO?

Campers & Leadership Development Participants at Camp Couchiching do LOTS of activities!

For the one-month & two-week sessions, the full range of activities depends on the Age Section that your camper is in:

Juniors (turning age 7, 8 or 9)
Intermediates (turning 10, 11 or 12) go on a 1 night overnight to a provincial park
Seniors (turning 13 or 14)- go on a half day outing in our community called "Senior Day Trip"* & go on a 2 night/3 day canoe trip

Activities can include:

Projectiles- Archery, Axe Throwing, Rock Throwing
Adventure- Low Ropes, High Ropes, Climbing Wall
Turf- Sports, Sport Tournaments, Non-Traditional Sports
Surf- Water based games at swim area
Paddle- Canoe, Kayak and Stand Up Paddleboarding
Wind- Sailing & Windsurfing
Arts- Arts & Crafts, Fine Arts, Pottery, Drama
Media- Photography, Film

During our 1 week sessions, cabin groups rotate through various activities including many of the ones above.

*Please note that there is a $30/person + tax excursion fee for these programs.

CAN CHILDREN USE THEIR CELLPHONES TO CALL HOME WHILE THEY’RE AT CAMP?

While we don't allow any electronic devices or phones for our campers. Camp Couchiching strives to give campers a good disconnect from their cyber world. This includes old phones with sim cards removed for music.

Campers/LDPs can write letters to their parents and parents/family members can send emails to their campers/LDPs. The emails are printed each day and handed out as mail every weekday.

We do allow our Leadership Development Participants to bring a cell phone. The phone is handed in at our office and access is provided for 1 hour every 5-6 days in the evening.

DOES YOUR CAMP HOST PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES?

Camp Couchiching proudly hosts many children from other countries. International campers are welcome to join us for the One-Month Session in July. We will provide airport transfers on the first day of that session and on the final day of that session at a cost of $120/person + tax, each way.

Please note that we will only provide pick up and drop off services on those dates and during the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. If your family books transportation on other days or times then you will have to arrange your own transportation to/from Camp/Pearson International Airport (YYZ).

Camp Couchiching also hires staff members from many different countries as well!

WILL MY CAMPER/LDP LEAVE THE CAMP PROPERTY AT ALL DURING THEIR TIME AT CAMP?

As listed above, our 2-week and 1-month Intermediate and Senior campers leave Camp for various trips and excursions.

Our LDP leave site to go on canoe trips and for some local pool swimming to meet the requirements of their swimming qualifications.

IS THERE TRANSPORATION TO/FROM CAMP?

On the arrival days for each session, Camp hosts coach bus transportation to/from Camp which includes comfortable seats, air-conditioning and a washroom. The trip to Camp is a good time to meet some staff members, and get to meet others. The bus transportation option can be chosen at the time of registration or at a later time. Our bus stop in 2024 was at Armour Heights Public School in north Toronto.

There is bus transportation on all departure days except for Friday July 4 & Friday August 1.

WHAT DO ONE-MONTH CAMPERS AND LEADERSHIP PARTICIPANTS DO IN BETWEEN THE 2 WEEK SESSIONS?

Campers and LDP who join us for the full month of July have some specialized programming we call Changeover!

Most LDP will be away from Camp on a canoe trip if they come for the month of July.

Campers staying for the month of July or coming to our 3-week session in August will go on excursions for fun adventures in the local community and they go to a movie at the theatre as well! We create a giant slumber party atmosphere for the weekend!

Campers which sign up for any other back-to-back sessions, do not have the special changeover programming provided and would have to leave Camp in between the end of their first two-week session and the start of their second two-week session.

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE? MY CAMPER REQUIRES SPECIALIZED DIETARY SUPPORT.

We get good feedback on food! We work towards accommodation most dietary preferences, restrictions, allergies and tastes. You let us know about any restrictions or allergies on the camp forms ahead of time. If it is more complex, we may contact you the week before Camp to talk through ways that your family accommodates your camper.

Here is a sample day's menu:

Breakfast

Bacon & Egg Breakfast Sandwich, Cereal, Milk/Oat Milk, Fruit, Fruit Juice

Lunch

Burrito Bowls/Taco Salad, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, Sour Cream, Shredded Cheese, Salad Bar, Water, Juice, Brownies

Supper

Butter Chicken, Rice, Naan, Cooked Corn, Garden Salad, Water, Juice, Watermelon

Snack

Packaged Cookies

Please view our Facility & Food Photo Gallery here.

WHAT ARE THE COOCH GAMES?

As part of every overnight camp experience, we offer a camp-wide Olympics type program for a few days at the end of Camp. Activities range from traditional sport, to lip sync battles, to Jenga and other creative programs. Campers and LDP who apply on or before April 30, 2025, and are new to Camp, receive a Newbie bonus t-shirt of a Classic Cooch Games T-shirt. We pass this along at Camp at the end of the session when these Games begin.

Families are placed on the same teams which also have a colour.

Birch is yellow.

Cedar is red.

Pine is green.

Spruce is blue.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TO PREPARE AND PACK FOR ANY OVERNIGHT PROGRAMS?

