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A traditional Canadian summer camp where adventures begin

Swallowdale Camp

Operating on the beautiful grounds of Rosseau Lake College in Ontario’s world-famous Muskoka region, Swallowdale Camp is the perfect choice for a traditional summer camp adventure. Since 1943, Canadian and international campers have joined together here to build lifelong friendships while developing skills in sports, arts, outdoor activities, and leadership.

At Swallowdale, we believe in the value of nature-based learning. Our Forest School programme for campers ages 8–14 encourages curiosity, confidence, and environmental stewardship through hands-on exploration of the outdoors. For older campers (ages 15–16), the Leader-in-Training programme provides an opportunity to strengthen teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, fostering independence and resilience for the challenges ahead.

Camp traditions run deep in the Canadian spirit and are embodied in everything we do at Swallowdale. Here, students gain an appreciation not only for the stunning natural beauty of Muskoka but also for the cultural diversity that makes up our global community.

Swallowdale Camp Brochure

Swallowdale Camp

Key Facts

Location

Lake Rosseau, Ontario

Ages

8 – 16 years, boys and girls

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Course Options

  • Forest School (8-14)
  • Leader-in-Training (15-16)

Feature Selling Point

Traditional Canadian Summer Camp

Dates

July 12 – August 01, 2026

Accommodation

Shared residence Rooms

Swallowdale Camp

Programme Options

Campers will choose one of the two programme options:

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The General English + Activity option is the ideal choice for international summer students who want to improve their English.  With this option, students receive 10 hours of English as a Second Language (ESL) lessons per week. This includes classroom instruction in speaking, listening, reading and writing, with a focus on helping students of all proficiency levels to improve in their fluency and accuracy of speech.

English lessons comprise two of the five daily periods. You can then choose different land, water, or art activities to fill the remaining two or three periods. 

Forest School + Activities

Daily Schedule: 10 weekly hours of lessons (2 lesson periods) + 3 activity periods
Ages: 8-14 years
English Proficiency: All levels accepted

Forest School at Swallowdale Camp is an essential experience for all campers ages 8–14 years. Designed to immerse young campers in nature, the programme encourages curiosity, confidence, and environmental stewardship through hands-on learning in our incredible outdoor facilities and unique outdoor classroom. Forest School teaches participants about environmental best practices while helping them gain a deeper appreciation for local geography, native Canadian traditions, and essential outdoor survival skills.

Classes take place outdoors, in the forests and fields around camp (weather permitting).

Forest School lessons make up two of the five daily periods, with the remaining three periods dedicated to a choice of land, water, or arts activities—ensuring a balanced and engaging camp experience for every camper.

    Leader-in-Training

    Daily Schedule: 10 weekly hours of lessons + practical lessons
    Ages: 15-16 years
    English Proficiency: Intermediate to Advanced

    The Leader-in-Training (LIT) programme at Swallowdale Camp is designed for older campers who are ready to develop leadership skills in a structured, hands-on environment. Morning classroom sessions (2 hours per day, 5 days per week) cover essential topics such as teamwork, communication, activity planning, leadership strategies, and understanding how to manage campers of different ages. Participants also learn practical approaches to supporting children through challenges like homesickness, helping ensure a positive camp experience for everyone.

    Afternoons are devoted to practical experience, where LITs shadow experienced staff, assist with group activities, and gradually take on opportunities to lead activities under supervision. This combination of theory and practice allows participants to build confidence, independence, problem-solving abilities, and resilience, all while gaining a real sense of what it takes to support and guide a group in a camp environment.

    Swallowdale Camp

    Facilities

    A front view of some of the facility buildings

    Swallowdale Camp offers the perfect combination of a traditional Canadian summer camp and the comforts of home. It is based at Rosseau Lake College, a highly-regarded private boarding school located on Lake Rosseau. The Muskoka region of Ontario has long held a special place in the hearts of its year-round residents and seasonal cottagers. With freshwater lakes offering spectacular views, surrounded by the natural beauty of forested landscape, it’s no wonder that this region holds a strong reputation as one of Canada’s premier recreational destinations.

    Facilities Include:

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    Modern Classrooms

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    Dining hall

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    2 sports fields

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    Extensive waterfront facilities for swimming, boating, canoeing, and kayaking

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    Art Studio

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    Student Lounges

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    Comfortable dormitory accommodation

    Three bunk beds in a room.
    A large dining room with tables and chairs.
    A small hut on a dock next to a body of water.
    A room full of tables and chairs.

