Register for Camp!

We will be registering returning campers, siblings, and children of staff alumni. Then, if there are still spaces available, we will allow returning August campers to adjust their sessions or at the very least secure their same session. And then, if there are still spaces available, we will be consulting our waitlist. Specific dates for these phases are indicated above.

It is very likely camp will fill up again this year. Families who are new and want a chance at joining Walden, should fill out the waitlist.

This is both not true and a harmful misperception. There is much higher demand for July than August. But this popularity is not necessarily indicative of what is best. August has proven to be a better option for some families.

While July offers wonderful experiences like: the first day, Visitor’s Day, and Colour Wars. August, on the other hand, is a shorter session (which is better for some), has the Walden Games, and the emotions of the last week of camp and burning of the W. Most campers who combine day and overnight camp in the same summer, prefer the flow of day into overnight than the reverse. Camp is smaller. Sometimes there is a younger sibling coming on the Weekender during August. The Dining Hall is a little quieter. This suits some campers’ personalities better. It should also be noted that August is less expensive.

The best way to ultimately get a Day 1 spot is to enjoy an August Walden Long Weekend experience after grade 1, and a July two-week session after grade 2 (i.e. one of our July Explorer Programs). This will ensure that you are “funneled” into a Day 1 spot after grade 3.

Said simply:
Grade 1 WLW –> Grade 2 EXPLORER –> Grade 3 DAY 1

We will start by asking for camper’s preferences. It might turn out that the right number of campers request each program. If not, we can hold a draw or use some other method to select.

Some families will choose to pay for an unused spot to hold their spot in the “funnel”. Grade 1 campers, although not yet ready at the time of registration, may, in fact, become ready by the time their August Weekend session arrives.

Maybe. Our best advice is to join the 2026 Day 1 waitlist and register them for another August experience.

We are no longer offering a Home & Away program (the program that paired Walden with our sister day camp, Camp Robin Hood). After nearly 25 years of successful Home & Away programs, we have decided to give families more flexibility. Families are still invited to “build their own Home & Away” by attending Robin Hood and Walden in some combination.

Yes, they are part of our September registration period and have been offered a 2-week July 2026 spot.

We have space for some but not all of our 2018 campers to stay longer than 2 weeks. Please register for the session you are guaranteed and make your request for longer by email to ashton@campwalden.ca.

Register your whole family in the earliest registration period you are eligible for. Ashton in our office reviews every single application one at a time and will reach out with questions.

You are given some priority but not the same priority as 2025 families.

At this point it is impossible for us to answer that question with any confidence. But, loosely speaking, if your child is younger and is not in one of our priority categories, the chances are low. There are very very few spots available and many people who want them. There are a handful of spots in the older ages. One should definitely inquire!

This is not a “nice problem to have”. We are sad to not have space for the many families that want to give the gift of the Walden experience to their children.

Walden is a big camp and we love it that way! But there is such a thing as too big. We would love for camp to be full but with no waitlist. We hate to turn away friends, family, alumni, younger siblings, and eager new Waldeners-in-the-making. That’s why we will make every effort to make as many spots available as possible to those interested. First and foremost, however, we must be careful not to sacrifice the quality of supervision and community that we provide which means not overloading any one cabin, unit, or the camp as a whole.

You should certainly register for 7 weeks and attach a note with the particulars of your situation. We will gladly agree to decrease your camper’s registration to your desired length of stay at no penalty (as though this was your decision all along). The final decision is normally made on Visitor’s Day.

Well… you can… but the cost will be greater. Also, space may not be available. Every year, there are a number of families that wish to extend their stay from 4 weeks to 7 weeks, or from 2 weeks to 4 weeks in the middle of the summer. Despite our desire to accommodate, it is sometimes the case that space does not allow for these requests. Please consider your registration length carefully when completing your application.

Overnight camp is, for many, a big financial and philosophical decision. We want families to have all the information available to them (i.e. how much Walden will cost and what spots will and won’t be available) and still have an opportunity to choose a different camp. Registration for most other similar camps takes place in the Fall.

Our office will be at full force on September 8 and we will make efforts to return all calls and emails throughout that week.