Ottawa summers mean one big question for parents: what to do with the kids for two straight months. Luckily the region has a deep bench of day camps covering everything from bikes and horses to robotics and forest play. This list was compiled by researching each camp's own website along with camp directories like camps.ca and ourkids.net, plus publicly posted reviews, to find ten camps that are actually running programs for Ottawa kids this year.
1. 5 Star Camps
Area: Carp and the west end, serving Kanata, Stittsville, Nepean, and Barrhaven · Specialty: outdoor adventure day camp · Since: 2007
5 Star Camps runs on 35 acres of woodland at 2013 Old Carp Rd, with archery, low ropes, rock climbing, and water activities built into the day. The camp keeps a 6:1 camper to staff ratio with all staff first aid and CPR certified, and parent feedback on the camp's own site describes the leadership as authentic and caring. It suits families west of the city who want a full outdoor experience rather than a gym or classroom setting.
2. Ottawa Forest and Nature School
Area: Wesley Clover Parks, about 10 minutes west of downtown Ottawa
Ottawa Forest and Nature School, now a branch of Andrew Fleck Children's Services, runs week-long summer sessions for kids 4 to 12 built entirely around child-led outdoor play in the woods at Wesley Clover Parks. Groups keep an 8:1 ratio for the older Owl and Wolf groups and a 5:1 ratio for younger Chickadees. It's a good fit for families who want their kids unplugged and outside all day rather than following a set activity schedule.
3. Pedalheads
Area: Multiple Ottawa neighbourhoods · Specialty: bike camps
Pedalheads runs learn-to-ride camps that take kids from training wheels through to road riding, with small class sizes and instructors who specialize in cycling instruction specifically. The company reports a 4.8 out of 5 rating across more than 2,000 parent reviews network-wide. Parents writing about the Ottawa program describe instructors who build real rapport with kids over the week, which suits families whose main goal is simply getting a child confident on two wheels.
4. Royale Equestrian Centre
Area: Barrhaven · Specialty: horseback riding camp
Royale Equestrian Centre in Barrhaven runs weekly summer horseback riding camps for ages 7 to 14, priced at $525 plus tax per week, covering daily riding lessons, grooming, and general horse care alongside typical camp activities. The centre's Facebook page shows a 94 percent recommendation rate across 40 reviews. It's aimed at kids who are horse-obsessed or curious beginners rather than kids looking for a general multi-sport week.
5. Corona Gymnastics
Area: Nepean · Specialty: gymnastics-based day camp · Rating: 4.4 (41 reviews, Canada Chamber of Commerce directory)
Corona Gymnastics, also known as Nepean Corona School of Gymnastics, runs full-day camps for ages 5 to 15 that open with gymnastics instruction each morning before campers move into team sports, cheerleading, dance, or arts and crafts. Reviews describe well-organized classes and plenty of space for kids to train. It suits kids who already love gymnastics or want a structured, skills-based camp rather than free play.
6. Out to Play
Area: Nepean and downtown at the Canadian Museum of Nature · Specialty: forest and nature school-style day camp
Out to Play runs a seven-week summer program for kids 4 to 15 built on the Forest and Nature School approach, with a downtown option based right at the Canadian Museum of Nature on McLeod Street. Days mix farm and forest adventures with imaginative play, storytelling, and hiking. It's a strong option for families downtown who still want the forest-school philosophy without driving out to the edge of the city.
7. YMCA of the National Capital Region
Area: Barrhaven, Orleans, Stittsville, downtown, Ottawa South, and Clarence-Rockland · Specialty: neighbourhood day camps
The YMCA's Neighbourhood Day Camps run across six locations citywide, built around themed weeks and field trips rather than a single specialty. Parents on ourkids.net describe camps that measurably improved kids' swimming skills and called the program worth the investment for the friendships and confidence gained. Its biggest advantage is geographic reach, since there's likely a location close to home no matter where in Ottawa a family lives.
8. National Kids Camps
Area: Across the capital region · Specialty: adventure specialty camps
National Kids Camps runs a menu of themed weeks including Survivor Camp, Wilderness Adventure, Mountain Bike Camp, Tennis Camp, and Amazing Race Camp. Parent testimonials mention inclusive, enthusiastic staff, including specific praise for tennis instructors who helped a camper qualify for an advanced program. It works well for kids who get bored doing the same activity every week and want to pick a different theme each session.
9. uOttawa Engineering Outreach Summer Camps
Area: University of Ottawa campus, downtown · Specialty: STEM camps
Run by the university's Faculty of Engineering, these camps include a STEM and Sports Camp co-run with Gee-Gees Camps that splits the day between hands-on STEM activities and sports, plus an EngSci camp for kindergarten through grade 6 that gives older kids access to real biology and chemistry labs. It's a good match for kids who are curious about science and engineering and want access to actual university facilities rather than a generic classroom kit.
10. STEMquest
Area: Orleans · Specialty: robotics, coding, and 3D printing camp
STEMquest is a small, Orleans-based STEM centre running hands-on camps in robotics, coding, and 3D printing, deliberately kept small so instructors can give each child individual attention. It's best suited to kids who want to go deep on a specific tech skill in a low-key, small-group setting rather than a large, activity-packed day camp.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public sources: camp operators' own websites, camp directories including camps.ca and ourkids.net, and reviews posted publicly on platforms such as Facebook, the Canada Chamber of Commerce business directory, and parent testimonials shared on camp and directory sites. It is not a paid placement, and no business on this list has any affiliation with ottown. It was last reviewed in August 2026. Details like pricing, ratios, and session dates change year to year, so confirm current details directly with each camp before registering.
Sources: camps.ca, ourkids.net, and each camp's own website as linked above.
