Camp Samac

Camp Samac - 2024 Summer Programs

Camp Samac’s co-ed summer programs are operated by Scouts Canada, and are open for children in the communities we serve! Come join us for a wilderness experience in the heart of Durham Region! Fun, adventure, learning new skills and creating memories -- this is what Camp Samac promises to deliver to each camper. Whether it is your first time attending an outdoor camp program or you are a seasoned camper looking for a challenge, Camp Samac offers something for all ages & abilities!

Please note: Camp Samac will NOT be offering traditional overnight youth camping or weekend family camping options for the summer of 2024.

For all other summer camp registration inquiries, please email campsamac@scouts.ca.
For more information on camp facilities and property bookings, please visit our website.

Best of the Diamond Award

Camp Samac was voted “Best Kids
Camp” & “Best Summer Camp” in the
Best of the Diamonds Readers’ Choice
Awards (Durham Region) for 2022.

General Information

This year, families can choose from two (2) different programs at Camp Samac. The Day Camp is for youth aged 7-13+. Our daily activities include swimming, arts & crafts, canoeing, outdoor skills (i.e., fire building, shelter building, hiking, knot-tying, orienteering) and outdoor adventure activities. Our two Senior Programs — Leadership Training (LT) & Counsellor-in-Training (CIT) — are designed to support the development of personal and professional skills in adolescents 13-16+ years. We are so excited to kick-off another unforgettable summer together.

All campers are to be dropped off between 8:30-9:00AM Monday to Friday. Please use 275 Conlin Road, Oshawa, ON entrance to the Camp Samac and park in the parking lot. Families must sign their child(ren) in and out each day. Regular pick up is between 4:00-4:30PM.

Optional Services

Extended Care

Families can sign-up for Early Drop-off (as early as 8:00 AM) and/or Late Pick-up (as late as 5:00 PM) for an additional $25.00/week. Fee is reduced to $20.00/week for short weeks.

2. Canteen Shop

Each day, campers will have a scheduled visit with their group to our camp canteen (on-site tuck shop). If campers wish to make a small purchase, a variety of sweet treats (e.g., freezies, ice cream sandwiches) and cool refreshments (e.g., pop) are available. Cash only.

Location:275 Conlin Road E, Oshawa, ON

Dates & Weekly Themes

At Camp Samac, each week we have a unique theme to keep the program fresh and exciting for our campers and staff! Camp Counsellors and Site Coordinators (Arts & Crafts Centre, Nature Centre, & Waterfront Centre) use the respective weekly theme to develop age-appropriate outdoor skills/activities, sports, and crafts for all abilities.

2024 Weekly Themes

Day Camp Program Details

Camp Samac is the place to be this summer! Our Day Camp is an outdoor focused program, which emphasizes the development of outdoor skills, environmental awareness, and wilderness exploration on the camp’s 166 scenic acres. The Senior Staff operate out of Cabin 1, the closest cabin to the Council Hall parking lot at Camp Samac in Oshawa. The Day Camp is for youth ages 7 to 13+ and has space for a maximum of 168 campers per week. Youth are placed according to age into a camper group supervised by trained counsellors. Our daily program is very well balanced. The activities are selected to build outdoor skills, self-confidence, respect for others and the environment, teamwork, and of course because they are fun! Each activity is age-appropriate and takes into consideration skill levels of the youth participating.

Each camper will enjoy activities within their group as well as visiting our many sites on the property, including: our Waterfront Centre where campers participate in canoeing; the Arts & Crafts Centre where they create, build, sculpt, and paint; and our Nature Centre where youth will learn about the many species of plants and animals at Camp Samac and participate in fun projects involving nature and the environment. Our campers also have daily access to our outdoor pool where our campers hone their swimming skills or enjoy playing in the water with friends. We pride our program on the emphasis of outdoor skill development, including but not limited to fire and shelter building, knot tying, hiking, orienteering, archery, creek studies, and more! Activities may vary based on weather conditions.

NOTE: Day Camp Week 2 (July 8-12) - Week 8 (August 19 - 23) have SOLD OUT!

Day Camp Program Guide

Register Here

Senior Programs (CIT/LT) Details

Our Leadership Training (LT) program works to develop campers' personal skills through a variety of workshops and activities. Topics include: Team Building, Effective Communication, & Conflict Resolution. Focuses of this program includes outdoor skills, trust, and team building through activities such as hiking, canoeing, swimming, shelter building and survival challenges. We endeavour to challenge our campers with adventure while placing an emphasis on personal and group safety.

