Canadian Camp Census: Launching October 20th
Don't Just Count on Camp—Let Camp Count.
When Canadians think about summer camp, they rightly envision powerful formative experiences: building resilience, fostering independence, and creating cherished memories around a campfire. However, the Canadian accredited camping sector is also a critical component of the nation's economic and social infrastructure.
That is precisely why the Canadian Camping Association (CCA) is conducting the 2025 Canadian Camp Census, and we urge every accredited camp to ensure their participation. This is not simply a routine data collection; it represents a foundational act of advocacy that will significantly influence the sector's future trajectory.
The Imperative for Data: Securing the Industry’s Future
The core reality is that the collective strength of the Canadian camping industry—and the effectiveness of the CCA and Provincial Camping Associations (PCAs)—is directly contingent upon your camp’s completion of this survey.
The last national data collection was conducted during the unique operating conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the dramatic changes in the sector since then, relying on that outdated information can no longer accurately represent our current scope, needs, and contributions.
This 2025 survey is essential because it will provide a current, comprehensive, and empirically verifiable overview of the accredited summer camp sector today.
Translating Service into Influence
The data gathered will serve as the sector's most powerful tool, transforming anecdotal evidence into quantifiable proof when engaging with governmental and stakeholder bodies.
1. Driving Federal Advocacy and Economic Recognition
Governments—at both federal and provincial levels—rely on data for policy and resource allocation. By accurately quantifying the sector’s significant economic footprint, we can advocate effectively for the support, recognition, and policy considerations our camps require.
Establishing Our Scope: We must clearly demonstrate the full scale of our impact: the number of individuals we employ, the total revenue generated, and our contribution to local economies. Questions regarding expenses, for instance, are included to help us accurately calculate this overall economic power.
2. Showcasing Invaluable Community Services
Camp provides an essential service to Canadian families, playing a vital role in youth development, mental health, and workforce training. The data will highlight the diverse and lasting benefits of the camp experience, empowering the CCA and PCAs to ensure the voice of the camping industry is heard, respected, and influential.
3. Building Consistency for Long-Term Insight
This survey marks the launch of an ongoing initiative. Maintaining consistency in these key questions will allow the CCA to establish a robust dataset for analyzing long-term industry trends, providing critical, up-to-date insights for the sector for years to come. This information will also empower individual camps to better articulate their value proposition to funders, parents, and community partners.
Survey Launches October 20th - Get Ready!
Here is how camps can prepare:
Sign up for the CCA Mailing List to be the first to know when the survey launches
Read the survey preamble and questions preview to prepare your answers
French versions - preamble (fr) - questions (fr)
On October 20th, we strongly recommend that this survey be completed by a senior staff member or an individual with comprehensive knowledge of your camp's financial and operational procedures.
This is more than a request for information—it is an investment in the resilience, advocacy power, and long-term vitality of every accredited camp in Canada. We urge you to partner with the CCA and your PCA by ensuring your camp in included.