Everything you want to know
This summer they'll be off their screens and making actual core memories - but you need to know all the planning details, too. Ditch the guesswork. We’ve laid out the hours, transport, packing checklists, safety protocols, and pricing right here, so you can send them out the door with zero second-guessing.
More than a summer camp
These years go by way too fast, and your kid’s growing brain deserves so much more than just a place to kill time. Real outdoor adventure means getting them out of their comfort zones, teaching them actual skills, and building a type of resilience & curiosity that sticks with them long after Labour Day. You don't have to trade real growth for a fun summer - at WILDE, you get both.
Earned confidence
We gently push kids out of their comfort zone, and the brave things they try outside become lasting self-belief.
Resilience & independence
Off the screen and figuring things out with their crew, kids build grit, problem-solving and a little healthy independence.
Nature, not screens
Whole days immersed in forest, creek and river, fresh air, free play, and a genuine love of the outdoors.
Skills that stick
Hands-on, level-based learning (hello, merit badges) keeps minds sharp through the summer and turns play into progress.
Camp at a glance
Hours & care
Camp runs Mon–Fri, 9am–4pm. Before-care from 8:30am and after-care to 4:30pm are available: $25/week each, or $50/week for both.
Sessions
Register for a week of camp. 2 weeks is a full curriculum. 9 weeks total. Starts June 29–August 28, 2026. Pre-Camp is available June 15–26.
Transport
Optional Wilde Bus for Adventure Camp from Collingwood, Craigleith and Clarksburg.
Lunch
Pack a lunch, snacks, and a full water bottle daily. Wilde Camp is peanut-free.
Curious what a day actually looks like? See the daily schedule →
Epic adventures. Zero reckless risks.
At WILDE, risk management is built into the way we teach. Before campers paddle, bike, hike, build fires, explore caves, or head offsite, they learn the habits of safe outdoor people: pause, observe, listen, prepare, communicate, and adapt. Our staff assess each activity before it starts and keep assessing through the day - and if conditions change, the plan changes. That's not a failed adventure. That's good judgement in action.
Assessed before and during
Staff weigh up weather, water levels, trail conditions, group energy, equipment, allergies, and camper readiness before an activity begins. They keep watching as the day unfolds. Sometimes that means changing the route, slowing down, adding support, or choosing something different.
Small, supervised groups
Campers explore in small crews with trained staff close by and clear boundaries set before they begin. Your child is never far from a familiar adult who knows the plan.
First-aid & CPR-C trained
Our outdoor staff are trained and certified in Standard First Aid & CPR-C, and carry first aid kits at every activity.
Gear checked, plans in place
We work with checked equipment and water-safety procedures on and near the water. Written emergency plans back both on-site and off-site activities, with communication arranged ahead of time.
Kids learn to read risk
Risk management isn't only what we do for your child, it's something they learn to practice themselves. Campers are taught to notice hazards, respect boundaries, use their gear properly, and speak up when something doesn't feel right.
Hop on the Wilde Bus
You have options for drop-off around here. Drive your camper directly to the day’s adventure - the farthest spot is only about 25 minutes from Collingwood and 20 from Thornbury - or, you can skip the morning commute entirely, and let our dedicated camp bus handle the heavy lifting.
Three easy stops
Convenient pickup and drop-off locations in Collingwood, Craigleith and Clarksburg.
The weekly itinerary
Program locations and bus details arrive the Friday before each week starts. We'll keep you posted if weather changes the plan.
Simple add-on
Add bus service for $55/week, or $6.75/day for drop-in. Book alongside registration or week by week.
Everything rides along
Lunch, water and gear travel with your camper - straight to the adventure in the morning, home from the same stop at day's end.
Wondering what goes in that backpack? See the packing guide →
Set them up for the day
The everyday essentials. For the full checklist (water days, rainy days and the leave-at-home list) open the packing guide.
