Campfire Circle

What Campfire Circle does

Campfire Circle is a Canadian nonprofit charitable organization (Charitable Registration No. 13111 6022 RR0001) headquartered at 464 Bathurst St, Toronto, that provides play-based camp and recreation programs at no cost to children affected by cancer or serious illness and their families across Ontario. Formed through the 2020 merger of Camp Ooch (founded 1983) and Camp Trillium (founded 1984) and rebranded to Campfire Circle in January 2022, the organization operates three integrated delivery channels: in-hospital programs embedded at seven pediatric oncology centres (SickKids, McMaster, London HSC, CHEO, Credit Valley, Southlake, Rouge Valley), year-round community programs across Ontario, and medically supported overnight camps at two sites — the Muskoka camp on Donner Lake (the only site in Canada able to provide onsite IV chemotherapy and blood transfusions) and the Rainbow Lake camp in Waterford. An 18,000-square-foot urban recreation centre, Campfire Circle Downtown in Toronto, extends in-city programming. The organization is led by CEO Alex Robertson with a C-suite covering strategy, development, programs, and finance, supported by a Medical Advisory Committee chaired by a McMaster pediatric oncologist and a Board of Directors drawn from senior leadership at Brookfield, BMO, Scotiabank, RBC, SickKids, Canadian Tire, EY, and other major institutions.

The organization operates on a donation-funded nonprofit model with no ongoing government funding. Revenue is generated across four primary streams: individual donations including the Spark Club monthly giving program, one-time gifts, in-honour/in-memory donations, and legacy giving; major gifts and foundation grants (anchored by a $20 million gift from Emmanuelle Gattuso in October 2025 and a $15 million gift from Stu and Kim Lang in 2025); corporate partnerships including the LCBO Tis the Season of Giving campaign ($6.2M+ raised last year), Volkswagen Canada, GFL Environmental, Solutions 2 GO, and Sporting Life; and signature fundraising events including the Sporting Life 10K, Tour d'Epicure cycling ride ($1.25M raised in 2025), Bonfire Bash gala ($2.6M raised in 2025), and Paddle Project auction. Programs are provided at no cost to families.

Campfire Circle currently serves approximately 3,000 children annually and has publicly stated a target of reaching 10,000 children annually by 2030, supported by the recent transformational $20 million donation explicitly earmarked for capacity expansion and new camp construction. The organization relies on a large volunteer base across hospital, camp, and event operations, and operates with 51–100 paid employees. As of the latest disclosed scale signals, 79% of children affected by childhood cancer in Ontario do not currently access Campfire Circle programming, defining a substantial untapped addressable population within the organization's existing Ontario geographic footprint.

Name

Campfire Circle

Legal name

Campfire Circle

Website

https://campfirecircle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Oncology Camp Programs

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Child and Youth Services (624110), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Pediatric oncology camp
• Childhood cancer support
• Therapeutic recreation programs
• Medically supported camp
• Family camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly Spark Club donors, one-time donations, in-honour/in-memory donations, legacy giving through bequests, and gift of securities. Programs provided at no cost to families.
2. Major Gifts & Foundations: Transformative donations from philanthropists such as Emmanuelle Gattuso ($20 million), Stu and Kim Lang ($15 million), and major foundation support including The Slaight Family Foundation, The Kavelman Fonn Foundation, and others.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Cause marketing campaigns, employee engagement/volunteering programs, event sponsorships, and corporate donations from partners including LCBO, Volkswagen Canada, Solutions 2 GO, Sporting Life Inc., and others.
4. Signature Events: Fundraising events including Sporting Life 10K race, Tour d'Epicure cycling event, Bonfire Bash gala ($2.6 million raised in 2025), Paddle Project auction, and LCBO holiday campaign.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Campfire Circle provides play-based camp and recreation programs for children with cancer or serious illness and their families across Ontario. Programs are delivered through three integrated channels: in-hospital programming at pediatric oncology centres, year-round community and virtual programs, and medically supported overnight camps (including the only Canadian site able to provide IV chemotherapy and blood transfusions on-site). All programs are provided at no cost to families.

