At a recent Camp Lau-Ren Board meeting, it was reported that the enrolment of boys of intermediate and senior age (age 12–15) was less than girls. The Board is now exploring new ways to help more boys discover the magic of camp.
The benefits to boys of having a camp experience include confidence building, outdoor skill development, positive male mentorship, belonging, friendship, and leadership pathways such as the Leader-In-Training Camp.
Healthy risk-taking takes place when campers try canoeing or paddle boarding while supervised by lifeguards. Boy campers look up to their counsellors who are good role models. As our camp is phone-free, campers get to connect to the people around them and nature instead of being connected to a phone or other electronic device.
Executive Director Steve McCulloch and the Board are actively working to promote Camp Lau-Ren to boys. Board members are planning to post brochures in places where boys gather in large numbers, such as hockey rinks. Camp Lau-Ren will work to promote summer camp as an adventure, emphasizing activities such as archery, canoeing, paddle boarding and climbing the Rock.
Efforts to promote camp to first-time campers continue by promoting the Tadpole Camp to six- and seven-year-olds and inviting future campers and their families to the annual Open House, which takes place on Saturday, June 13 this year.
With an increase in the number of boy campers, Steve hopes to see an increase in older boys applying for counsellor and other staff positions such as waterfront, cook and janitor in future years. Each year he works to hire responsible, capable male staff who will serve as role models. “Each year we have a challenging time getting boys to apply for male counsellor positions,” he notes.
Steve is confident that if older boy campers receive the message that Camp Lau-Ren offers a fun, adventurous experience with great food, camaraderie and exciting activities such as archery, paddle boarding, canoeing and field games, the enrolment will grow. Registration for 2026 is now open, and you can find more information and register at camplau-ren.com.
The Saturday, June 13 Open House runs from 11am to 2pm. Come see a camper’s cabin, talk to staff, walk the beach, climb the Rock, and stay for a free BBQ lunch. Camp Lau-Ren is located 10km west of Deep River, on the shores of the Ottawa River at 210 Lau-Ren Road, Laurentian Hills, K0J 1P0.