About Camp Lifting Leaves
Camp Lifting Leaves is a weekend camp for children and youth from 2SLGBTQ+ identities and families who are at least 13 years old and have an active file with a child welfare or Indigenous well-being agency.
Campsite
We’re over the moon for our new for Camp Lifting Leaves site, which is specialized to play a crucial role in the lives of youth living with complex neurobiological abilities. Just north of Orillia, Ontario the lake-side site is located about 2 hours from Toronto and just over 4 from Ottawa. Campers here can enjoy an adventure course, garden, animal husbandry and more.
Dates & Rates
Camp Dates
Camp Lifting Leaves 2025 will be hosted in-person from October 3rd to 6th, 2025.
Camp Fees
The program will cost $900 per camper.
Funding is available through OCBe for youth. If funding through OCBe is not available, then we will coordinate with the OACAS to cover the cost. Payment will be required after registration.
Refund and Cancellation policy
All cancellations or refund requests must be submitted to the Ten Oaks Project in writing by email or mail. Refunds for camp fees will be made less a $30 processing fee.
- 100% of the camp fee is refundable until September 8th, 2025.
- 50% of the camp fee is refundable until September 25th, 2025.
- 20% of the camp fee is refundable until October 2nd, 2025.
No refunds will be issued after October 2nd, 2025, except in exceptional circumstances. No refunds are issued if a camper is required to leave camp early for medical reasons or is asked to leave the camp program for behavioural reasons.
Leaf Links
Join our monthly virtual program for youth involved with the care system ages 13-21 from 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Check our event listings or social media to stay up to date. You can register for events in the Ten Oak Linktree: linktr.ee/tenoaksproject
FAQs
Inquiring minds may wonder…
Camp Lifting Leaves is responsive to the interests of our campers and the skills of the staff team, and so the programming changes every year. You can always expect camp activities like canoeing, rock climbing, archery, campfires, high ropes, and Centered Spaces.
Centered Spaces are sessions facilitated by and for people who share a specific identity. Here are some of the spaces from 2023: BIPOC, Trans & Non-Binary, Indigenous, Disability.
Here are some other activities we did in 2023: Bracelet Making, Queer Trivia, Queer Sex Ed, Button Making, Action Auction, Shelter Building, and the Polar Swim.
Each agency that has youth attending camp must provide one chaperone (a staff member or volunteer) for every five participating youth, as well as any one-on-one support that is needed. If a youth does not have a confirmed chaperone one month prior to camp, said youth will be moved to the waitlist.
For the duration of camp, chaperones are on call 24/7 and are responsible for providing supervision, primary care, and support at all times to their assigned children and youth. Think of Camp Lifting Leaves like a school trip: chaperones are the teachers, and our staff are the guides leading you around the museum! Chaperones will stay in cabins with their campers.
Funding is available through OCBe. There is no cost for chaperones or one-on-one support staff; their meals and accommodations are covered.
72 hours before arriving at camp, all staff, chaperones, and campers must test negative for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test. A second rapid test is required on the morning of departure to camp. Both tests are mandatory for everyone.
Make a Donation
We are an organization built on the strength of our community and we would not exist without the valuable contributions of our volunteers, staff, directorate, sponsors, community partners, and donors.