    Campers are separated by age and gender and live in one of three school residence houses.  Rooms accommodate 2-3 campers in a room, depending on the size and layout.  All rooms include beds (or bunk beds), desks, chairs, dressers and wardrobes and campers will each receive a clean pillow and sleeping bag.  There are full toilet and shower facilities in each residence, which are shared.  Campers must bring their own towels and toiletries.  Safety is our number one priority so staff live in the residence with the campers and students are monitored 24 hours a day. 

    We provide three meals plus a healthy snack each day.  Meals are served in the school dining hall. Campers will sit together with their assigned group and their counsellor at a large table.  Our menu offers a variety of nutritious meals, all cooked on-site by professional staff.  Meals at Swallowdale are famous for being lively and loud – campers are encouraged to join in the songs and cheers!

    Swallowdale Camp

    Location

    Swallowdale Camp takes place at the beautiful grounds of Rosseau Lake College in Rosseu, Ontario, Canada.

    Go to Google Maps

    Swallowdale Camp

    Daily Activities

    Campers participate in 15 hours of instructed activities each week.  Activities are chosen at camp, and may change weekly.

    Water Sports:

    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Fishing
    • Swimming
    • Stand Up Paddle Boarding

    Land Sports:

    • Archery
    • Ball Hockey
    • Basketball
    • Fitness
    • Outdoor Survival
    • Soccer
    • Volleyball

    Arts & Movement:

    • Arts & Crafts
    • Dance
    • Drama
    • Yoga
    • Guitar (beginner)
    • Woodworking
    A woman standing on a dock with kayaks in front of her.
    A boy playing an acoustic guitar.
    A group of kids kicking a soccer ball in a field.
    Two young girls working on a woodworking project.
    A girl in a yellow canoe.
    A man and a girl holding up a fish on a dock.

    Swallowdale Camp

    Schedule

    The day is divided into five blocks: three in the morning and two in the afternoon, with classes taking place in two blocks and supervised activities in the remaining three blocks.

    Each evening, campers participate in activities, which are arranged and coordinated by the staff.

    One optional full-day excursion is offered to campers each week (for an extra fee).

    Display None

    The General English + Activity option is the ideal choice for international summer students who want to improve their English.  With this option, students receive 10 hours of English as a Second Language (ESL) lessons per week. This includes classroom instruction in speaking, listening, reading and writing, with a focus on helping students of all proficiency levels to improve in their fluency and accuracy of speech.

    English lessons comprise two of the five daily periods. You can then choose different land, water, or art activities to fill the remaining two or three periods. 

    Evening Programme

    The evening programme is an opportunity for students and staff to do activities together. Participation is mandatory and is a combination of house-based activities and leisure options. Students from each residence house may team up to face each other in competition. Students may also enjoy camp-wide activities including the following: 

    • Banquets
    • Campfires
    • Camp Games
    • Cardboard boat races
    • Dances 
    • Sports Games
    • Talent Shows
    • Walk to Town
      Excursions

      One full-day optional excursion is offered each week to our campers.  These excursions are an additional cost and must be paid for at the time of booking.  All supervision, transportation, entrance fees, and meals are covered.

      Depending on when they come, they may choose to go to:

      • Niagara Falls ($200)
      • Canada’s Wonderland ($175)
        Swallowdale Schedule 2025
            Departure
        Arrival   Jul-23 Jul-30 Aug-06
        Jul-10 2 Weeks
        $ 4,150        		 3 Weeks
        $ 5,775        		 4 Weeks
        $ 7,300
        Jul-17   2 Weeks
        $ 4,150        		 3 Weeks
        $ 5,775
        Jul-24     2 Weeks
        $ 4,150

        Swallowdale Camp

        2026 Dates & Fees

        Departing
        July 25
        Departing
        August 01
        Arriving
        July 12
        2 Weeks
        $4900
        3 Weeks
        $6925
        Arriving
        July 19
        xx
        2 Weeks
        $4900

        Disclaimer text:

        Extra Fees

        • Optional Niagara Falls – CAD 200
        • Optional Canada’s Wonderland – CAD 175

        • Unaccompanied Minor (UM) Fee – CAD 75 each way – UM fee applies to all students flying as unaccompanied minor with the airline
        • Custodianship Fee – CAD 150
        • Extra Night Fee – CAD 250 – Applies to all students who arrive early or depart late
        • Extra Transfer Fee – CAD 250 – Applies to all students who arrive or depart on non-scheduled dates
        • Late Arrival / Early Departure Fee – CAD 200 – Applies to all students with flights scheduled to arrive after 21:00 or depart before 10:00

        All fees are in Canadian Dollars.

