There is nothing better than standing under one of the tall trees at Rideau Hill Camp and watching the sun set over the Rideau River…Well, almost nothing. The sounds of camp are pretty good too: The laughter that rises above the dining hall when the campers gather for a meal, the slurp of the oars as they are pulled from the river, the polite requests for art supplies exchanged across the craft table, the splash of water slopping over the edge of the pool, the cheers when an arrow hits the bull’s eye, the raucous songs rising above the campfire, the giggles as campers try on the voice of a Bible character. Rideau Hill Camp has existed for 59 years, and it’s the total Rideau Hill Camp experience –the site and the sounds—that keeps campers coming back summer after summer.
Rideau Hill Camp offers a week-long camping experience for every age-group, whether a camper is a six to eight year old "pee-wee" or a fifteen to sixteen year old "senior." Our trained staff is particularly sensitive to those who are new to the camping experience and work hard to create a welcoming environment so that campers can establish new friendships quickly.
Rideau Hill Camp is an open-minded and welcoming Christian camp. While we are affiliated with The United Church of Canada, we welcome campers of all faith backgrounds as well as those who are new to faith. We embody a philosophy of religious education that nurtures faith exploration rather than promoting religious dogma. We think that helping campers articulate what they believe is more important than telling them what they "should" believe.
A portion of our Mission Statement reads "Our programs and staff provide opportunities for faith development and personal growth by offering diverse activities within a safe, nurturing, and fun environment." As important as it is that campers have an enjoyable time at camp, it is equally important that they have a safe one. In order to demonstrate our dedication to the safety of our campers, Rideau Hill Camp has submitted to a rigorous evaluation of policies, procedures, and staff training which has subsequently led to our accreditation by both the OCA (Ontario Camping Association) and the UCC (The United Church of Canada). Additionally, we have a registered nurse on-site at all times.
To discover what Rideau Hill Camp’s about, it’s always best to ask a camper. Our most meaningful compliments come from the campers themselves. Last summer, one of our "senior" campers commented "I love it here. Every summer is like going to a family reunion and meeting more family you don’t even know." This kind of endorsement makes those of us who work behind the scenes at Rideau Hill Camp feel that we’ve done our job –that we’ve provided campers with a sense that they belong in the camp community, in nature, and with God.
Welcome to Rideau Hill Camp!