Here’s a detailed overview of how camp works — safety, registration, travel, costs, daily life, and our specialty programs. If you don’t see your question answered, we’re always happy to talk.
This information is updated regularly. For the latest details on dates, fees, and registration, please also check the Camp Sessions and Dates & Rates pages.
Rainbow Camp® is a summer camp for 2SLGBTQ+ and allied youth ages 12–17, with three core programs: Rainbow Camp®, Rainbow LEAD, and Rainbow Quest. We are accredited by the Ontario Camps Association (OCA).
Rainbow Camp® is a summer camp for 2SLGBTQ+ teens ages 12–17. Campers include 2 Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and allied youth, their siblings, and children in queer families.
We currently offer three camp programs:
Yes. Rainbow Camp® is accredited with the Ontario Camps Association (OCA). The OCA sets standards for safety, leadership, programming, and administration. Accreditation means we meet or exceed those standards.
You can learn more about the OCA at their website if you’d like to see the specific standards we follow.
The well-being and safety of campers and staff is our top priority. As an OCA accredited camp, we follow high standards for:
Our site is in a remote location, and only authorized people are allowed on camp property. Campers are supervised at all times. All staff complete a full week of camp-specific training, including camper safety and emergency procedures.
We have a trained medic on site, many staff with first aid training, and all waterfront activities (swimming and canoeing) are supervised by a qualified lifeguard.
Rainbow Camp® welcomes campers from across Canada and the United States, with online registration, waitlists, and options for additional support.
Rainbow Camp® offers camps for youth ages 12–17, including Rainbow Camp®, Rainbow LEAD, and Rainbow Quest.
Registration is done online through our secure registration portal. A link to registration is provided on the Camp Sessions and Dates & Rates pages and on our main Rainbow Camp® page.
Camp often fills quickly, so we recommend registering early. If a session is full, you can join the waitlist and we’ll contact you if a spot opens up.
During registration, both parent/guardian and camper forms need to be completed. Health and medical information is collected closer to camp.
Many campers on the waitlist are able to attend each year. Spaces can open due to funding or because registered campers can no longer attend.
If a spot becomes available, we’ll contact you by phone and email. It’s important that your contact information in the registration system is up to date so we can reach you quickly.
Yes. Many of our campers come from across Canada and the United States.
Registration fees include travel from several locations across Ontario. If you live outside those areas, travel costs are not included, but:
Campers from the U.S. are also eligible to apply for campership (scholarship) funding and travel bursaries. We can help organize travel, but we cannot be responsible for U.S. campers while they are crossing the border.
For detailed questions about travel support, email registration@rainbowcamp.ca.
All campers under 18 need parent/guardian consent to attend Rainbow Camp®. However, a supportive adult can complete the registration form, as long as we can confirm registration with the camper’s legal guardian(s).
We take camper well-being seriously and staff receive training on supporting mental health and group living. Additional support needs are handled case by case.
When you fill out the registration form, please be as specific as possible about what your camper needs so we can assess whether we can support them safely.
Important notes:
We recognize that 2SLGBTQ+ communities experience higher rates of mental health challenges. We have policies and practices to support the physical and emotional safety of campers, staff, and volunteers.
Support can include:
If you have specific mental health concerns, please contact us in advance so we can talk together about whether camp is a good fit and what supports might be available.
At Rainbow Camp®, it’s your choice what you share about your identity.
When we talk with parents/guardians, we’ll use the name indicated on your registration form, unless you’ve given us permission to do otherwise. We prioritize your safety and privacy in those conversations.
Rainbow Camp® welcomes all identities, including allies. Many campers are 2SLGBTQ+, and some are allies, siblings, or children in queer families. What matters is that you are supportive of 2SLGBTQ+ communities and willing to help make camp a Brave Space for everyone.
Rainbow Camp® uses a tiered payment system, camperships, and travel bursaries to keep camp accessible, and includes supervised bus travel from several locations in Ontario.
Rainbow Camp® is located near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Registration includes bus travel from several locations in Ontario. If you are not taking the bus or live outside Ontario, you can:
For more detailed travel information, please see the Location & Travel page.
We use a voluntary tiered payment system so families can choose the fee that best matches their financial situation. A detailed breakdown of current fees for Rainbow Camp®, Rainbow LEAD, and Rainbow Quest is on the Dates & Rates page.
In general:
The actual cost of camp is around $2,000 per camper, and we fundraise year-round so that many families can pay less. Donations can be made online to support this.
Payment options include:
You’ll select your payment method during online registration. Cheques can be mailed to:
Rainbow Camp®
76 Dawson St, PO Box 242
Thessalon, ON P0R 1L0
Final payment is due at least 21 days before your session starts, but you’re welcome to pay earlier. Payment plans are available during registration or by request.
Nobody knows your financial situation better than you. The tier you select is entirely your choice and will not affect your camper’s experience at camp.
We will not question or judge your tier selection. Financial information is kept confidential and is only accessible to office staff.
Many people donate specifically to help cover the cost of camp for those who need financial help. Funds are limited and depend on how much is donated, but we encourage you to fill out the Campership and Travel Bursary forms during online registration.
Once your application is submitted, we’ll review your information and let you know what funding is available. Funding decisions are communicated by email.
