About Our Sports Camp

ABOUT CAMP AK-O-MAK

Where Talents Are Found

Camp Ak-O-Mak is an overnight summer camp for girls aged 7-16 with a passion for sports and the outdoors.

Since 1928, our mission has always been to help girls develop strength and confidence through an active lifestyle, preparing them for future success in life and the pursuit of their athletic abilities at all levels.

Facilities

Ak-O-Mak At A Glance

Main House

Overlook the scenic Ahmic Lake in our Adirondack style Main House and large wooden porch

Dining

Enjoy home-cooked, family style meals in our Main House, prepared by our professional chef

Medical

24/7 on-site health care services provided by licensed medical professionals

Laundry

Laundry is done weekly on site. Please label ALL your camper’s belongings.

Active Body, Healthy Mind

Nurture your body and mind with a blend of indoor activities like yoga, spin bike classes and weight training in our multi-purpose pavillion, funded by Alumni donations and constructed by Volunteer Builders

Inspection

Camp Ak-O-Mak meets or exceeds all accreditation requirements by Canadian and Ontario camping associations, and undergoes annual inspections by Ontario Public Health

A Journey Through Time

Founded in 1928 by Matt Mann, a professional swimming coach and head of clubs in the United States, Camp Ak-O-Mak was Canada’s only competitive sports camp for girls and the world’s first all-girls competitive swim camp.

Before Camp Ak-O-Mak, he also founded Camp Chikopi, the world’s first competitive swimming camp for boys, in 1920.

01 March 2023

Founding Years: 1928

Mann began Camp Ak-O-Mak in 1928 when his daughter RoseMary turned eight, initially offering only a swimming...

01 March 2023

Expanding the Program: 1930s-50s

Camp Ak-O-Mak expanded its program beyond swimming in the 1930s, later adding various sports including...

01 March 2023

Empowering Girls: 1941-1991

RoseMary Mann took over the Director’s duties at Ak-O-Mak in 1941 and held the position until her retirement...

01 March 2023

From Campers to Olympians: 1996-2000

Ak-O-Mak and Chikopi have helped many athletes succeed in sports, including 60 Olympians and over 350...

Help us inspire more girls today.

Join Our Crew

Head Staff

Meet The Team

All driven by a desire to help girls develop self-confidence and strength, our supportive team of counsellors and Senior Directors will be there every step of the way.

DIANNE YOUNG

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DIANNE YOUNG

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dianne Young has been involved in Camp Ak-O-Mak for over 40 years: first as a camper, then a counsellor and senior staff. It was love at first sight for this perennial Ak-O-Makker when she caught her initial glimpse of camp back in 1971. After dropping her big brother off at Camp Chikopi, an indignant Dianne firmly announced to her parents that she would be attending the girls’ camp next year! And she did. Again and again for ten years. The late Rosemary Mann Dawson, daughter of founder Matt Mann and Camp Ak-O-Mak’s beloved director for 50 years, intuitively recognized Dianne’s devotion to camp, her love for kids and her strong work ethic. She took “the Youngster” (as Dianne is known by her camp buddies) under her wing and trained her first hand in “all things camp”. She even sent her across the lake to Chikopi (the boys’ camp) for a season where she gained valuable experience by working closely with Owner/Director, Bob Deunkel.

DR. CATHERINE MCANDIE

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

DR. CATHERINE MCANDIE

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

As a Family Physician in Hamilton, Ontario, Catherine believes that Ak-O-Mak (and places like it) are essential for empowering girls in today’s busy and ever-changing world: “I have given a large part of my life to Ak-O-Mak because I believe it makes a unique difference to girls’ lives. I see it here. A child does something that she never thought possible, connects that achievement with how she feels inside… and that is the birth of authentic self-esteem, based on irrefutable evidence. Ak-O-Mak is much more than sports training. It is a holistic experience that translates into meaningful personal growth later in life.”

JOCELYN SAUNDERS

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR / COACH

JOCELYN SAUNDERS

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR / COACH

Jocelyn, the 1982 World Champion in Marathon Swimming, achieved incredible feats throughout her athletic career. She became the youngest swimmer to conquer Lake Ontario's 32-mile stretch in 1981 and later swam an astonishing 521 nautical miles around the lake, raising over $250,000 for Multiple Sclerosis. Jocelyn set Swimming World Records and raised the largest charitable contribution in a long-distance solo swim. She excelled in triathlon, representing Canada and the USA National Teams, and competed in various World Championships. Jocelyn's coaching expertise spans over four decades, focusing on swimming, dryland training, and mental preparation. She is also a licensed massage therapist and resides in Delaware with her family.

KAVIN

ACCOUNTANT

KAVIN

ACCOUNTANT

Kavin feels very lucky to be back at camp volunteering as the camp accountant since 2018. Kavin started as a camper in 1987 and then became a counselor and then worked in the office her last couple years at camp. As an Army brat camp was her safe haven and the place she loved most as a kid. Two summers at camp, Kavin left one home for camp and arrived back at a different home in a different state at the end of camp. Kavin was the swimmer who swam everywhere at camp, if there was an option to swim she was in the water no matter how long it took (Kavin is proud to say other than the Chikopi Triathlon she has never run the Rocky Reef trial).

