Camp Cosmos

See our website here

Camp Cosmos provides a summer of enchanting discoveries to children from diverse cultural backgrounds, including children with special needs. First Nations culture, care of the environment and anti-bullying practices are included on the dynamic summer program.

A successful program for over 40 years

Camp Cosmos began as a program of Montreal City Mission over 40 years ago to provide a summer day camp for families who were either low income, single-parent households, or newly arrived refugees. This program has been so successful that it has been registered as its own organization, although it remains affiliated with Montreal City Mission.

Camp Cosmos is amazing in numerous ways. The most beautiful thing I have witnessed over the past couple of years there has got to be the refugee children who, even after escaping war zones, were able to create friendships, quickly learn new languages and simply enjoy their childhood by just being kids.

Kanaan Shaath

Former Camp Youth Director

About the Camp

Camp Cosmos enjoys an excellent reputation in the community for innovative programming and high quality staff. The camp runs for 6 weeks from July to early August, offering places for children between 5 and 12. It is operated on two sites, one downtown in Westmount and the second in Dollard-des-Ormeaux in the West Island. In 2019, our two sites welcomed 150 children - up from 121 in 2017!

Camp Cosmos is accredited as a Quality Family Camp by the City of Montreal, meeting high standards in the areas of programming, staff training, security and administration. There is a base fee of 40$ per week along with a sliding scale. More information is available on the Camp Cosmos website.

Environmental education

We are an eco-friendly camp! Our campers learn about environmental responsibility through ecological games, organic gardening, outings in nature and visits to local farms. Camp Cosmos Counsellors also set a positive example, showing ways of making sustainable decisions on a daily basis.

Intercultural education

We are a camp that celebrates diversity! Camp Counsellors host an array of activities that shed light on the importance of multiculturalism. Our programming is geared towards creating awareness of diversity in all of its forms, discussing issues such as human rights, mutual respect and active listening. Our camp strives to bridge the gap between cultural backgrounds, finding commonalities and celebrating uniqueness.

Activities

Daily circle time to welcome children
Swimming once weekly
Weekly day-long outing to outdoor places of interest (Bio-dome, Olympic park, farm visits);
Gardening
Arts and crafts
Music and theater
Visits to local museums, cultural centres and other places of interest
Thematic days held in local parks
Closing talent show for parents and sponsors

Counsellor-in-Training Program

The Counsellor-in-Training (CIT) Program welcomes adolescents from families on low income between the ages of 14 and 17 (nine available spaces). Campers benefit from the competence, kindness and hard work of these young adolescents, who, in turn, also receive a very positive and empowering first job experience. Campers graduate from the camp program, enroll as Counsellors-in-Training and may eventually be hired as a full-fledged counsellors and leaders of the Camp Cosmos team.

Growing with Camp Cosmos