This fall marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Campfire Circle’s Rainbow Lake camp. Following the completion of family camp programs, construction will begin on the Rainbow Lake Expansion Project, a transformative investment that will allow us to welcome twice as many children and families to camp in the years ahead.

Located in Waterford, Ontario, Rainbow Lake provides year-round camp experiences for children with cancer or serious illnesses and their families. From canoeing and swimming to archery, arts and crafts, and music, camp offers opportunities for connection, personal growth, and family bonding, all supported by on-site medical care.

For many families, Rainbow Lake is more than a camp. It’s a place where children can simply be kids, where caregivers find support from others who understand their journey, and where families create lasting memories together.

The impact lasts long after camp ends. Recent surveys show that 98% of families report improved mental well-being after attending camp, while 85% say camp strengthened their family bond.

For Brooke and her family, Rainbow Lake is their haven: “We spent a long time living in a bubble because of Makinley’s diagnosis which meant so did her sisters. Going to camp allowed our girls the chance to be kids and have fun and smile and laugh, and we all needed that. Camp became our safe space.”

When complete, the project will double Rainbow Lake’s annual camper capacity from 1,000 to 2,000 campers, creating space for an additional 1,000 children and family members every year.

Originally built in the 1980s, Rainbow Lake requires substantial upgrades to meet the growing demand for programs and the evolving needs of medically fragile children and their families.

Planned upgrades include expanded medical facilities to accommodate more specialized care, improvements to site-wide accessibility, renovated camper cabins with wider entryways, additional washrooms, air conditioning, and enhanced infection-control features. Volunteer and staff residences will also be upgraded to create more space for the dedicated people who make camp possible.

Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2027, with Rainbow Lake reopening for the summer season ready to welcome double the number of campers and families.

With Rainbow Lake under construction, Campfire Circle’s year-round programs, such as Weekends at Camp (WACs), will continue at its Muskoka site, ensuring a continuity of care throughout the year.

The Rainbow Lake Expansion Project is about more than buildings and infrastructure. It’s about ensuring that every child with cancer or serious illness can take back their childhood, try something new, build lifelong friendships, and find joy and belonging.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, Rainbow Lake is growing so that more children and families can access these transformative experiences for years to come.