At a Glance
10 Weeks in July & August.
2 locations: Stone Road, Eramosa Eden
Ages 4 - 14
Drop-off as early as 8:30am. Pick up as late as 4:30pm
15 kids per group, with 2 - 3 Instructors
$440 /week. Installment Options available to fit your budget.
Community Care rates are available for those who need additional support.
Led by professional instructors who do outdoor programs year-round, for a living
Review this page for all details. Registration platform is accessible starting Jan.16th @ 10am.
Locations
Stone Road
Open World, Wanders, & Adventure
Our classic year-round location at the edge of Guelph, Lots of room to roam and well known favourite spots.
Eramosa Eden
Community, Skills, & Stories
This year we’re bringing a Folk School feel to Eramosa Eden with covered areas and workspaces to dive in on skills, art, and bushcraft: cordage, t-shirt making, pine need baskets, bow drill & fire by friction, carving and woodwork.
Visit our Locations page for details, addresses and maps
The Nitty Gritty
GOS Summer Registration is very competive, thanks for your patience as we place as many families as we can.
Dates: 10 Weeklongs in July & August:
Week 1: June 29 - July 3rd [4 day week: July 01 Holiday]
Week 2: July 6 - 10
Week 3: July 13 - 17
Week 4: July 20 - 24
Week 5: July 27 - 31
Week 6: August 4 - Aug 07 [4 day week - Aug 3 Civic Holiday*]
Week 7: August 10 - 14
Week 8: August 17 - 21
Week 9: August 24 - 28
Week 10: August 31 - Sept 04
Rates: Full rate for a full week of camp is $440.00.
Payment plans: A range of Instalment Plans are available, with payment options as low as $65 / month.
Community Care Rates
For folks who are unable to cover the standard fee, let us know what you can contribute in support of others in similar positions.
Before and After Care is available between 8-8:30am and 4:30-5pm, with an additional fee of $18 for AM, and 18 for PM.
Annual membership ($35) must be active to register.
New this year! GOS is upping our game in folk and bushcraft skills at Eramosa Eden, and we encourage you to register for some weeks at that location, especially if your child is creative, crafty and social.
Stone Road
Little Goslings: ages 4 & 5
Big Goslings: ages 6 & 7
Wildlings: ages 8 - 10
WildThings: ages 10 - 14
Eramosa Eden
Little Goslings: ages 4 & 5
Big Goslings: ages 6 & 7
Wildlings: ages 8 - 12
Community Care Rates
Our mission is nature-connected kids, and we all have a part.
Community Care Rates are in place to ensure that all children can participate at GOS Summer Sessions, regardless of a family’s ability to pay, Families can change the amount they rate with a registration code, Every family has the opportunity to help sustain access for others by paying what they can.
Each summer, Guelph Outdoor School provides over $50,000 in community care support to local families.
The standard summer camp rate per child is $440 for 5-day weeks (and $355 per week for 4-day weeks). If you require community care rate, submit this form 72 hours ahead of your planned registration time, and we'll send you a one-time registration code so that you can contribute the amount that is meaningful
Families may select Community Care Rates for up to two weeks per child.
A $35 annual membership, valid within one year of registration, is required.
For families who are able, there is also an option at checkout to contribute above the standard rate, directly nourishing our mission of nature connected kids
Mentors in Training
Returns with Two Training Weeks
It’s an immersive leadership development experience for youth aged 14–17 who are ready to take the next step in nature connection, leadership, and real-world work experience, Mentors In Training work directly with GOS instructors for an enriched experience focused on advancing naturalist skills, exploring the art of mentorship, and cultivating professional habits. MIT empowers youth to step into meaningful leadership roles, at camp and beyond
.This Summer, we’re offering two opportities for the 3 Days Training:
• Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM - Friday, July 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM
{Wednesday is a Stat Holiday, no programs]
• Monday, July 6, 2026 at 10:00 AM - Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Our Approach
Connection over Information: GOS programs emphasize connection to self, others, and the natural world through mentorship, song & story, sensory awareness and nature-based challenges., bushcraft and free time to explore. We practice hands-on skills that promote self-esteem and confidence, as well as relational skills that help friendships blossom.
Designed for Success: ratios of approximately 5:1 set the stage for responsive mentorship and meaningful adult-child relationships, with limited group sizes (15) designed for meaningful and uncluttered nature connection moments, support for emotional regulation, a fun and peaceful experience, and thorough supervision.
Full Nature Immersion: Just a tarp, sitting stumps and a firepit as a gathering spot. Opportunities for calculated risks, ample opportunities for kids to pursue their interests and try things at their pace. Low distractions - very few gimmicks or toys, empasizing nature connection. A community of instructors who are passionate about nature-connection and show kids that this stuff matters!
For more, take a look at Why Outdoor School?, our Staff Bio Page, and Testimonials
A Day in the Life
Structure: Each day is the same and every day is different. We have structure with lots of room for the unexpected.
Opening Circle: we never miss a chance to celebrate the new day, share stories, give gratitude and hatch plans for the day. Every child is welcomed into the circle with a chance to speak and be heard.
Warm Up and Sensory Games: to get the blood flowing, get silly and into our bodies - looking, smelling, running, hiding, listening,
Focus of the Day: a focused project, a special mission, a new skill to try. Making rope, painting with mud, tracking a porcupine, fire skills, carving, plant ID, tracking, fire and bushcraft skills.
A Time for Timelessness: in the afternoon, we follow our body radar. Catch crayfish, tell stories under a tree, go for a wonder, continue a project from the morning. A time for being kids.
Closing Circle: a chance for every child to share their part of the day - what was surprising? what was difficult? - GOS instructors are on hand to help connect the dots, and show kids that their stories are important, and that their love and interest in nature is natural .
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there swimming at GOS camps?
No, Guelph Outdoor School Summer Sessions are not swimming camp, and do not have certified lifeguards. Our programs do include water play in stretches of the Eramosa river with a depth of up to 1 - 2 feet, staying in particularly shallow and heavily supervised stretches. The river is for exploring, playing, keeping cool, looking for crayfish, etc. Our ratios are 5:1 with steady supervision with experienced instructors who do this for a living.
Can I send my child for a few days or a partial week?
Regrets not. We prioritze making the most of each weekly spot we have to offer, and we know the value of group cohesion. We require that registrations be for the entire week.
Why are GOS fees higher than other camps in the area? How does GOS set its camp fees?
GOS is a non-profit, living-wage organization, and our camp fees are designed to support the kind of program we believe children deserve. They allow us to sustain a professional, experienced team of adult instructors who do this work for a living, return year after year, and engage in ongoing training. We maintain excellent staff-to-camper ratios (5:1), creating small groups where strong relationships, safety, and attentive supervision are central.
We also believe deeply in access. Our Community Care rates ensure that every family can participate at a level that reflects their financial capacity, while families who are able to pay the standard fee help make this possible.