Camp Ten Oaks - Ten Oaks Project

IN THIS SECTION: Camp Ten Oaks

Camp Ten Oaks has shown me that I can be whoever I want to be. And, nobody can ever judge me for that.

Camp Ten Oaks camper

The sense of belonging and community that I get from Ten Oaks is something that I can feel year-round.

Camp Ten Oaks camper

As staff, we create an intentional space for our campers where for one week, they don’t have to be afraid or ashamed of anything about themselves.

Camp Ten Oaks volunteer

I can credit the beautifully diverse chosen family that I now have to Ten Oaks. It’s filled a great void in the community for me.

Camp Ten Oaks camper parent

Being a camper has opened my eyes to the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community, to the diversity of the group I’m a part of.

Camp Ten Oaks camper

When I left Project Acorn, the world was a different, more magical, and more manageable place.

Project Acorn participant

The best part of Project Acorn for me was seeing how much love and support is built in such a short span of time.

Project Acorn volunteer

At Project Acorn, I realized that I can have a powerful voice.

Youth Advisory Committee member

Who We Are

Camp Ten Oaks is a two-location, one-week each, sleep-away camp for children and youth ages 8-17 from 2SLGBTQ+ (two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer) identities, families, and communities. The program first opened its doors in August 2005. It doubled in capacity in 2018 with the addition of our second location, allowing for nearly 200 campers.

The intentional magic of summer camp

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH PLAY

Camp Ten Oaks is the first and only summer camp of its kind in Canada. We offer children a space where they can feel not only accepted, but celebrated. For many campers, our program is the cornerstone of their year.

Our programming variety allows campers to receive instruction, strengthen old skills and develop new ones with the option to participate in outdoor adventure, waterfront, arts, social justice activities and sports. We empower children and youth through play that enhances self-esteem, life skills, independence, leadership and self-confidence.

Recruitment, Retention and Support of BIPOC Volunteers at Camp Ten Oaks – Review

The strength of the Ten Oaks Project is our people. We wouldn’t be here without our campers, camper families, volunteers, communities, and all the folks who create magic behind the scenes for all the children and youth we serve. We are committed to all our programs, initiatives, and work being equitable and accessible, and this means continually taking a hard look at who our campers and volunteers are, and what communities are missing. Summer camps in Canada are historically predominantly white spaces, and our programs are no different. We therefore hired a consultant to review the recruitment, retention and support of BIPOC volunteers at Camp Ten Oaks so we can grow as an organization and do a better job of examining and confronting our racism and white privilege. We know this journey of (un)learning is a continuous one, and we are excited to learn from this report and take the next steps in creating a safer and more inclusive volunteer program for BIPOC folks.

The recommendations in the report range from things we can and will begin doing immediately (such as revising our application forms, interview guides, and volunteer selection process) to things that are a process we can begin now (such as building new relationships with community organizations) and which will develop and grow with time and investment from the Ten Oaks Project. To read the full report, please follow this link.