Camp Kawartha has been providing magical summers for children and teens since 1921. Founded as a boy's camp on Clear Lake by the Rotary Club of Peterborough, Camp Kawartha has grown into a year-round operation including a co-ed summer camp, a residential outdoor education centre and conference & retreat centre.

For ten months out of the year (Sept-June), we operate as an environmental education centre, teaching school children about natural history, habitat protection and the importance of wildlife. For us, environmental awareness is an ethic we incorporate into everything we do, from the programs we offer to the food we serve and the way we maintain our facility.

With a wind turbine, active and passive solar systems and a number of innovative straw bale buildings as well as solar ovens and cookers, campers bear witness to inspiring examples of how all of us can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.  Campers also participate in several unique alternative energy programs by racing model solar cars and cooking food on a solar powered parabolic cooker and oven. 

We believe that the development of self-esteem and self-confidence is at the very heart of what we do. Every child is treated as a special individual with something unique to contribute to our camping community. We encourage campers to live, work and play cooperatively, to recognize and value each other's strengths and learn from our differences. Both in our programs and in our interactions with campers, we provide opportunities for individual challenge and growth.

Our goal is to create a supportive community which recognizes and values every child. Camp Kawartha has a total capacity of 125 campers (combined total of residential, tripping and leadership campers) cared for by just over 50 staff members. Our intimate size allows us to build a very close-knit community. The staff know the campers by name, and they take the time to provide individual attention to each child.