- Closed-toe shoes that can get muddy
- Weather-appropriate layers + rain gear
- Water shoes for creek & water days
- A Transport-Canada-approved PFD from home (water days)
- Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- A refillable water bottle
- A packed lunch + a snack
- A small backpack to carry it all
Programs & rates
Three programs, one big summer. 2026 confirmed rates - register anytime.
Parent FAQ
What ages is WILDE Camp for?
Ages 4 to 17; one camp, three steps. Adventure Camp (ages 4–11) is the classic five-day WILDE week. The WILDE Way Leadership Initiative (ages 12–14) turns the challenge up and adds real leadership. Junior Instructor / LIT (ages 15–17) puts teens inside camp life as Junior Counsellors.
Where is camp?
Home base is Kimbercote; 550+ acres of forest, creek and field at 316362 3rd Line, Kimberley, Ontario, on the edge of the Blue Mountains.
From there we roam to the region's best wild places: the Beaver River, Kolapore, Metcalfe Rock and Peasemarsh Beach, all within 15–25 minutes of Collingwood and Thornbury.
Does my child need outdoor experience?
Not a bit. WILDE is built to be challenging and fun for total beginners and seasoned explorers alike; instructors meet every camper where they’re at and stretch them just past comfortable. That’s where the confidence comes from.
What are camp hours?
Camp runs Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm. Optional before-care starts at 8:30am and after-care runs to 4:30pm; $25/week each, or $50/week for both.
What are the 2026 dates?
Adventure Camp (ages 4–11) runs 9 weeks: June 29 – August 28, 2026.
WILDE Way (12–14) and Junior Instructor / LIT (15–17) run in four two-week sessions: June 29–July 10, July 13–24, July 27–August 7 and August 10–21.
PreCamp is also available June 15–26.
Camp runs right through Canada Day and the August long weekend; no closures.
Is there a bus?
Yes, the Wilde Bus! Adventure Camp offers our own dedicated camp bus from Collingwood, Craigleith and Clarksburg for $55/week (or $6.75/day drop-in).
Families get the week’s itinerary the Friday before, and we’ll always tell you in advance if weather shifts a pickup location.
How much does camp cost in 2026?
- Adventure Camp (ages 4–11): $409/week
- WILDE Way Leadership Initiative (12–14): $700 per two-week session; early-bird $660 before April 1, 2026
- Junior Instructor / LIT (15–17): $700 per two-week session; early-bird $660 before April 1, 2026
- Optional: bus $55/week · before/after care $25/week each ($50 for both)
What should my camper bring every day?
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes that can get muddy
- Rain gear: jacket, pants, boots
- Water shoes for creek & river days; no Crocs or flip-flops
- A Transport-Canada-approved PFD from home
- Hat, sunscreen & sunglasses
- A refillable water bottle
- Packed lunch + snacks
- Bathing suit & a change of clothes
- A backpack to carry it all
Want the fun version: water days, the leave-at-home list and night-before tips? Open the Packing Guide. A detailed packing list also arrives with your registration.
How do you keep kids safe?
Adventure is the point; safety is the foundation. Staff are trained in first aid, CPR and wilderness safety protocols; activity sites are pre-assessed; equipment gets regular checks; we maintain written emergency response plans for the major foreseeable on-site, off-site, water-based, weather-related, medical, missing-camper, transportation, and communication scenarios; and small supervised groups keep campers in sight.
How do you decide whether an activity is safe to run on a given day?
Before an activity, staff weigh up the weather, water levels, trail conditions, air quality, group readiness, equipment, transportation, and emergency access. Activities are adjusted, moved, postponed, or swapped for something else when conditions aren't right. Changing the plan isn't a failed day; it's good judgement, and it's part of what campers learn to do too.
What does risk management look like for the campers themselves?
Campers are part of the process, not passengers. They learn to spot hazards, listen to safety briefings, check their gear, respect boundaries, use the buddy system, and speak up when something doesn't feel right. We want kids to leave WILDE not only braver, but wiser.
