Camp Avalon
Avalon Children's Montessori School is a founder-owned private Montessori school operating two Toronto campuses, delivering continuous Casa, Elementary, and Middle School programs to children ages 2.5-14 through recurring annual tuition and direct family enrollment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Camp Avalon does
Avalon Children's Montessori School is a founder-owned, independent private school operating two Toronto campuses (Wood Glen Road in Scarborough and Glen Manor Drive in the Beach neighbourhood) that delivers continuous Montessori education to children ages 2.5 through 14. The school segments its offering into three core programs — Casa (ages 2.5-6), Elementary (ages 6-12), and Middle School (Grades 7-8, ages 12-14) — plus Extended Care before- and after-school services, a Learning Support Program for Grades 1-8, and an included hot catered lunch for full-time Casa and Elementary students. Pedagogy is grounded in the Montessori method, employing prepared environments, multi-age classrooms organized in three-year cycles, and hands-on didactic materials across Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Language, and Culture curriculum areas, without letter grades or standardized testing in Casa and Elementary.
The business model is a recurring annual tuition subscription, with pricing published in a fee schedule PDF on the school's website and enrollment conducted directly via website, phone, and scheduled calls with the registrar, supplemented by open house events at each campus. Distribution is wholly direct-to-consumer across the Toronto East End, supported by a content-marketing website and social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn. The school is a member of the Ontario Federation of Independent Schools (OFIS), the Wood Glen Campus operates as a licensed childcare centre, and Avalon holds affiliations with the Canadian Association of Montessori Teachers (CAMT), the North American Montessori Teachers Association (NAMTA), and the Montessori Foundation.
Ownership remains with the three original co-founders — Sherry VanDerKooi, Angie Samis, and Christine Keery — who established the school in 1999 and continue to lead and teach daily. The school has no external investors, no parent company, no disclosed funding rounds, and no M&A activity; it operates as a stable, community-rooted educational institution that explicitly prioritizes educational philosophy and small-scale continuity over expansion or financial returns.
Camp Avalon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Camp Avalon
- Legal name
- Avalon Children's Montessori School
- Website
- https://avalonmontessori.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Avalon Children's Montessori School is a founder-owned private Montessori school operating two Toronto campuses, delivering continuous Casa, Elementary, and Middle School programs to children ages 2.5-14 through recurring annual tuition and direct family enrollment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Camp Avalon industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private K-8 Montessori Education
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (62441), Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Montessori Early Learning Academies (EDACADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Montessori Preschools (EDACABAC), Nursery School Wraparound Care (Extended Hours) (EDACACAG), Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB)
Keywords
Where Camp Avalon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Camp Avalon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Private school tuition for Casa, Elementary, and Middle School programs. Fees are detailed in annual fee schedule PDF. Extended care available at additional cost. Hot lunch included for Casa and Elementary students.
- Extended Care Services: Before and after-school care at both campuses for working families
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Fee schedule available via PDF |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Camp Avalon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Camp Avalon (operating as Avalon Children's Montessori School) is a private Montessori school in Toronto's East End offering continuous Casa (ages 2.5-6), Elementary (ages 6-12), and Middle School (ages 12-14) programs across two campuses. The school sells tuition-based enrollment in Montessori education using prepared environments, hands-on didactic materials, and multi-age classrooms, supplemented by before/after-school extended care and a Learning Support Program.
Product overview
Avalon Children's Montessori School operates as a single unified educational institution offering three integrated Montessori programs: the Casa Program for ages 2½–6 (early childhood), the Elementary Program for ages 6–12, and the Middle School Program for Grades 7-8 (ages 12–14). These programs form a continuous Montessori educational journey from toddlerhood through high school preparation, supplemented by extended care services and a Learning Support Program for students requiring additional academic assistance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Casa Program Introduction to the Montessori environment for children ages 2.5-6, focusing on practical life skills, early literacy, numeracy, and independence in a calm, structured classroom setting.
- Elementary Program Comprehensive Montessori academic program for children ages 6-12 integrating language, mathematics, sciences, and the arts with collaborative learning and peer teaching across three-year cycles.
- Middle School Program Alternative middle school experience for Grades 7-8 (ages 12-14) prioritizing student voice, real-world learning, and preparation for the transition to high school, incorporating Social Emotional Learning and leadership development.
- Extended Care Before and after-school care services available at both campuses for working families, with hours extending beyond the standard school day.