        *Canadian and US citizens currently residing in Canada or the United States are asked to contact CISS for domestic rates. Taxes are included. 

         

        Experience Matters

        Video Gallery

        Experience Matters

        Photo Gallery

        A log cabin in the middle of a grassy field.
        A group of young people walking on a bridge.
        Two boys sitting on a couch with guitars.
        A large dining room with tables and chairs.
        A sand volleyball court in a wooded area.
        A man and a woman in life jackets standing on a dock.
        A tidy dorm room with a wooden bunk bed, blue bedding, a desk with a chair, and a light wood wardrobe against beige walls and carpeted floor.
        A building with a red door in the middle of a wooded area.
        The building where the vacation home is located.
        A room with tables and chairs.
        Two girls sit at an outdoor table under red umbrellas on a sunny day. One wears a white cap and dark cardigan, the other a blue shirt. Trees and other people are in the background.
        A girl cutting wood with a chainsaw.
        A girl is working on a piece of wood.
        A young boy holding a fish on a dock.
        Four young people in blue t - shirts posing on a boat.
        A group of girls posing for a picture on the grass.
        A young girl sitting on the ground holding a basketball.
        A group of canoes lined up on a dock.
        A group of boys standing in a room with luggage.
        Two girls sitting on a paddle board in a body of water.
        A group of people posing in front of the levitan sign.
        A boy in a yellow shirt is aiming at a target.
        A group of people paddling in canoes on a lake.
        Two young men standing on a paddle board in a lake.
        Three children in a red canoe on a lake.
        A small gazebo sits on a dock next to a lake.
        A deck with red adirondack chairs on it.
        A group of people standing on a dock with paddles.
        A living room with two sofas, two armchairs, a round coffee table, TV, art on the wall, and large windows showing trees outside.
        A boy is riding a paddle board in the water.
        Two young men holding up a fish on a dock.
        A group of kids posing in front of a canadian flag.
        A girl in an orange kayak sitting on a dock.
        A group of children laying down on a blanket.
        Two young men in kayaks on a body of water.
        A wooden building with red doors sits on a grassy lawn, surrounded by trees and a cloudy sky. A planter with vibrant pink and yellow flowers is in the foreground.
        A boy sits at a table eating a meal with other children and adults in a cafeteria setting, holding a glass of water and looking toward the camera.
        A small log cabin in a wooded area.
        A log cabin in the woods.
        Three boys posing for a picture in a field.
        A man and a girl holding up a fish on a dock.
        A black building with red doors.
        A small hut on a dock next to a body of water.
        Three girls hugging each other near a lake.
        Two boys standing next to a log hut in the woods.
        A group of children aiming their bows at a target.
        A house sitting on top of a hill in a forest.
        A man sitting on a paddle board in a body of water.
        A room with a table and chairs.
        A house sitting on top of a hill in a wooded area.
        A brown building with a red door.
        Three girls in life jackets posing for a photo on a dock.
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        Students travelling on a sidewalk

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        Parents and students may have questions about our programme and we are happy to bring you the frequently asked questions here.

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        Summer Camps

        The CISS Difference

        Since 1979, CISS has provided students from around the world the opportunity to come together in Canada for transformative summer learning experiences in traditional camps, language programs in cities, and other adventure experiences. With a focus on fun and unique opportunities to learn, our summer programmes promise to give you the experience—and the Canadian memories—of a lifetime.

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        Specialized care for the unique needs of Campers

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        Motivated, caring and qualified staff

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        Personal attention

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        Student-centred programmes fostering independence

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        Programmes to suit different interests and ability levels

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        Strong focus on Canadian traditions

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        Fostering a multicultural and open-minded atmosphere

        A student and staff member smiling at the camera
        A student sitting on a paddleboard

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