Gift of Camp
Through The Gift of Camp, your generosity removes financial barriers so more children and youth can experience these life-changing moments.
As families across the region continue to navigate rising costs, important summer experiences can be out of reach. Through The Gift of Camp, the YMCA is inviting the community to help make YMCA camp experiences accessible to more children and youth and support transformative moments that last far beyond the last day of summer.
In Eastern Ontario this means supporting approximately 1 in 3 children and youth this summer, who would otherwise be unable to access YMCA day camp experiences.
One parent shared:
“My son was six and new places and new people were overwhelming to him and as a result, he often felt alone. With school out for the summer, I wanted to find a space where he would feel safe, supported, and able to be himself while I was at work, and that felt within reach for our family. This would be his first time at a YMCA Camp and I was so hopeful he would find his way. Day by day that began to happen. Staff welcomed him by name. A new friend invited him to play. By the end of the week, he was laughing like he had always belonged. By September, he ran ahead without me and into new possibilities. Because of financial assistance, YMCA Camp was possible for our family and because of you, he found confidence, connection, and a place to be himself.”
Funds raised through the campaign will directly support access to YMCA day camp programs for children and youth in Eastern Ontario. These experiences help build confidence, resilience, and social connection—benefits that extend into the next school year and beyond.
The YMCA is inviting individuals, businesses, and community partners to contribute and help make YMCA camps accessible to all families, helping build a stronger, healthier Eastern Ontario for the future. .
