Discover a summer adventure rooted in nature, culture, and connection at Mādahòkì Farm’s Summer Camp. Campers will spend their days exploring 164 acres of farmland and forest, caring for farm animals and the endangered Ojibwe Spirit Horses, and learning through Indigenous cultural workshops, STEAM challenges, and guided outdoor play. Led by experienced educators, Indigenous Cultural Ambassadors, and certified Equine Assisted Learning professionals, this week-long camp offers a meaningful, hands-on experience that builds confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of belonging.
Our fun-filled week at Madahoki Summer Camp will include:
Outdoor, land-based adventures across 164 acres of farmland and forest
Hands-on learning with farm animals including horses, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and hatching chicks
Indigenous culture experiences through workshops, dance, arts, and food
Caring for an Ojibwe Spirit Horse, with Equine Assisted Learning activities that build confidence and life skills
Team-building and community through STEAM challenges that encourage collaboration and creativity
Learning respect, reciprocity, and responsibility to the Land
Plenty of indoor and outdoor free play
Weather Policy:
The majority of our programming will be outside, rain or shine. Campers must come dressed for the weather. In the case of extreme inclement weather, the loft of the barn, and the riding arena will be used as indoor play and learning spaces. Make sure to bring each day: bugspray, sunscreen, a sun-protecting hat, a water bottle, snacks.
Our Team:
- Our Camp Educators have vast knowledge in developmentally-appropriate practice, play-based learning, self-regulation, equity and inclusion, and experience in the field of early learning and education. Our educators are either Ontario Certified Teachers, Registered Early Childhood Educators, Developmental Service Workers, Child and Youth Workers, or have equivalent experience and education.
- Some camp groups may be supported by a Junior Camp Staff, who would work under the direct supervision of an Educator.
- The Indigenous Education within our camp will be led by the Cultural Ambassadors. The Cultural Ambassadors are professional First Nations Ambassadors with Mādahòkì Farm who have vast cultural knowledge and experience sharing it with children of all ages.
- Any hands-on learning with the horses will be led by the certified Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Canada Coach, and assisted by the certified EAL Canada Wranglers. The coaches have completed certification to lead sessions and activities in the practice of EAL which is a therapeutic and educational approach that involves interactions between humans and horses to facilitate personal growth and learning. The wranglers support the coaches to prep and handle the horses, ensure their well-being, and assist the coaches as needed.
- The camp will be supervised by the Camp Director, who will support the Camp Educators, Cultural ambassadors, EAL Coaches, and the Campers, throughout their fun-filled week of learning! The Camp Director is responsible for registration, managing staff, planning engaging programs/activities, ensuring camper and staff safety, handling administration, communication with parents, responding to incidents, and promoting a positive and safe learning environment,
Joey Persaud | Camp Director
Hello! My name is Joey Persaud, and I am thrilled to be in the role of Camp Director at Madahoki Farm!
I am a Registered Early Childhood Educator with years of experience in both childcare centres and full-day kindergarten. I am also an Ontario Certified Teacher, and I have experience teaching every grade from Kindergarten to Grade 8, and experience teaching all subjects! I have also worked in specialized programs such as Behaviour Intervention Programs and Learning Disabilities programs.
I have a huge passion for learning about the brilliance of Indigenous knowledge, wisdom, and perspectives, and love bringing that learning into my classroom through stories, community partners, art appreciation, experiences, and more.
I love animals, and always dreamed about working on a farm. I began as a volunteer at Madahoki Farm in 2022, and I have also worked both in the Marketplace as a First Host / Associate, and on the Equine Assisted Learning Team as a Certified EAL Wrangler. I absolutely fell in love with the Ojibwe Spirit Horses the first time I saw them here at Madahoki, I truly felt their healing presence and was in awe of their wild beauty. I am so thrilled to be leading a camp that brings children closer to these horses, the land, and authentic Indigenous learning, whilst building a strong camp community.
Evelyn Piñate | Lead Camp Educator
Hola! My name is Evelyn Piñate, and I am a passionate Registered Early Childhood Educator with over ten years of experience in the field. I have worked with children of all ages and have managed an Early Learning Centre serving children from toddler to school-age programs. I am skilled in encouraging and motivating educators to deliver excellence in care while fostering a high-quality, safe, and inclusive environment for all children and families.
I am currently living abroad, learning from a child-led school whose philosophy is guided by children’s natural curiosity to create meaningful, engaging, and innovative programming. Together with the team, I am excited to offer your child(ren) an enriching opportunity to learn from the land, care for animals, and experience a program that is both innovative and deeply engaging.
I look forward to meeting you and your family and to making a positive, lasting impact on your child’s learning journey.
Lunch & Snacks:
- A farm-fresh, kid-friendly lunch will be provided by our catering team. The specific menu will be provided closer to the start date of camp, but it may include sandwiches, wraps, pizza, pasta, fruit, vegetables, cookies, and juice.
- Snacks will not be provided, so please make sure to pack lots.
- If your child has dietary restrictions or allergies, please contact our Camp Director so our catering team can provide alternatives for your child.
Ages:
The camp is for Kindergarten and School-Age campers (aged 4-12 years). For the kindergarten groups, we follow a ratio of 1 educator to 13 campers (with additional support for certain activities), and with the school-age groups, we follow a ratio of 1 educator to 15 campers (with additional support for certain activities).
Hours:
Our camp hours are from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We do have pre and post camp care offered for an extra $25.00 per week for pre-camp care and post-camp care.
- Pre-Camp Care runs from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM
- Post-Camp Care runs from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
If you have not opted in for Pre-Camp Care, you must drop off your child after 9:00 AM. If you have not opted in for Post-Camp Care, you must pick up your child by 4:00 PM.
Dates:
- July 27-31, 2026
- August 10-14, 2026
Fees:
Camp Fees (lunches included) – $475.00 (per week)
Optional Add-Ons
- Pre-Camp Care – $25.00 (per week)
- Post-Camp Care – $25.00 (per week)
Camp T-Shirt – Included
Commitment to Inclusion:
Our team strives to create a welcoming community for diverse beliefs, cultures, identities, and ways of being. We aim to promote a culture that respects and appreciates diversity, and celebrates the various identities and intersectionalities of our camp, and global, communities. We work to ensure we have provided a safe and equitable learning environment for all our campers and their families. We also want to make sure our camp is accessible to all campers, regardless of any exceptionalities that traditional camps may be a barrier to. If your student has any exceptionalities, disabilities, or needs we should know about, please contact our Camp Director. To help all our campers find success and be able to participate and engage fully in our experiences, when possible, an Inclusion Support Educator may be assigned to a camper (or several campers).