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SWALLOWDALE CAMP

AGES 8-14, liT 15-16 | MUSKOKA, ON | 2-3 WEEKS

FOREST SCHOOL

10 hours/week
all English levels

LEADER-IN-TRAINING

ages 15-16
high intermediate+

2027 DATES AND RATES
Inquire now

A traditional Canadian summer camp where adventures begin

At Swallowdale Camp, days are filled with outdoor discovery, new friendships and opportunities to try something new. Based at Rosseau Lake College in Ontario’s beautiful Muskoka region, campers enjoy waterfront activities, sports and arts while building confidence and independence.

Camp traditions run deep in the Canadian spirit and are part of everyday life at Swallowdale. From campfires to songs and cheers, campers share experiences that bring them together and create lasting memories with friends from around the world.

Swallowdale Camp Brochure

Swallowdale Camp

Key Facts

LOCATION

Lake Rosseau, Ontario

AGES

8 – 14 years
LIT: 15-16 years

SESSION LENGTH

2 or 3 weeks

ACCOMMODATION

Shared residence rooms

WASHROOMS

Shared facilities

2027 DATES

July 11 – July 31

Swallowdale Camp

course 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

Ages: 8-14 years

Lesson hours per week: 10

English level required: All levels accepted

Learn Outdoors. Grow with Confidence.

Discover nature through hands-on learning in the forests and fields around camp. Forest School encourages curiosity and confidence as campers explore local ecology, learn outdoor survival skills and develop an appreciation for the environment.

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 (Ages 15-16)

    Ages: 15-16 years

    Lesson hours per week: 10 weekly hours of lessons + practical lessons

    English level required: High Intermediate to Advanced

    Learn to Lead

    Develop leadership skills through practical experience in a supportive camp environment. Morning sessions explore teamwork, communication, activity planning and ways to support younger campers.

    In the afternoons, participants shadow experienced staff, assist with camp activities and gradually take on opportunities to lead under supervision. Along the way, they build confidence, responsibility and an understanding of what it takes to be a camp leader.

    Swallowdale Camp

    Facilities

    Brown building with red doors and windows, surrounded by green grass, trees, and a large planter filled with pink and yellow flowers in the foreground under a partly cloudy sky.

    Live and Learn by the Lake

    Based at Rosseau Lake College on the shores of beautiful Lake Rosseau, Swallowdale combines a traditional summer camp setting with the comfortable facilities of a boarding school.

    Campers enjoy waterfront areas for swimming and boating, sports fields, an art studio and spaces to relax with friends. School residences and a shared dining hall provide a welcoming home between outdoor adventures.

    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

    N

    Student Lounges

    N

    Comfortable dormitory accommodation

    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 living room with two sofas, two armchairs, a round coffee table, TV, art on the wall, and large windows showing trees outside.
    A boy sits at a table eating a meal with other children, holding a glass of water and looking at the camera. Food including a burrito and chips is on his plate.
    A girl in a red life jacket stands on a dock holding a paddle, next to several orange kayaks, with a lake and trees in the background.

    Accommodation

    Campers are separated by age and gender and live in one of three school residence houses.  Rooms accommodate from one to four 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. 

    Meals

    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 Rosseau, Ontario, Canada.

    Go to Google Maps

    Swallowdale Camp

    Daily Activities

    Campers participate in 15 hours of instructed activities each week.  Activities change daily, giving campers a well-rounded experience.

    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
    • Yoga
    • Guitar (beginner)
    • Woodworking
    Two children stand on a paddleboard wearing life jackets, paddling together on a calm lake with trees and houses in the background.
    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 instructed activities in the remaining three blocks.

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

    One full-day excursion takes place on Wednesday of each week.

    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 excursion is offered each week to our campers.  All supervision, transportation, entrance fees, and meals are included.

      Depending on their session dates, excursions may include:

      • Niagara Falls (guaranteed)
      • Canada’s Wonderland
      • Tree-top Trekking
            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

        2027 Dates & Fees
        (Forest School or Leader-in-Training)

        Departing
        July 24
        Departing
        July 31
        Arriving
        July 11
        2 Weeks
        $5625
        3 Weeks
        $7950
        Arriving
        July 18
        xx
        2 Weeks
        $5625

        Extra Fees

        • 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.

         

        Experience Matters

        Video Gallery

        Experience Matters

        Photo Gallery

        A girl cutting wood with a chainsaw.
        A young girl sitting on the ground holding a basketball.
        A man and a girl holding up a fish on a dock.
        A group of people standing on a dock with paddles.
        Three girls in life jackets posing for a photo on a dock.
        A group of girls posing for a picture on the grass.
        A man sitting on a paddle board in a body of water.
        A room with tables and chairs.
        A log cabin in the woods.
        A group of children laying down on a blanket.
        The building where the vacation home is located.
        A living room with two sofas, two armchairs, a round coffee table, TV, art on the wall, and large windows showing trees outside.
        Two boys sitting on a couch with guitars.
        A large dining room with tables and chairs.
        Three boys posing for a picture in a field.
        A log cabin in the middle of a grassy field.
        A girl in an orange kayak sitting on a dock.
        A group of kids posing in front of a canadian flag.
        Two young men standing on a paddle board in a lake.
        A brown building with a red door.
        A group of young people walking on a bridge.
        Two young men holding up a fish on a dock.
        A group of children aiming their bows at a target.
        A small hut on a dock next to a body of water.
        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 group of people paddling in canoes on a lake.
        A group of boys standing in a room with luggage.
        Four young people in blue t - shirts posing on a boat.
        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.
        Three children in a red canoe on a lake.
        Two boys standing next to a log hut in the woods.
        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 group of canoes lined up on a dock.
        A small log cabin in a wooded area.
        A young boy holding a fish on a dock.
        A small gazebo sits on a dock next to a lake.
        A black building with red doors.
        A house sitting on top of a hill in a wooded area.
        A girl is working on a piece of wood.
        A house sitting on top of a hill in a forest.
        A boy in a yellow shirt is aiming at a target.
        A group of people posing in front of the levitan sign.
        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 room with a table and chairs.
        A sand volleyball court in a wooded area.
        A deck with red adirondack chairs on it.
        Three girls hugging each other near a lake.
        A man and a woman in life jackets standing on a dock.
        A building with a red door in the middle of a wooded area.
        A boy is riding a paddle board in the water.
        Two young men in kayaks on a body of water.
        Two girls sitting on a paddle board in a body of water.
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        Students travelling on a sidewalk

        Summer Camps

        FAQ

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

        Summer Programmes FAQ

        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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        We would love to hear from you and to provide you with the full set of documents that are necessary for your application process.

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