Our Counsellor-in-Training (CIT) aims to build on participants' skill sets and prepare them for professional opportunities in the future. This program provides adolescents with an opportunity to work on resume development, interview preparation and experience, as well as an exploration into varying leadership styles. The participants will receive outdoor skill training with and shadow our Summer Staff. At the end of the week, all participants will have an opportunity to develop and lead their own activity for a group of campers and receive constructive feedback from our team.

Counsellor-in-Training (CIT) Dates:
Week 1 - July 2-5*
Week 3 – July 15 - 19
Week 5 – July 29 - August 2
Week 7 – August 12 - 16
Week 9 – August 26 - 30

Leadership Training (LT) Dates:
Week 2 – July 8 - 12
Week 4 – July 22 - 26
Week 6 – August 6 - 9*
Week 8 – August 19 - 23

(*) indicates a short week for a reduced rate.

NOTE: CIT Week 5 (July 29-August 2) has SOLD OUT!

Senior Programs (CIT/LT) Program Guide

Register Here

Camp Rules, Guidelines, & Safety

The rules and regulations of the camp will be discussed with each camper on the first day of camp. Campers are not permitted to wander off unsupervised or leave camper groups without permission. We reserve the right to dismiss/suspend any camper who continually displays disruptive or unsafe behaviour. This is to ensure the utmost safety of all participants.

If medication is required, please ensure that this information is on your child’s registration form. It must be in a secure package (e.g., Ziploc bag) and delivered to the staff at camp. The medication is to be labelled as follows: Camper’s name, program/dates, type of medication and dosage, treatment, and reason for medication. Medication will be stored with our Senior Staff and will be given as you have directed. Please advise us if there are any changes to medication during your child’s stay.

All Lost & Found articles will be stored in Cabin 1 until the end of each week. Please check the Lost & Found on Friday afternoons. After the camp season, lost & found will be sorted and only those deemed valuable will be kept at the Summer Office until the end of summer, at which time any unclaimed articles will be donated to a charitable organization.

Our summer programs will be planned in alignment with the Ministry of Health Day Camp guidelines and Durham Regional Public Health guidelines. Any changes to this guidance may result in changes to camp offerings, protocols, services, and/or cancellations of programs/services with little notice. Measures that will be in place to ensure a safe and healthy camping experience include but aren’t limited to:

Staff roles dedicated to routine cleaning and equipment disinfection
Sign-up systems and limited capacity in group settings for programming & activities
Outdoor programming as much as possible; designated indoor locations in inclement weather
No food services

Program Cost & Refund Policy

	Early Bird Special Rate Available until April 1, 2024	Regular Rate After April 1, 2024
Scouts Canada Member Rate	$265.00/full week ($212.00/short week)	$290.00/full week ($232.00/short week)
Non-member Rate (Public)	$290.00/full week ($232.00/short week)	$315.00/full week ($252.00/short week)

Pricing does not include 13% HST. Day Camp is HST exempt. Prices are subject to change without notice.

What is the refund policy for Summer Camp?
All Registrations	Policy for “all registrations” is now 100% deposit will be required to secure your booking.
Registrations cancelled with more than 4 weeks’ notice	If a payment has been made in full, 80% of the deposit will be refunded.
Registrations transferred with more than 4 weeks’ notice	100% deposit can be transferred to another registration this summer.
Registrations cancelled with less than 4 weeks’ notice, but more than 2 weeks’ notice	50% of total payment is refundable.
Registrations cancelled with less than 2 weeks’ notice	No refunds
Scouts Canada cancels registration due to extenuating circumstances	Transfer 100% of payment to another registration this summer or receive a 92% refund.

Packing List

Lunch + two snacks (peanut-free)
Sunscreen
Refillable water bottle
Hat
Running shoes
Extra clothes & socks in case

Swimsuit & towel
Canteen money (optional)
Lifejacket (optional)
Rainy day gear (if applicable)
Bug spray
Hand sanitizer

Our staff team appreciates your feedback, suggestions, and ideas. Parents/Guardians contribute to the quality of our program. We encourage you to speak with our Camp Coordinators regarding special instructions and considerations that will contribute to a positive experience for your camper(s). If you have questions, wish to express concerns, and/or highlight the extra efforts of our dedicated staff, please speak with our Senior Staff team (campsamac@scouts.ca) directly.

During the camp season (July 2-August 30), families can also connect with our team directly via email. Please note that prior to the program start, our staff work remotely, so email (campsamac@scouts.ca) is the recommended method of contact until July 2024. We look forward to hearing from you!