FAQ's

Camp Hatikvah is owned by the Camp Hatikvah Foundation, a registered charitable organization in Canada.

Camp Hatikvah is in one of the most beautiful regions of the country. Temperatures on an average summer day range from 28 to 35 degrees Celsius (80-100 Fahrenheit) and the sun is almost always shining!

Campers attend several one-hour periods throughout the day. About half of these periods are spent at the waterfront where campers swim, ski, sail, canoe and kayak. The other half of the day is spent on land where campers participate in athletic and artistic programming.

The counsellors at Camp Hatikvah are comprised of approximately 80 Jewish youth from across Canada, the United States and Israel. Most were campers with us or in our Young Judaea sister camps across Canada and all have a rich love for Jewish Camping.

Each counsellor was selected based on their compassion, intelligence and leadership ability, and while they come to us with an array of exceptional skills, we train each one on issues of child-care, programming, sensitivity and first-aid every year.

Camp Hatikvah feels like one big, welcoming community, but yes, campers are divided into units for programming purposes. This structure allows us to tailor activities, schedules, and housing accommodations to the unique needs of each age group, while still fostering the sense of connection and togetherness that defines our camp.

Campers in our K'tanim, Giborim, Chaluztim and Gesher units live in large cabins that typically house 14 - 16 campers and 3 staff. These cabins include toilet and sink facilities. Shower facilities are just a short walk away.

Campers in Kochot and SITS live in small cabins that house between 4 to 6 campers. Washroom & shower facilities are just a short walk away.

Campers in our K'tanim, Giborim, Chalutzim and Gesher units will live in a cabin with two or three counsellors. Campers in our Kochot and SIT units are given a little more independence and do not live with their counsellors. Instead, each cabin is assigned a tent “parent” who supports and supervises them by checking in with them regularly.

We happily collect cabin-mate requests by asking for the names of at least four children that your child would enjoy being grouped with. We will then do our utmost to make sure that your child gets to be in a cabin with at least one of those requests. Beyond that, campers should expect to be in a cabin with friends old and new. Please encourage your children to be open and excited about the opportunity to build new friendships; after all this is a huge part of what camp is all about.

Camp Hatikvah’s programming celebrates Jewish culture, identity, and our deep connection to the land and people of Israel.

While we are not a religious camp, we do incorporate meaningful practices such as reciting prayers before and after meals and coming together for Shabbat services, which add a special sense of community and tradition to our summer experience.

The food at Camp Hatikvah is kosher-style.

We do not mix meat and dairy at meals, and all of the meat we serve is kosher.

While our kitchen is not under formal supervision, campers who keep kosher at home but eat vegetarian in non-kosher restaurants, tend to find our food standards comfortable.

We have a very well-equipped infirmary on site that is staffed by at least one professional Registered Nurses (RN) who are there to promote good hygiene and health in our participants, distribute medications and deal with any medical issues that arise during Camp. Our nurses will be supported by volunteer doctors who will either be on camp or practising telemedicine.

Many of our campers come to us with medical routines including medication regiments. We can happily and safely accommodate these campers.

In order to ensure the safety of all our campers, all all prescriptions, over the counter medications and vitamins sent to camp must be stored in the infirmary. If your child takes daily medication, please ask your pharmacist to prepare these meds in “7 day card” bubble packaging. Any non-daily medications as well as creams, inhalers etc. can be sent up to camp in their original packaging with your child’s name labelled clearly on it.