SHERYL PUCKERING

MINDFULNESS & YOGA DIRECTOR

SHERYL PUCKERING

MINDFULNESS & YOGA DIRECTOR

Sheryl Puckering’s passion for empowering children and teens spans decades. Sheryl spent eleven summers at a children’s camp as a counsellor and camp director where she met her husband Michael. Together they have three daughters who have been involved with Ak-O-Mak for 20 years as campers, counsellors and program directors and volunteers. Ak-O-Mak is truly one of the Puckering families’ favourite places on earth. Sheryl is a qualified teacher with a B.Ed. and a B.A.Sc, specializing in Child Studies. Over the years she has taught Kindergarten through to Grade 3, along with Special Education and enrichment programs for gifted students from Grades 4 though 8. Sheryl is a graduate of the DevaTree School of Yoga with certification in the HeartRise Yoga for Children Training program. Sheryl also has received her certification for Mindfulness Foundation and Mindfulness in Schools from Mindful Schools. Sheryl brings to Ak-O-Mak her experience, dedication and passion for working with children and youth, helping to ensure their success in school and life. She strives to provide tools and programs to help youth live happy, healthy, balanced and joy-filled lives.

MACKENNA ARMITAGE

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

MACKENNA ARMITAGE

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Mackenna started coming to camp in 2012 as a camper in cabin five and she’s been hooked on summers at Ahmic Lake ever since! As a competitive swimmer when she was young and a runner throughout highschool, Ak-o-mak has always been Mackenna’s favourite place! The past three summers Mackenna has been a staff member at Ak-o-mak working as a counsellor and as our waterfront director. When camp is in session, Mackenna can be found running on long cross, teaching paddleboard yoga, & out discovering what plant friends we have in our land community at camp! Mackenna will graduate from Lakehead University with a degree in Outdoor Recreation, Parks, & Tourism with a concentration in therapeutic recreation this April. Mackenna is a teacher at a forest school in Thunder Bay Ontario during the year and staff at Modo Yoga Thunder Bay. She is eager to share her passion for the outdoors and wellness with all of camp this summer!

BLAIR SAUNDERS

CYCLING AND TRIATHLON COACH

BLAIR SAUNDERS

CYCLING AND TRIATHLON COACH

Blair Saunders has been competing in cycling races for over 25 years. The highlights of his cycling career include 3 Canadian National titles and being a member of the 1992 Canadian Olympic Team. Through the years Blair has won hundreds of races in road biking, mountain biking, cycle-cross and track cycling. Most recently he competed in three different eight-day mountain bike races in Costa Rica, the Trans Rockies, and South Africa, finishing as one of the top North Americans in all three races. In addition to Blair’s cycling accomplishments, he has competed in Ironman Triathlons, speed skating and cross-country skiing. Blair graduated from University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree and currently works as a Vice President of Information Technology at Blackrock Financial. He resides in Delaware with his wife, Jocelyn Saunders and two children, Brooke and Brett.

DR. REBECCA ROONEY

MEDICAL

DR. REBECCA ROONEY

MEDICAL

A newer addition to our infirmary staff and to Camp Ak-O-Mak is Dr. Rebecca Rooney. Trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Western Ontario and Queens’ University, Rebecca comes to camp with a passion for both medicine and camp life. After only a few years at camp she has become an honorary ‘Ak-O-Mak-er’ and loves to complete early bird swim with the campers, run, cycle, do yoga and even coach fencing! She brings great energy to managing the campers medical needs and is always on-call for their bumps and bruises, as well as for their emotional support and growth. With many years of experience caring for young women in her medical practice, she brings a special understanding of women’s health to our group. Always up for a challenge, she accompanies our camp staff on outings, races and swim events. Her favourite night of the week is Sunday campfire when she often plays her guitar for the girls after their cookout. As a full-time Obstetrician/Gynecologist in Brantford, Ontario, she sees first-hand the need for young women to develop a strong sense of self as they grow up. The unique opportunity to unplug for the summer and to be in a supportive environment with strong female role models is the irreplaceable part of camp life. She is dedicated to supporting Ak-O-Mak because of the wonderful opportunity it provides young women to become the best versions of themselves.

ROSEMARIE THOMAS

VOLUNTEER

ROSEMARIE THOMAS

VOLUNTEER

Rosemarie Thomas is a 4th degree black belt, avid marathon runner and returns to camp as Office Manager and self defense instructor. Rosemarie has been a martial arts student for over 21 years and a professional instructor for six. In her own words, she feels ‘most alive’ when she is working with young people and using her skills to help them develop confidence and self-assurance. She especially loves working with girls and teenagers, a passion which has lead her to volunteer with the YWCA in Hamilton as a self defense instructor and become a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Burlington and Hamilton.

About Our Sports Camp

ABOUT CAMP AK-O-MAK

Where Talents Are Found

Facilities

Ak-O-Mak At A Glance

Main House

Dining

Medical

Laundry

Active Body, Healthy Mind

Inspection

A Journey Through Time

Help us inspire more girls today.

Head Staff

Meet The Team

DIANNE YOUNG

DR. CATHERINE MCANDIE

JOCELYN SAUNDERS

KAVIN

SHERYL PUCKERING

MACKENNA ARMITAGE

BLAIR SAUNDERS

DR. REBECCA ROONEY

ROSEMARIE THOMAS

Links

Information

Phone

Email

Camp Address

Office Address

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