Every year we provide a list of "What to Pack" along with a list of "What Not to Pack". This is provided in our Family Information Package which is posted here, on this website, in June of each year and is also emailed to all families registered at that time.

Please click here to review our last year Family Information Package.

MY CAMPER REQUIRES SPECIALIZED MEDICAL SUPPORT. CAN THIS BE ACCOMMODATED?

Our Camp does have staff members in the Health Centre to support medication dispensing and things that exceed first aid. We do have some medical situations that are more easily managed within our Camp and our structure than other things for example asthma is more easily managed at Camp than type 1 diabetes. However we do have campers from all different backgrounds so we would work with your family specifically to customize a plan for your camper's success at Camp.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS FOR THE LDP ONE PROGRAM?

Youth Turning 15- Leadership Development Program Level 1 (LDP1 or L1)- One Month

The Leadership 1 program focuses on challenging participants in all aspects of outdoor adventure. The month revolves around candidates working toward their certificate levels in swimming (Bronze Cross/Medallion) sailing (White Sail/Bronze Levels), lakewater canoeing (ORCKA), Standard First Aid and CPR C (taught through the Red Cross). A big draw to the one-month program is a longer hiking/canoeing excursion. The program builds character, self esteem, and provides a memorable month kids will take with them forever. This program may be eligible for the PAD30, Healthy Active Living, Ontario secondary school credit depending on the number of participants registered for this program. LDP1, 1 month, also qualifies for 100 volunteer hours for participating Ontario school boards. This program could lead candidates to be qualified for the LDP2 program in 2026.

Youth Turning 15-Leadership Development Program Level 1 (LDP1 or L1)- Two Weeks

The two-week Leadership 1 program focuses on challenging participants in all aspects of outdoor adventure. The program builds skills and gives experience in many different program areas around Camp. The shorter program has many of the aspects of the month long program however there is only a one-night canoe trip and developing skills all the way to qualifications may not occur. The program builds character, self esteem, and provides a memorable experience which your kids will have forever. LDP1, 2 weeks, also qualifies for 30 volunteer hours for participating Ontario school boards. This program could lead candidates to be qualified for the LDP2 program in 2026.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS FOR THE LDP TWO PROGRAM?

Youth Turning 16-Leadership Development Program Level 2 (LDP2 or L2)- One Month

The Leadership 2 program promotes the ideals of leadership in life, challenging candidates to have a positive impact within both the camp and community. Throughout the month, candidates work together within the L2 group as well as divided throughout the camp and community. Leadership sessions are prepared and presented by the Leadership department, and senior camp staff. A big draw to the one-month program is a hiking/canoeing excursion. The program also includes a short term live-out cabin placement, obtaining their National Lifeguard Service (NLS), a short term interest session placement, and various programming challenges and problem solving skills to identify and overcome. This program may be eligible for the PLF4M, Recreation & Healthy Active Living Leadership, Ontario secondary school credit depending on the number of participants registered for the program. LDP2, 1 month, also qualifies for 100 volunteer hours for participating Ontario school boards.

Youth Turning 16-Leadership Development Program Level 2 (LDP2 or L2)- Two Weeks

The Leadership 2 program promotes the ideals of leadership in life, challenging candidates to have a positive impact within both the camp and community. Candidates work together within the L2 group as well as divided throughout the camp and community. Leadership sessions are prepared and presented by the Leadership department, and senior camp staff. The program also includes a short term live-out cabin placement, working on skills towards advanced water qualifications and various programming challenges and problem solving skills to identify and overcome. LDP2, 2 weeks, also qualifies for 30 volunteer hours for participating Ontario school boards.

HOW TO APPLY TO THE LDP PROGRAM

Your family will log in following our traditional procedures to apply, use any "Apply Now" box on this website, however our Leadership Programs have some extra steps:

Step One- Done by Parent/Guardian- When entering the on-line application, parent/guardians will use their email as the account log in. Within this application, you will request the programs and choose additional items such as bus, etc. Then you will head into the forms part of the application. Within that area, there is a basic LDP form for both programs and a medical form that needs to be completed by the parent/guardians. The final part, within the database, CampBrain, is the payment screen. Payment of a deposit (minimum) must accompany the on-line application. Once these steps have been taken, a confirmation of your on-line application will be received via parent's email, in that email, there is a link to the Google Form that the applicant themselves should complete.
Step Two- The Participant's Application. Parents/guardians will receive a confirmation email, when they've finished Step One, which has a link to the google form for the 2025 LDP program. As a parent/guardian, don't fill in this form for your child.
Step Three- Camp Review. What the parent/guardian does in the on-line application will be reviewed along with what the applicant submits. If one part is missing then the application is considered incomplete.

Leadership programs are not first-come/first-serve and are openly accepted for everyone until the first round of applications are completed. The first round is those applications received by January 16, 2025 at 11:30 p.m ET and review with offers will go out by the end of January. After the deadline, all applications are reviewed by the camp management team, and spaces are allotted accordingly. Placement is allotted based on camper interest, history at camp, and outside experience by the individual. Everyone is welcome to apply, as no factors outweigh others and all applications will be reviewed. After the deadline passes, placement will occur on a first come-first served based on suitability for the programs and IF space is available.