Product overview

Campfire Circle is a unified charitable organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of play-based programs for children with cancer or serious illness and their families. The organization operates a platform of three delivery channels: in-hospital programs at pediatric oncology centres across Ontario, community programs in local neighborhoods, and medically supported overnight camps at two Ontario locations (Muskoka and Rainbow Lake). Additionally, an urban recreation centre called Campfire Circle Downtown in Toronto provides year-round programming. The organization also operates fundraising programs including the Spark Club monthly giving program and the Paddle Project annual auction. All programs are provided at no cost to families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-Hospital Programs Play-based programs delivered directly in pediatric oncology centres across Ontario, bringing moments of fun and laughter to children, their siblings, and parents during hospital stays. Provided at no cost to families and delivered in partnership with hospitals including SickKids, McMaster Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, Credit Valley Hospital, and CHEO.
• Community Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Increase in camper participation referrals of 260% between 2012-2016 due to expanded in-hospital team
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LCBOcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLCBOTis the Season of Giving holiday campaign beneficiary. LCBO customers can donate $2, $5, or $10 at checkout. Campaign raised over $6.2 million last year for children's health charities including Campfire Circle.
• Ontario Camps Association (OCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampfire Circle is an accredited member of the Ontario Camps Association, collaborating on camp industry standards and best practices.
• Children's Oncology Camping Association International (COCA-I)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampfire Circle is a member of the international association connecting pediatric oncology camps globally for shared learning and standards.
• Camp Robin HoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Camp Robin Hood provides venue for summer Day Camp for 4-7 year olds.
• SickKidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 30-year partnership with Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. In-hospital programming began in 1993, now running 7 days/week. Campfire Circle meets kids on day of diagnosis.
• McMaster Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-hospital program partnership in Hamilton since 2015. Dr. Paul Gibson from McMaster serves on Medical Advisory Committee.
• Children's Hospital at London Health Sciences CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-hospital programming partnership since 2016, expanded to 5 days/week with second staff hire. Hospital oncologists participate in Medical Advisory Committee.
• Credit Valley Hospital (Trillium Health Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding hospital partnership for in-hospital programming and volunteer engagement.
• Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital partnership providing in-hospital programming for pediatric oncology patients in Ottawa region.
• Southlake Regional Health CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional hospital partnership for pediatric oncology support.
• Rouge Valley Centenary (Scarborough Health Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital partnership serving Scarborough region pediatric oncology patients.
• Donate a Car CanadaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership enables donors to contribute vehicles to Campfire Circle with free towing provided.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SeriousFun Children's Network: Global network of 30+ camps serving children with serious illnesses, founded by Paul Newman. Direct peer in the pediatric serious-illness camp category with the same medically-supported camp model and global reach Campfire Circle aspires to.
• Camp Quality Canada: Canadian and international nonprofit running year-round camp and retreat programs for children with cancer and their families. Direct peer operating pediatric oncology summer camps and family support programs across multiple Canadian provinces.
• Hole in the Wall Gang Camp: Founded by Paul Newman as a SeriousFun member camp serving children with serious illnesses. Direct peer with residential camp programs, family weekends, and hospital outreach, anchored by deep donor support and a celebrity-backed brand.
• Camp Sunshine: Retreats in Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Direct peer offering year-round residential programming with medical support and is widely regarded as a benchmark in the pediatric serious-illness camp space.
• Sunrise Day Camp / Sunrise Association: Day camps and year-round programs for children with cancer and their siblings. Direct peer in medically-supported pediatric oncology camp programming, with a multi-location U.S. footprint and a hospital-partnership model analogous to Campfire Circle's.
• Special Love / Camp Fantastic: Nonprofit providing camps and emergency funds for children with cancer. Direct peer in the pediatric oncology camp space, including overnight camps, sibling programs, and family weekends, with deep hospital referral networks.

Broad incumbents

• Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada: National Canadian nonprofit providing lodging and support for families of seriously ill children receiving medical treatment. Broader incumbent in the pediatric serious-illness family-support space, addressing related but distinct needs (housing vs. camp experience).
• Make-A-Wish Canada: Canadian branch of the international wish-granting organization for children with critical illnesses. Broader incumbent serving a similar beneficiary population with a different intervention model (wish fulfillment vs. therapeutic camp).
• Starlight Children's Foundation Canada: Canadian charity delivering programs to seriously ill children and their families, with a focus on hospital-based distraction and play. Broader incumbent in the pediatric serious-illness support space with overlapping hospital-partnership channels.

Emerging players

• Camp Kesem: U.S.-based college-student-led nonprofit running free summer camps for children affected by a parent's cancer. Emerging player with overlapping therapeutic-camp-for-serious-illness model but distinct beneficiary focus (children of cancer patients vs. pediatric patients themselves).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Campfirecircle_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/CampfireCircleTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/campfirecircleorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/campfirecircleorg
• Instagraminstagram.com/campfirecircleorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Campfire Circle