New Campers & families
Welcome to Campfire Circle!
Campfire Circle provides camp-inspired programs that empower children affected by serious illness to build friendships and social skills, develop self-confidence and resiliency, and improve their overall well-being. We deliver year-round programs in children’s hospitals across Ontario, at our community-based activities, and at our medically-supported overnight camps. Our programs are fully accessible and offered at no cost to families. To learn more, please scroll down or click on the Program Brochure link to view our current offerings. You can also use our contact form below to connect with one of our family liaisons.
Winter Programs Summer ProgramsRegister today!
How we help
We’re a privately funded, volunteer-based organization that provides families affected by serious illness with unique opportunities for growth through challenging, fun, enriching and magical experiences. All of our programming is provided free of charge.
At camp, you’re never alone – you’ll meet kids and families just like yours.
We have something for the whole family.
Camp is a place where you meet people who've gone through what you’ve gone through. You’re no longer different, you’re just the same. You can reach goals that seem impossible elsewhere.
— Camper
Camp programs & locations
In-hospital programs
We run fun and interactive programs year-round for children ages 0-18 in a number of specialized paediatric care centres across Ontario: SickKids, McMaster Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Credit Valley Hospital (Trillium Health Partners), Rouge Valley Centenary (Scarborough Health Network) and Southlake Regional Health Centre. Programing during the pandemic may ebb and flow depending upon local community directives.
In-hospital programs are facilitated by our staff and volunteers, and are available to patients and their siblings. We foster fun and friendship in a hospital environment with arts and crafts, games, theme days and science experiments in in-patient and out-patient clinics. New since 2020 are virtual camp equivalents!
Community programs
Experience the magic of camp across Ontario in Toronto, Hamilton, London, and Ottawa.. Community programs give year-round opportunities for Campers and families to have fun together and meet others with similar experiences. We’ve got something for every member of the family. New since 2020 are virtual camp equivalents, available to all eligible families, anywhere in Ontario!
Day Camps
We offer summer day camp programs across the province. At day camp, Campers get a full week of new experiences, friendship and fun!
Overnight Camp
Overnight Camp is offered in all four seasons. Even Campers undergoing the most intense stages of their treatment can attend. Immersed in nature, camp helps kids recapture a spirit of fun, friendship, self-confidence, and independence.
At family camp, families leave their cares behind to enjoy special times together away from home and hospitals, make new friends and build memories that last a lifetime.
Every summer, and on certain weekends throughout the year, we host all kinds of overnight programs for a variety of Campers.
Please see our seasonal brochure for available programs.
Every summer, and on certain weekends throughout the year, we host all kinds of overnight programs for a variety of Campers. Please see our brochure for modifications in 2022:
- General Sessions – one and two-week sessions for children with cancer.
- Bereaved Sibling Camp – a one-week session in summer and weekend sessions in the fall and winter that are offered for bereaved siblings (ages 6-18).
- Sibling Camp – a one-week session in the summer for children who have a sibling with cancer (ages 6-18).
- Family Camp – Offered as 5-day sessions in the summer or weekend sessions in fall and winter for children with cancer and their families, including siblings.
- Weekends at Camp (WACs) – fall and winter “booster shots of Camp” to help Campers get a taste of overnight camp, or reconnect with camp friends (ages 5-18).
- 7Scape – a one-week experience for teens with cancer (ages 15-18).
Leadership programs
Campfire Circle offers various leadership programs and wilderness camping trips for teen Campers ages 15 -18 throughout the year. Through workshops, discussions and experiential learning, we help young adults build on existing skills and develop new ones.
Leadership Programs include (but not limited to):
- Wilderness camping trips– teens develop their leadership skills on a variety of outdoor excursions offered throughout the year. Activities could include canoeing, hiking, snowshoeing, dogsledding and more!
- Community leadership programs – year-round opportunities for teens to get involved in camp programs and connect with their peers. Programs include a range of social connection opportunities as well as practical skills development, such as employment skills at a career day conference, first aid certification or improv training designed to help youth develop presentation skills.
- Leadership-in-training programs– summer leadership development programs for teens aged 16-18 at overnight camp. Leadership-in-training programs provide campers with volunteer service hours that can be used toward their high school diploma and Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, as well as tangible experience for their resume.
- High school credit program – Teen patients can earn a Grade 11 health and physical education credit at overnight camp in the summer
Bereaved Sibling and Family Programs
• Our bereaved sibling and family programs are offered specifically for children who have had a sibling die from serious illness, including their families, connecting them with others who share similar experiences. Bereaved campers can participate in a variety of programs depending on the season, including a week-long summer camp for kids, weekends at camp, and community programs offered across the province.
Virtual Programs
Virtual camp meets Campers wherever they are—in the hospital or at home, bringing playfulness, creativity, movement, and song into kids’ and families’ homes and hospital rooms across Ontario. Programs are wide-ranging from community campfires to game shows, music programs, trivia, crafts, magic, and more can be accessed from anywhere ensuring that everyone can be included.
March Break day camp was our first real encounter with camp, so I was happy and thankful that camp is available in Ottawa.
— Rachel, grateful parent
Read Carissa and Rachel's storyQuestions about camp
We serve children (ages 0-18) and families affected by childhood cancer or serious illness. For a specific list of eligibility by program, please visit our seasonal program brochure.
Campfire Circle provides in-hospital programs in paediatric care centers across Ontario: SickKids, McMaster Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, Credit Valley Hospital (Trillium Health Partners), Rouge Valley Centenary (Scarborough Health Network) and Southlake Regional Health Centre. Look out for Campfire Circle in the hospital or ask your care team about camp!
To apply for camp, or inquire about your child’s diagnosis, please complete and submit an inquiry form. A member of our medical team will follow up with you within 5 business days to discuss eligibility. If you have any questions about eligibility, reach out to our Nursing Director, Sandra Ross at medical@campfirecircle.org or 1-888-464-6624 ext. 261.
Camp is free! All programs are offered at no cost to your family.
Once a child comes to their first program, they can continue participating in camp programs until they turn 19 years old.
You can register your family by logging into your Family Account. Once logged in, click on the enrollment tag to start selecting which programs your child or family would like to attend.
If you do not have a family account, please fill out an inquiry form. Our medical team will review your application and contact you if they have questions about your eligibility.
See what's happening at camp
Winter Programs
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding registering for camp, please contact: