Onondaga Camp

What Onondaga Camp does

Onondaga Camp is a privately held, traditional overnight summer camp operating on a 450-acre site with two private lakes on Middle Bob Lake near Minden, Ontario. Founded in 1918 and incorporated as Onondaga Camp Inc., it serves children ages 6-16 across six age-graded sections (Jinci, Bantam, Inter, Senior, Super Senior, and a two-year Leadership-in-Training program for ages 16-17) and operates a 100% screen-free environment with no cell phones permitted. The camp offers 25+ activities including canoeing, waterskiing, sailing, archery, climbing, and equestrian programs, with session lengths of 1, 2, and 4 weeks, plus extended canoe tripping in Algonquin Park, Temagami, and the Leslie Frost Centre.

The business model is direct-to-consumer: families register and pay through a CampBrain online portal, with provincial certifications (Bronze Cross, National Lifeguard, canoe/kayak instructor) and Ontario Secondary School credits (PAD30, PLF4M) embedded in the LIT program. Revenue is diversified across core summer camp tuition, family camp weekends, school outdoor education programs (May-June and September-October), canoe tripping adventures, and alumni reunions. The camp maintains a year-round administrative office in Toronto and a seasonal operations base in Minden, and partners with We Cater Inc. (since 1998) for food service. Ancillary services include on-site health coverage (five nurses plus a doctor), laundry service for longer sessions, and a shuttle bus from Toronto on arrival days.

Ownership rests with four individuals, all of whom led the camp previously: Duncan Robertson (Camp Director, 25 years as director) plus David Hadden, David Lever, and Michael Moore on the Board of Directors. Notably, 90% of counselling staff are graduates of the in-house LIT program, creating a self-reinforcing talent pipeline and deep institutional continuity. The camp also operates as an Outdoor Education Centre for school groups and runs an active alumni program, positioning itself as a multi-generational Canadian summer tradition rather than a seasonal hospitality business.

Name

Onondaga Camp

Legal name

Onondaga Camp Inc.

Website

https://onondagacamp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Onondaga Camp is a privately held, 100-year-old traditional overnight summer camp in Minden, Ontario, serving children ages 6-16 with 25+ activities across a 450-acre, two-private-lake site in a 100% screen-free environment. Operations span summer sessions, family camps, school outdoor education, canoe tripping, and a two-year LIT leadership program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Overnight Summer Camp Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK)

Keywords

• Overnight summer camp
• Outdoor education programs
• Youth leadership training
• Wilderness canoe tripping
• Family camp retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Minden

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Fees: Overnight summer camp program fees for session lengths including 1-week, 2-week, and 4-week options. Fees cover all activities, meals, accommodations, laundry service, and transportation from Toronto.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Onondaga Camp is a traditional overnight summer camp operating on a 450+ acre site with two private lakes near Minden, Ontario. It provides multi-week camp sessions (1, 2, and 4 week), family camp weekends, school outdoor education programs, multi-day wilderness canoe trips, and a two-year Leadership in Training (LIT) program, all delivered in a 100% screen-free environment for children ages 6-16.

Product overview

Onondaga Camp is a traditional overnight summer camp offering a single, unified program centered on outdoor recreation and personal development for children ages 6-16. The camp provides a comprehensive portfolio including traditional summer sessions, family camps, school outdoor education programs, canoe tripping adventures, and a two-year Leadership in Training (LIT) program. All programs share the same 450-acre lakeside facility on Middle Bob Lake in Ontario, emphasizing screen-free, nature-based experiences with over 25 activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traditional Summer Camp Programs Overnight summer camp for children ages 6-16, offering over 25 activities including canoeing, waterskiing, sailing, archery, climbing, and more in a 100% screen-free environment on Middle Bob Lake near Minden, Ontario.
• Family Camp Family-oriented overnight camp programs allowing families to experience the outdoors together at the Onondaga Camp facility.
• School Programs (Outdoor Education Centre) Outdoor education programs for schools and groups, running from early May to late June and September to Thanksgiving, offering adventure activities and team-building experiences for grades 1-12.
• Canoe Tripping Multi-day wilderness canoe trips in locations including Algonquin Park, Leslie Frost Centre, and Temagami, with trip lengths ranging from 3 to 7 days based on age group.
• Leadership in Training (LIT) Program Two-year leadership program for campers aged 16-17 offering Ontario Secondary School credits (PAD30 and PLF4M), provincial certifications including Bronze Cross, National Lifeguard, and canoe/kayak instructor certifications.
• Alumni Camp Weekend Annual alumni reunion camp weekend for former campers to reconnect and relive camp experiences at the Onondaga Camp facility.

Quantifiable outcome

• Campers return home with increased confidence, more friends, and greater sense of responsibility
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• We Cater Inc.coreOthersWe Cater Inc. provides food service operations at Onondaga Camp, operated by Michel and Lucia Ouellet-Poucel who have served as camp chefs since 1998. They provide homemade breads, granola, and desserts prepared by a cheerful kitchen staff.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Canoe Tripping Outfitters (e.g., Wilderness Adventures): Specialist providers offering multi-day canoe tripping experiences that overlap with Onondaga's canoe tripping program. Emerging competitor specifically for the wilderness expedition portion of the camp's offering.

Direct peers

• Camp Walden: Traditional overnight summer camp in Ontario serving a similar age range with comparable activity programming. Direct peer in the Ontario overnight summer camp market.
• Camp White Pine: Long-running Ontario overnight summer camp with traditional multi-activity programming on a lake. Competes in the same regional market with similar cabin-style accommodations.
• Camp Wahanowin: Traditional Ontario overnight summer camp operating on a lake with multi-activity programming for children. Direct competitor in the Ontario traditional overnight camp segment.
• Camp Kandalore: Traditional overnight summer camp in Ontario serving a similar age range (6-16) with comparable multi-activity programming on a lake. Direct competitor for Toronto/GTA families seeking an authentic cabin-camp experience.
• Camp Manitou: Established overnight summer camp in Ontario offering traditional multi-activity programming for children of similar ages. Comparable in scale, geography, and product offering.
• Camp Tamakwa: Long-established Ontario overnight summer camp on a lake offering traditional multi-activity programs for children. Closely comparable in offering, customer base, and traditional-camp positioning to Onondaga.
• Camp Arowhon: Traditional Ontario overnight summer camp with a similar multi-activity program and age range. Competes directly for the same Toronto feeder market with comparable cabin-and-lake format.
• Camp Pine Crest: Ontario-based overnight summer camp offering traditional multi-activity programming for children. Operates as a direct competitor for Ontario families seeking overnight camp experiences.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Greater Toronto - Camp Programs: Large multi-service organization operating overnight and day camp programs across Ontario including in Muskoka. Broader incumbent offering camp experiences as part of a wider mission, but competes for the same family market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/onondagacamp
• Instagraminstagram.com/onondagacamp
• Xx.com/onondagacamp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/onondaga-camp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Onondaga Camp