Our Programmes
The 4 S's Test
Safety Stewardship Servanthood Self-Esteem
All activities at Cairn (for campers, staff and visitors) are approved only after they pass the 4 S's Test.In order to do any activity at Cairn you must be able to answer yes to ALL FOUR questions: Is it SAFE? Does it promote good STEWARDSHIP of God's creation? Does it SERVE others in the community? Does it enhance a person's SELF-ESTEEM?
Daily Activities
When you come to Ciarn you will be put in a cabin (if you are in the Glen Mhor programme) or a tent unit (if you are in the Iona programme) with 6 or 7 other boys or girls and 2 or 3 counsellors. This group of people will be like your Cairn family. At Cairn we use a “unit-based camping model” which is just a fancy way of saying that you will do almost all of your activities with your cabin or unit group.
If you are in the Glen Mhor programme, on your first afternoon of camp and again on Tuesday you will have a meeting where you talk about all of the super fun camp programmes that you would like to do and your counsellor will go place specially coloured chips up on the Programme Board to let everyone know what you are going to do for the week. Our daily activities include adventure programming, aqua jump, archery, arts and crafts, canoeing, climbing wall, Creation's Quest, drama, dance, hiking, kayaking, low ropes, the Leader in Training (LIT) Programme, music, outtripping, pedal boats, sports and games, swimming, TLC (Talking and Learning in Christ), woodworking and zip line. For a detailed description of each activity in which you can participate while you are at camp you can click on the Activities link.
If you are in the Iona programme your unit will pick their activities every morning. You can pick from Crafts, Swimming, Canoeing, Creation's Quest, Adventure Programming or any of the wonderful activities your counsellor will have to offer.
Our Specialty Programmes
PYPS May Retreat: Cairn is proud to once again host the annual Presbyterian Young People Retreat every May long weekend. For ages 15 to 25. For further information, please contact PYPS (click here).
Circle of Song: Each June, Cairn hosts an annual day of music for all the choirs in our Synod! The day includes a tour of the site, lunch and dinner and an afternoon of music. Each choir will have the opportunity to share its favourite piece and the Cairn staff will teach some songs to you! The cost is $10 per person.» back to top
Junior High Retreat: Cairn is the place to be! Each June, join us for the perfect way to end off your year of Junior High together or welcome those who will be joining your Junior High group in September! Things kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night and end at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Cairn staff will take you canoeing, kayaking, ziplining, climbing, and that is just the beginning! It will be a time of games, singing, Bible study, campfires and more fun than you can handle! Bring along 1 leader for every 5 junior high members. The cost is $75 per person and includes food, accommodation, and full programming. See you in June! For the latest Jr. High Retreat package, with full detaile and health forms, please contact the camp office! » back to top
Music & Arts Camp: It’s still the same amazing programme but now this session is geared just for intermediate-aged campers (9-12). M.A.D. Camp is for our teens who are interested in music, art, and dance (see below). Each of you will have the opportunity to choose one activity, a “major”, that you would like to do each day for 2 one hour time slots. You may choose from one of two options: music (preparing for a musical play at the end of the week) and art (helping to design and build the sets for the musical as well as working on other individual art projects). For another hour each day, you will choose a “minor” for the week. These activities include: dance, choral music, fine art, guitar, and others. During the other hours of your busy day, you will have a chance to go to all the other amazing programme areas that Cairn's Glen Mhor programme offers. » back to top
Hiking Camps: After a day of preparation, our Hiking Campers travel to Algonquin Park where you will enjoy five days and four nights on one of the well-established "loop" trails within Canada's most famous provincial park. Come prepared for an awesome week: camping beside a quiet lake, songs & jokes around the campfire and fun with a small group of friends.» back to top
Pee Wee Camp: This is a great introductory camp session for our 5 to 7 year olds who just can’t wait to get to camp. Our Pee Wees spend 3 nights and 4 days with us. We keep their schedule jam-packed full of energy, fun and imagination. There are 6 Pee Wees and 2 counsellors per cabin group. All of the daily activities are done together with all of the Pee Wees, their counsellors and several members of our Resource Staff. » back to top
Specialty Camp: This 4 day camp provides on opportunity for Cairn campers to focus on skill development. On the Opening Day at dinner you will hear an "advertisement" for all of the Specialty areas available. These include: Drama, Nature, Outripping Skills, Instrumental Music, Kayaking, Canoeing, Climbing, Dance. You will, at this time, rank your top 3 choices and we will place all of the campers into one of those Skill Stream choices for the length of Specialty Camp session. For each day that you are at camp for this session you will spend 2 hours in your Skill Stream. The qualified and super fun staff will have time to give each of you focused attention toward developing the skill that you have chosen. The rest of the programme time will be the same as a normal week at camp. You will pick activities that you want to attend as a cabin unit and will get a change to try out most of the rest of the camp activity areas. These camp session will be as rewarding for a returning camper as it is for one who chooses Specialty Camp for their first visit to Cairn's Glen Mhor programme. » back to top
Intermediate & Senior Canoe Trip: In the same way that hikers prepare for their outtrips, canoeists will spend a day at camp to familiarize yourselves with canoes, equipment and food preparation. You will then load your gear and then spend five nights and four days in the marvelous Lesley Frost Centre, part of the Haliburton Highlands Water Trails.» back to top
Adventure Camp: As our focus at Cairn has moved to activities that pass the 4 S's test, we have found adventure programming to be the best activity of all at promoting self-esteem, serving the community of a cabin group or the camp as a whole, helping people become faithful stewards, and providing safe fun for everyone. Briefly, adventure programming provides experiences that are new to you and to everyone else in your group, which allow the group to begin on common ground and grow together. Your two weeks at camp will focus on our adventure sports such as high ropes, climbing wall and kayaking. It will also include a 3-day canoe trip to the Lesley Frost Centre, part of the Haliburton Highlands Water Trails.» back to top
M.A.D. Camp (Music, Art & Dance): New this year! This session will run just like Music and Arts Camp (see above) but with a focus on campers aged 13-16. As you folks will all be teenagers, we will have an opportunity to do really cool stuff that we could not do with you when you were younger! We will have special guests come in throughout the week to teach us new and exciting skills as well as develop the artistic talents you already have! » back to top
Pre-LIT: This programme has been developed over the last few summers with input from some of our most experienced senior staff members. It is an opportunity for you, our oldest campers to spend two weeks at camp developing skills that will better prepare you for the high expectations of our Leader in Training Programme. Often run by alumni staff, sessions will teach Pre-LITs hard skills such as canoeing and outtripping and begin a group development process that will carry through your entire camp career. » back to top
Youth Group Retreat: Want more camp? Every year, in September, join us for our Senior High Youth Retreat from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. This event is for youth groups and their leaders. Come to play, to laugh, to sing, to learn, and to worship together. Cairn will provide the food, the accommodation and the programming. This is a great way to kick start your youth group for the school year, to connect with other youth and their leaders, to share ideas and to learn new activities, Bible studies and songs. The cost is $75 per person for the weekend. To register for any of these sessions please click on the Registration link. Contact the camp office for the updated Sr. High Retreat package each year.
