Five Oaks Camps

Get outside! Join our skilled and enthusiastic staff for adventures and explorations along the Grand River that foster a connection to the natural world and celebrate the unique gifts each camper brings to their experience. We offer Winter Break, March Break, and Summer Camps that are engaging, active, and inclusive.

Summer Camp Details

Little Acorn Adventure Camp (born in 2020)
Acorn Adventure Camp (ages 6-12, born between 2013-2019)
Leader in Training Program (ages 15-18, born between 2007-2010)

Summer Camp Details

Little Acorn Adventure Camp (born in 2020)
Acorn Adventure Camp (ages 6-12, born between 2013-2019)
Youth Adventure Camp (ages 11-13, born between 2011-2014)
Leader in Training Program (ages 14-17, born between 2008-2011)

Our Summer Camps Include:

Traditional camp activities
Engaging high-energy games
Guided hikes
Crafts and artistic explorations
Creek studies
Nature-based play
Shelter building
A rafting trip on the river with Grand River Rafting*
Daily swimming in our outdoor pool
Special guests
Campfires (and roasting marshmallows)
Plus much more!

*Little Acorns do not go rafting

Our Summer Camps Include:

Traditional camp activities
Engaging high-energy games
Guided hikes
Crafts and artistic explorations
Creek studies
Nature-based play
Shelter building
A rafting trip on the river with Grand River Rafting*
Daily swimming in our outdoor pool
Special guests
Campfires (and roasting marshmallows)
Plus much more!

*Little Acorns do not go rafting

Register

CAMPS FAQ

What time does camp run?

Camp runs from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Children can be dropped off between 8:30-9:00 am and picked up between 4:00-4:30 pm.

Do you offer before and after care?

We no longer offer extended care.

What should my child bring to camp?

Please ensure campers bring the following to camp each day:

Nut-free snacks and lunch (waste-free as much as possible)
Weather appropriate clothing (rain jacket and boots on rainy days)
Water bottle (we have water jugs available for refills)
Running shoes
Water shoes (e.g. crocs, sandals, etc.)
Hat
Sunscreen
Bathing suit, towel
Bug spray
Complete change of clothes in a plastic bag

What are your expectations of campers?

Respectful Behaviour: Campers and staff are expected to demonstrate respect for themselves and their peers, as well as equipment and facilities. A three-opportunities model will be used when managing behavioural concerns. A document outlining our guidelines will be provided to families with their registration confirmation.
Environmental Stewardship: As stewards of the land at Five Oaks, we encourage campers and their families to make a commitment to reducing waste and their impact on the land through respect for nature and wildlife, following a leave no trace philosophy, and by packing a litterless lunch as much as possible.

Can my child be grouped with their friends?

Groups are assigned based on age to ensure age-appropriate programming. While we do our very best, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate every request.

Where is Five Oaks?

Five Oaks is located at 1 Bethel Road, Paris, ON. When arriving for camp, please follow the lane until you see the Five Oaks sign in the grass, and a red stop sign. Proceed up the hill, following signs for the main office. Campers will sign in every morning at a white tent to the left of the parking lot.

What are your sign-in and sign-out procedures?

Parents/Guardians must sign their child in and out each day at our camp registration tent. If someone other than the people listed in your registration will be picking up your child, please email daycamp@fiveoaks.on.ca.

What is your protocol for supervision around water?

Five Oaks has lifeguards on staff who supervise the children in the pool, in the creek, and while tubing. At the beginning of the week, lifeguards conduct a swim test and assign bracelets based on each child’s swimming level, and whether they require a life jacket. When registering, parents also have the opportunity to request that their child wear a life jacket in the pool, or remain in the shallow end.

Are lifejackets provided?

Our pool has lifejackets available for children who require them but children are welcome to bring their own floatation device if they prefer (e.g. puddle jumper). Grand River Rafting supplies lifejackets for our water excursions. (Little Acorns do not go on water excursions)

How do the water excursion days work?

Families will be told which day their child is rafting (either Wednesday or Thursday) on the first day of camp. On rafting day, children are picked up at Brant Park, an 8-minute drive from Five Oaks. Detailed instructions and a map will be provided. Staff do their best to ensure that siblings raft on the same day but sometimes this is not possible. Please speak to camp staff if you have any questions or concerns.

What do you do on rainy days, or days with air-quality advisories?

As an outdoor camp, we believe in embracing the weather as is, on the condition that it doesn’t compromise safety. In the event of extreme weather or air-quality advisories, we have access to indoor spaces at Five Oaks.

Should I be worried about ticks?

Our staff are trained in tick protection and precautions and have access to a tick removal kit. Campers can decrease potential risks by wearing long pants, socks, and closed toe shoes when in the woods, and by applying an insect repellent each day. We strongly recommend that parents/guardians do a tick check every evening.

Who are your counsellors?

All of our counsellors have completed First Aid and CPR training and have been trained in Five Oaks policies to ensure the physical and emotional safety of all campers. They are skilled at managing group dynamics, leading age-appropriate programming, and ensuring camp is an inclusive, welcoming, and enjoyable experience for all. You will have a chance to meet your child’s counsellor on the first day of camp.

Do staff have Vulnerable Sector Checks?

All day camp staff 18 years or older have Vulnerable Sector Checks. Staff and volunteers under the age of 18 complete Voluntary Disclosure Forms.

What is the ratio of staff to campers?

Acorn camp has 10 children to 1 counsellor. Our Little Acorn camp has 8 children to 1 counsellor. We have an additional 3 senior staff and 3 support staff, as well as two volunteers per week, to support counsellors as needed.

How do I purchase a camp t-shirt?

You add the purchase of a camp t-shirt to your registration and your t-shirt will be ready for you on the first day of camp. If you did not purchase a t-shirt when you registered, please visit the Five Oaks office (the single door on the right at the front of the main building) to order one.

Are there multiple bathrooms/change rooms on site?

Our washroom block on the lower campus has four indoor washrooms with running water, and we have an additional three porta-potties located in the main camp hub. On the upper campus, campers can access the washrooms and change rooms at the pool.

Can I register my child for a half week of camp?

Pricing for camp is per week. We do not offer a reduction in fees for missed attendance.

What is your refund and cancellation policy?

Cancellations made for any reason before June 1st will be refunded less a $50 administrative fee. We do not offer refunds for cancellations made after June 1st.

Does Five Oaks offer financial aid?

Five Oaks offers financial assistance for families who wish to send their children to camp but for whom the cost is prohibitive. If you would like to inquire about financial assistance, please reach out to outdoored@fiveoaks.on.ca.

About Five Oaks

Five Oaks is a unique, intercultural centre offering a safe space for educational and personal growth. The rich, long-standing Carolinian forests on whose land Five Oaks is situated are teeming with life. Forests and land thrive through the symbiotic diversity of their many parts. Today, Five Oaks deliberately celebrates the rich diversity of human experience. All are welcome to learn and to thrive here.

Questions?

Contact us at: 519.442.3212

daycamp@fiveoaks.on.ca

About Five Oaks

Five Oaks is a unique, intercultural centre offering a safe space for educational and personal growth. The rich, long-standing Carolinian forests on whose land Five Oaks is situated are teeming with life. Forests and land thrive through the symbiotic diversity of their many parts. Today, Five Oaks deliberately celebrates the rich diversity of human experience. All are welcome to learn and to thrive here.