The camp welcomes campers aged 8 to 14 for the Forest School programme. For older participants, the Leader‑in‑Training (LIT) programme is specifically for ages 15 and 16. All programmes are co‑educational.
Campers choose between two main tracks: the Forest School (for ages 8–14) and the Leader‑in‑Training (for ages 15–16). Both include 10 weekly hours of specialised lessons plus 15 hours of instructed activities, but the LIT course focuses on leadership, teamwork, and activity management, while Forest School emphasises nature exploration and environmental awareness.
Swallowdale Camp is based at Rosseau Lake College in the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada. Facilities include modern classrooms, a dining hall, two sports fields, a waterfront with beach area and equipment for canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, an art studio, student lounges, and comfortable residence buildings. Full WiFi is available on campus.
Campers stay in shared residence rooms on the school campus, with 2–3 campers per room depending on size. Rooms come with beds (or bunk beds), desks, chairs, dressers, and wardrobes. Each residence has shared toilet and shower facilities, with separate housing for boys and girls. Staff live in the residences and provide 24‑hour supervision. Campers need to bring their own towels and toiletries; pillows and sleeping bags are supplied.
The camp provides three full meals per day plus a healthy evening snack. Meals are prepared on‑site by professional staff and served in the dining hall. Vegetarian options and other dietary requirements are available upon request. The dining atmosphere is communal and lively, with songs and cheers encouraged.
Each day is divided into five periods: three in the morning and two in the afternoon. Two periods are dedicated to the chosen educational programme (Forest School or LIT lessons), and the remaining three are instructed activity periods where campers choose from water sports (canoeing, kayaking, swimming, SUP), land sports (archery, soccer, volleyball, basketball, etc.), and arts (arts & crafts, beginner guitar, woodworking, yoga). There is also a daily recreational period with supervised leisure activities. Evenings include campfires, games, talent shows, dances, and other social events.
Yes, one optional full‑day excursion is offered each week. Campers must choose and pay at the time of booking. Excursions include Niagara Falls and Canada’s Wonderland. The base package does not cover these; they are additional fees.
For the Forest School (ages 8–14), all levels of English proficiency are accepted. For the Leader‑in‑Training programme (ages 15–16), an intermediate to advanced command of English is required, as the course involves workshops, discussions, and practical leadership tasks.
Swallowdale promotes a tech‑free experience. Campers are not permitted to use their phones except during two designated periods each week: Tuesday night through Wednesday night, and Friday night through Saturday night. At all other times, phones must be kept away to encourage full engagement with camp life.
