FAQs

Camp is free! All programs are offered at no cost to your family.

Campers can continue participating in camp programs until they turn 19 years old.

The medical facilities (also known as the “Body Shop” or the “Med Shed”) are set up like a clinic setting in a hospital and equipped to treat and manage situations from routine first aid, administer medications, and at Campfire Circle Muskoka our medical team can provide IV chemotherapy and blood products on-site.

At Campfire Circle, the camp staff and volunteers work together to create a supportive and engaging environment for campers. The team, with diverse backgrounds and expertise, is dedicated to delivering camp-style experiences for individuals of all ages and abilities. They are trained in various activities, first aid and CPR, and undergo a thorough screening process to ensure safety and quality care. Whether it’s through in-hospital, overnight, or community programs, staff and volunteers collectively foster social connections, build resilience, and ensure each camper’s well-being throughout their time at camp.

Camp is supported by medical staff from paediatric hospitals from across Ontario. Our year-round medical team works in collaboration with each child’s primary team to prepare for their time at camp. Overnight kids camps are staffed with one to two onsite physicians in addition to the nursing team, and at sibling camps the doctor is on call to support the nurses. At day camp, the medical team consists of at least one paediatric trained nurse who provides general supervision and medication administration.

Campfire Circle is a welcoming and inclusive environment. Some campers may be at different stages of illness, while others may have similar experiences to your child. This includes those who may have just received a diagnosis, are undergoing treatment, have been living with their illness their whole lives, or are in recovery.

What unites everyone at Camp is the shared experience of what it’s like to navigate life with a serious illness during childhood. Whether your child is making new friends, trying out new activities, or simply enjoying the sense of belonging, Camp is a place where they can be themselves and have fun, surrounded by others who understand.

Overnight kids-only summer camps are 7-day programs. Summer family camps are 5-day programs. We also offer Weekends at Camp (Friday – Sunday) in the winter, spring and fall.

Of course, we would love to have you visit before you decide to come for a full session. You can come to one of our Weekends at Camp (WACs) in the fall or winter, or attend our Open House. Please call us (1-888-464-6624) to book a tour.

To register, log in to your Family Account and click the enrollment tab. From there, you can choose the programs your child or family would like to attend.

If you do not have a family account, please fill out an inquiry form. Our medical team will review your application and contact you if they have questions.

To support our commitment to a safe, caring environment for children with serious illnesses and their families, all volunteers must attest to having received their childhood vaccinations and confirm a negative result through a two-step Tuberculosis (TB) testing series. Seasonal boosters for Influenza and the most recent circulating strain of COVID-19 are strongly encouraged.

All volunteers must provide an updated Criminal Record Check or Vulnerable Sector Screening and complete annual forms, waivers, and health history information.

Completion of pre-camp training (approximately 3 hours) and onsite training is mandatory.

All volunteers receive comprehensive training prior to their first program. Training topics may include supporting children with serious illness, code of conduct, behaviour management, diversity, equity and inclusion, camp culture and traditions, and accessible programming.

Additional training and resources are offered year-round as part of our ongoing professional development opportunities for volunteers.

Campfire Circle is committed to making volunteering accessible by reducing financial barriers. Volunteers receive full reimbursement for the cost of a Criminal Record Check and up to $75 toward the cost of two-step TB testing. Based on identified need, we may also be able to assist with additional costs such as loaning equipment, outdoor clothing or gear, and coordinating transportation options.

Volunteers typically begin their experience with a 3-day overnight Fall or Winter Weekend at Camp, or 4–8 day Overnight Summer Kids or Family Camp), or 6-day Day Camp (Ottawa). There is currently no minimum hour requirement to support year-round programs, though active engagement in the community is encouraged. On average, volunteers support a minimum of three programs annually.

The volunteer community is a unique one, ranging in age from 19-70+ with a wide range of experience, skills and backgrounds. At Campfire Circle programs, you’ll always work in a team-based environment alongside fellow new or returning volunteers, support staff, medical professionals and year-round staff.

You can honour a person or celebrate a special event or milestone. We’ve got a page dedicated to helping you create your own In Honour fundraiser so that you can get started right away.

Garage sales, bake sales, running a marathon, are all good ways to fundraise. You can create a DIY fundraiser if you want to fundraise online and get started right away.

If you want to host an event like a golf tournament or dinner, go to the host an event page for more information or complete the registration and agreement form. Our team will then be in touch to discuss your event.

We accept a wide variety of donations from glue for slime making to wood for the wood shop. We cannot accept used toys or materials based on our health and safety protocol (all donated items must be new).

Please  contact us at 1-888-464-6624 to arrange a time to make your donation.

Donations eligible according to CRA will receive a tax receipt.

The CRA and Campfire Circle have specific rules around tax receipting for gift in kind donations. In certain circumstances, Campfire Circle may provide a tax receipt for the fair market value of your gift at the time the donation was made.

The CRA doesn’t allow charities to issue tax receipts for donated services. We can provide you with a business acknowledgement letter that can be used to write-off your generous gift as a business expense.

The CRA doesn’t allow charities to issue tax receipts to Foundations. We will provide a business acknowledgement letter to recognize the contributions of Foundations.

The CRA doesn’t allow charities to issue tax receipts where the donor receives a benefit that exceeds the amount of the donations (ex. logo recognition, dinner, golf fees, etc.).

Donors who make a donation online receive an email with their tax receipt immediately after their donation is made.

Donors who make a donation via the phone or mail can expect to receive their tax receipt within 2-4 weeks of making your donation.

Please contact donations@campfirecircle.org or call 1-888-464-6624 ext. 400 to receive a copy of your tax receipt.