Camps

Family Camp
For over 123 years, Toronto City Mission has been providing weeklong summer camp vacations for children and their families living in poverty in Toronto. For the longest time children and families were taken to a summer home in Bronte. This program was known as the “Fresh Air” program and served as the inspiration for what is now known as the Toronto Star’s Fresh Air Fund. While the Fresh Air Home in Bronte is no longer used, each year, up to 25 families enjoy the relaxation and serenity of Camp Koinonia, just south of Parry Sound, Ontario. The camp provides these families the opportunity to enjoy canoeing, swimming, fishing, sports, hiking, nourishing meals, campfires, a rustic cabin, and the restful beauty that the urban Toronto environment cannot provide.

The true benefit of the Family Camp program is not only found during the week that the children and families are at camp but what the camp experience gives to them as they continue their daily lives after the camping experience. During the week, children and families are shown love, they are encouraged, they are given opportunities to share and build supporting and positive relationships with family members, friends, volunteers and staff. These relationships and experiences assist in generating hope and resources that will allow these families to rise above their current circumstances and build communities of hope!

Sonshine Day Camp
The Sonshine Day Camp program is offered to children and families living in all of our communities regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. These camps provide supervised, daily programs that include activities such as crafts, sports, singing, drama, Bible-based stories and day trips. The camp is provided during March and summer breaks and keeps children off the streets or away from anti-social behaviours while parents are working. Each summer more than 200 children participate on a weekly basis for seven weeks.

Junior High Camp
Junior High Camp is offered to youth in grades 7 and 8 in either St. James Town or Willowtree regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. Like Sonshine Day Camp, this camp provides activities including art, sports, singing, drama, Bible study and day trips. Unlike the children’s camp, Junior High Camp helps prepare the young people for leadership. The hope is that the youth will graduate from Junior High Camp into the TLC program.