- Learning Support Program Dedicated support services for students in Grades 1 through 8 who require additional help with time management, organization, or academic catch-up.
Quantifiable outcome
- Most staff stay at Avalon for at least 10 years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Camp Avalon
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Camp Avalon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Camp Avalon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ontario Federation of Independent Schools (OFIS)coreAvalon is a proud member of OFIS, which ensures the school meets high standards of safety, governance, and academic accountability within the Ontario private school system. OFIS membership is a key credential for independent schools.
- Yummy CateringminorExternal catering service that provides nutritionally balanced hot lunch daily for all full-time Casa and Elementary students. Avalon is a nut-aware environment and Yummy Catering manages dietary restrictions and allergies.
- Canadian Association of Montessori Teachers (CAMT)minorNational professional organization for Montessori teachers. Avalon is connected to this broader educational community.
- North American Montessori Teachers Association (NAMTA)minorInternational organization providing research and resources for Montessori teachers at all developmental stages.
- The Montessori FoundationminorGlobal resource organization for Montessori families and educators.
- Toronto Montessori InstituteminorTeacher training institution from which founders Angie Samis and Sherry VanDerKooi obtained their Montessori teaching diplomas.
- Sheridan CollegeminorSherry VanDerKooi served on the Montessori Program Advisory Committee to provide professional support for Teacher Education programs.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Camp Avalon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Upper Canada College: Iconic Toronto independent boys' school (SK–Grade 12). Overlaps with Avalon at the lower-school end for premium urban families, though operates at much greater scale.
- Crescent School: Established Toronto boys' independent school (Grades 3–12). Comparable urban private-school premium positioning, though older age focus and different educational philosophy.
- The York School: Toronto independent school (Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12) with progressive and IB curriculum. Comparable premium urban parent segment with significantly broader offering.
- Bishop Strachan School: Toronto girls' independent day school with full JK–Grade 12 offering. Comparable Toronto premium private-school positioning and target demographic.
- Royal St. George's College: Toronto independent school (Grades 3–12). Competes for Toronto families seeking non-public-school education in the mid-tier premium segment.
- Bayview Glen School: Larger Toronto independent day school (Preschool to Grade 12) in a broader portfolio of programs. Competes for the same Toronto parent base with greater scale and brand reach.
Direct peers
- Lycée Français de Toronto: Toronto independent school offering bilingual and alternative-education pathways from preschool through Grade 12. Competes for the same pool of urban parents seeking non-mainstream education.
- Waldorf Academy: Toronto independent school offering an alternative education philosophy (Waldorf) from early years through Grade 8. Comparable niche private-school positioning and parent segment, though methodology differs.
- Toronto Montessori Schools (TMS): Long-established Toronto Montessori school serving Casa through adolescent programs with multiple campuses. Most direct comparable in scale, methodology, and target demographic to Avalon.
- Central Montessori Schools: Toronto-area Montessori school network with multiple campuses serving similar age ranges. Comparable Montessori methodology and similar suburban-urban independent-school operating model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Camp Avalon social profiles
Digital presenceCamp Avalon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Camp Avalon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Camp Avalon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Camp Avalon M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Camp Avalon
What does Camp Avalon do?
Camp Avalon (operating as Avalon Children's Montessori School) is a private Montessori school in Toronto's East End offering continuous Casa (ages 2.5-6), Elementary (ages 6-12), and Middle School (ages 12-14) programs across two campuses. The school sells tuition-based enrollment in Montessori education using prepared environments, hands-on didactic materials, and multi-age classrooms, supplemented by before/after-school extended care and a Learning Support Program.
Is Camp Avalon a public or private company?
Camp Avalon is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Camp Avalon founded?
Camp Avalon was founded in 1999.
Where is Camp Avalon based?
Camp Avalon is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Camp Avalon make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are extended Care Services.
Who are Camp Avalon's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Upper Canada College, Crescent School, The York School, Bishop Strachan School, Royal St. George's College and Bayview Glen School. Direct peers are Lycée Français de Toronto, Waldorf Academy, Toronto Montessori Schools (TMS) and Central Montessori Schools.
Does Camp Avalon have an API?
No public API is recorded for Camp Avalon.
What industry is Camp Avalon in?
Camp Avalon's product category is Private K-8 Montessori Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACADAA, Montessori Early Learning Academies, with a secondary code of EDACABAC, Montessori Preschools. Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8351.