A Note to Parents and Campers

Camp Ak-O-Mak’s program of activities “on the water, in the water and on land” is tried and true for over 80 years. It WORKS!..And it works in direct proportion to the time you commit to it. It is an exciting program all wrapped up in a traditional Canadian camp experience complete with campfires, sing-songs, skit nights, day trips, camp outs and a myriad of zany activities unique to Ak-O-Mak!

We want to emphasize that Camp Ak-O-Mak’s program is about so much more than teaching skills in sports. (We could do THAT in a week!) It is a program that is meant to help girls realize for themselves that Time + Effort = Success and success legitimately enhances self esteem...It is the most noble of experiential learning. The sports and the beautiful rustic setting are merely the media through which this concept is learned. At Ak-O-Mak we believe this concept is more important than ever considering the world in which we live. Children increasingly have immediate gratification of their needs/ wants, yet in real life, some things take time. They are frequently told how great they are, yet many do not really believe it inside. At Ak-O-Mak, we want girls to enhance their self esteem through the experience of the SELF doing things WORTHY of esteem! It will be an “A-ha” moment you will never forget!

Swimming...Competitive, Open Water and Recreational

Ak-O-Mak is internationally renowned as North America’s first competitive swim camp for girls. Since 1928 our visiting professional coaches have been helping young athletes develop solid swimming fundamentals at all competitive levels...while guaranteeing summer-time FUN to keep kids from burning out.

Girls just learning to swim will be amazed when they experience rapid improvement in their strokes, confidence in the water and improved endurance thanks to the daily instruction by our coaches.

More than 350 All-Americans, 45 Olympians, and hundreds of open water swimmers have trained at Ak-O-Mak. Camp’s 50 meter and 25 meter pools are built right into the shore of beautiful Ahmic Lake...which is waiting for you to enjoy!

Spend the SUMMER at Ak-O-Mak and BLAST your team mates out of the water in September!

Click on the SWIM CAMP tab to learn more about the swim program.

Paddling

Because of their upper body strength, swimmers are a “natural fit” for the sport of paddling. Conversely, paddling strengthens the upper body muscles necessary for strong swimming!

Did you know that Camp Ak-O-Mak is a member of the Ontario Paddling Association and an official Canoe Club? Indeed we are, with many “burgees” adorning the Main House walls to attest to the fact we are also no “slouches” when it comes to race day!

Ak-O-Mak has been introducing girls to this exciting sport since the earliest days. Recreationally, everyone is instructed in the fundamentals of pleasure canoeing as this is one of our primary modes of transportation at camp! We also provide instruction and/or competitive training in sprint canoeing (C1, C2, C4 and War Canoe) and kayak racing. Kids love this!...It is FUN! It’s true teamwork (therefore a change from swimming) and challenging. Girls attending the 7, 4 and sometimes 3 week sessions may be eligible to participate in a Regatta and experience the thrill of racing against other clubs.

You will also enjoy sailing and windsurfing at camp, too!

Triathlon

There is no better place to “try a Tri” than Camp Ak-O-Mak. Long before this sport gained the popularity it enjoys today, Ak-O-Makkers were Swim-Run-Canoeing against our brother camp, Chikopi. Today our coaches teach girls what they need to know to tackle a triathlon of any distance, using enjoyable practice events such as aquathons, duathalons, transition events and mountain bike obstacle courses. Interested campers can also sign up for the annual Ak-O-Mak trip to the Kids of Steel Triathlon in Barrie. The Ak-O-Mak / Chikopi Triathlon (swim-run-canoe) remains a traditional event, a perennial favourite among campers of all ages.

Running, Biking and Land Sports

	Ak-O-Mak is situated on 400 acres of beautiful, lakeside land bordered by forest and wetlands. Can you imagine a prettier place for running trails and mountain biking? Campers and staff have found our short and long cross-country trails irresistible for decades and we are sure you will too! Camp’s playing fields are used every day. Cabins rotate through scheduled classes each morning, during which they receive instruction in a variety of sports including:
	Archery Soccer Softball Tennis Ropes Course	Beach volleyball Fencing Rugby Basketball Lacrosse	Golf Aerobics Yoga/Pilates Mountain Biking Wrestling/Self defence
	As you can see, we use ALL of our muscles at Camp Ak-O-Mak!

Special Events & Activities

No summer camp experience would be complete without the memorable activities that have us “busting a gut” laughing with our friends or pulling together to bring the war canoe over the finish line!

We don’t want to spoil any surprises, but every camp session has many ‘treats’ in store for you! Ak-O-Mak and our brother camp, Chikopi, get together once or twice a week for fun-filled activities, events or competitions. We see our brothers on occasions such as Canada Day and for traditional events like the Triathlon, the12k and Water Day. We also prepare in earnest for highlight competitions such as the famous Ak-O-Mak vs. Chikopi Baseball and Soccer Games. (“Beat the Boys! Beat the Boys! Beat the Boys!) PS: If you play soccer and/or baseball WE NEED YOU AT AK-O-MAK!!

Icelandic Horseback Riding

These gentle pony-sized horses love it when our girls come to ride! Campers 10 years and older are eligible to sign up on an elective basis for lessons and trail rides through an arrangement with our neighbours at Clear Lake Farm, located just 3 miles up the road. A nominal fee applies.