We do our best to ensure finances are not the reason someone can’t attend Rainbow Camp®. Options include:
We fundraise year-round to make these supports possible, but they are limited. The earlier you apply and clearly explain your needs, the better we can try to help.
Bus travel:
Flights:
ID requirements:
Camp days are full but flexible, with lots of choice-based programming, shared cabins, and time outdoors.
Campers participate in a wide range of activities, including:
Much of our programming is choice-based, so campers can pick activities that interest them most.
A typical day might include:
Times and details can vary by session and year, but there is always a balance of structured activities, free choice, and downtime.
Rainbow Camp® is located near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and includes:
A sample packing list is available on the Rainbow Camp® website, and a complete, updated packing list will be emailed to registered families before camp.
The packing list covers clothing, toiletries, outdoor gear, and any optional items that might make campers more comfortable.
Yes. Staff sleep in the same cabins as campers to ensure their safety and well-being.
Cabins typically sleep between 6–12 people (including staff), and cabin groups are based on age rather than gender identity.
Cabins are sorted by age, regardless of gender identity and gender expression.
You can request to be in a cabin with a friend on your registration form and we’ll do our best to honour that request. Due to volume and limited cabin space, we can’t guarantee every request will be possible.
Rainbow LEAD is a two-week leadership program for older youth who want to build skills and support younger campers.
LEADers spend two weeks at Rainbow Camp®. In week one, they focus on:
In week two, LEADers are paired with a cabin of younger campers and work alongside an experienced counsellor, helping to lead:
LEADers also participate in an overnight out-trip as part of their learning.
Current dates and fees for Rainbow LEAD are listed on the Camp Sessions and Dates & Rates pages.
LEAD uses the same tiered payment system as Rainbow Camp®, and registrants can apply for camperships and travel bursaries. Registration includes travel from several Ontario pickup locations, with additional support available if you’re traveling from farther away.
Participation in Rainbow LEAD is not automatic. Spaces are limited and we want to ensure the program is a good fit for each participant.
Steps to apply:
The Rainbow LEAD program is small, with a maximum of about 8 LEADers per session. If the program is full, we encourage you to register on the waitlist. Each year we are able to move some people off the waitlist as space opens up.
For more questions about Rainbow LEAD:
Email: registration@rainbowcamp.ca
Phone: 1-888-909-2234
Rainbow Quest combines time at main camp with a multi-day backcountry canoe trip, no prior camping experience required.
Rainbow Quest is an out-trip-based program centered on a multi-day backcountry canoe trip. It offers campers the chance to:
Campers spend the first couple of days at main camp learning canoeing and camping basics and participating in regular camp activities. Then they head out on their canoe trip before returning to main camp for showers, rest, and a final day together.
You do not need prior camping or canoe experience to join Rainbow Quest — we teach you what you need to know during the first days on site.
To participate fully, you will need to pass a swim test before leaving on the out-trip. The swim test typically includes:
A video of the swim test is provided in advance so you can see what to expect. If you do not pass the swim test or are a weaker swimmer, you can still participate, but you’ll be placed in a canoe with a certified lifeguard instead of choosing your own canoe partners.
Rainbow Quest uses the same tiered payment system as our other programs, and camperships and travel bursaries are available. Exact fees and dates are on the Dates & Rates page.
Registration includes travel from several Ontario locations. If you’re coming from outside these areas, we can help plan flights and you can apply for a travel bursary.
Before the trip, you’ll receive a detailed packing list and videos to help you pack. Rainbow Camp® provides:
You’ll need to bring your own personal gear, including a suitable sleeping bag, clothing, and toiletries.
Yes. Backcountry camping can start at any age or skill level. Rainbow Quest is designed for beginners as well as youth with previous experience.
It’s often best to try the backcountry for the first time with a supportive, trained group — which is exactly what the Rainbow Camp® staff provide.
Rainbow Camp® is a Brave Space, smoke-free and substance-free, with clear expectations around electronics, snacks, and how we treat one another.
Everyone at camp agrees to our Brave Space Guidelines, which are built on:
In practice, this means:
These guidelines help create a supportive environment that encourages growth, accountability, bravery, and open communication.
Rainbow Camp® is a smoke-free and substance-free camp. Alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, and vaping are not permitted on camp property.
Campers found with contraband will be dismissed early from camp. This policy is part of keeping the space as safe and healthy as possible for everyone.
Cell phones and personal electronic devices are not permitted during camp.
Campers may bring them for travel only. Once they arrive at camp, phones and similar devices are collected and stored in a secure place for the rest of the week.
If campers want to listen to music at camp, we ask that they bring a separate music device (such as an MP3 player) that is not a phone.
Please do not send snacks to camp. For allergy and wildlife reasons, any food not purchased by camp staff will be confiscated.
Snacks are provided daily and we make sure everyone is well-nourished. Food is not allowed in cabins because it attracts animals and insects.
If campers have specific dietary needs, they can indicate them on the registration form. We will make sure to provide food that meets those needs.
If something isn’t covered or you’d like to talk through a specific situation, we’re happy to connect. Rainbow Camp® is all about building a Brave Space together — and that starts with good communication.
