Vintage Ontario Photographs of Summer Camps and Camping

For some, summer in Toronto means summer camps and camping throughout Ontario. So for this week’s curated collection of old photographs, I thought it would be fun to take a look at some vintage Ontario images of people doing just that. From summer camps with kids, to hitting the great outdoors with a tent and some pots and pans, these images will show you what these adventures looked like over the years.

Vintage Ontario - 1908 - Tent and shack, Toronto Island
1908 – Tent and shack, Toronto Island
Vintage Ontario - 1910 - Camping scene, Georgian Bay, Ontario
1910 – Camping scene, Georgian Bay, Ontario
Vintage Ontario - 1910 - Nominigan Camp, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
1910 – Nominigan Camp, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
1910 - Valentine & Sons Publishing Co. Ltd - An ideal camping spot on Crown Lake, Algonquin National Park, Ontario
1910 – Valentine & Sons Publishing Co. Ltd – An ideal camping spot on Crown Lake, Algonquin National Park, Ontario
Vintage Ontario - 1911 - Eaton Boys' Camp
1911 – Eaton Boys’ Camp
Vintage Ontario - 1912 - Tent exterior - family group, David Cummings
1912 – Tent exterior – family group, David Cummings
Vintage Ontario - 1924 - Humber Bay Tourist Camp
1924 – Humber Bay Tourist Camp
Vintage Ontario - 1925 - H. Armstrong Roberts - Men cooking at camp
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Men cooking at camp
Vintage Ontario - 1925 - H. Armstrong Roberts - Nipigon Cabin
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon Cabin
Vintage Ontario - 1925 - H. Armstrong Roberts - Nipigon - men cooking at camp
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon – men cooking at camp
1925 - H. Armstrong Roberts - Nipigon - men mounting fish skin on board
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon – men mounting fish skin on board
1925 - H. Armstrong Roberts - Nipigon - Men Smoking
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon – Men Smoking
1925 - H. Armstrong Roberts - Nipigon - Men Smoking
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon – Men Smoking
1925 - H. Armstrong Roberts - Nipigon Men carrying supplies
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon Men carrying supplies
1925 - H. Armstrong Roberts - Nipigon Men cooking
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon Men cooking
1925 - H. Armstrong Roberts - Nipigon Men cooking copy
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon Men cooking copy
1925 - Nipigon
1925 – Nipigon
1925 - Nipigon - Men Carrying Supplies
1925 – Nipigon – Men Carrying Supplies
1930 - 1956 - Man and woman at campfire, French River Bungalow Camp
1930 – 1956 – Man and woman at campfire, French River Bungalow Camp
1930 - 1956 - Nat Turofsky and others at campsite
1930 – 1956 – Nat Turofsky and others at campsite
1930 - aug 8 - Holiday trip, Grande-Vallee, Marjorie Laing and Mrs. John Boyd at dinner table
1930 – aug 8 – Holiday trip, Grande-Vallee, Marjorie Laing and Mrs. John Boyd at dinner table
1930 - Aug 8 - Holiday trip, Grande-Vallee, Mr. and Mrs. John Boyd at dinner table
1930 – Aug 8 – Holiday trip, Grande-Vallee, Mr. and Mrs. John Boyd at dinner table
1930 - aug 8th - Holiday trip, Grande-Vallee, Mrs. John Boyd at table, car and tent background
1930 – aug 8th – Holiday trip, Grande-Vallee, Mrs. John Boyd at table, car and tent background
1960 - Day Camps - Camp Willaca.
1960 – Day Camps – Camp Willaca.
1960 - Day Camps - Camp Willaca. 2
1960 – Day Camps – Camp Willaca. 2
1963 - Day Camps
1963 – Day Camps
1965 - Norman James - Since 1922 Bolton Camp has introduced city children to the joys of summer activities like camping and fishing in a cool; peaceful stream
1965 – Norman James – Since 1922 Bolton Camp has introduced city children to the joys of summer activities like camping and fishing in a cool; peaceful stream
1966 - James NOrman - Simcoe-Couchiching. A visit to Lake Siimcoe is always worthwhile and there's so much to do. Take fishing off the rocks for instance
1966 – James NOrman – Simcoe-Couchiching. A visit to Lake Siimcoe is always worthwhile and there’s so much to do. Take fishing off the rocks for instance
1967 - Ontario holiday - Boys' and girls' camps - Boys from a camp near Burks Falls make a portage at Magnetawan on their canoe trip in the Almaguin Highlands
1967 – Ontario holiday – Boys’ and girls’ camps – Boys from a camp near Burks Falls make a portage at Magnetawan on their canoe trip in the Almaguin Highlands
1969 - Driving long distances to a cottage, beach or compsite every weekend is less of a relaxation than a continuation of a frantic lifestyle of movement and activity
1969 – Driving long distances to a cottage, beach or compsite every weekend is less of a relaxation than a continuation of a frantic lifestyle of movement and activity
1970 - Campsites like this should be created in Claremont Conservation Park
1970 – Campsites like this should be created in Claremont Conservation Park
1971 - The Ken Roche family uses a camper trailer with an extra room to visit Presqu'ile Provincial Park
1971 – The Ken Roche family uses a camper trailer with an extra room to visit Presqu’ile Provincial Park
1972 - Diane Walker and Dermot McCarthy of Hamilton enjoy a peaceful paddle on Lake Muskoka. Thousands of cottagers will start heading north tonight for the first long weekend of the summer season
1972 – Diane Walker and Dermot McCarthy of Hamilton enjoy a peaceful paddle on Lake Muskoka. Thousands of cottagers will start heading north tonight for the first long weekend of the summer season
1972 - Graham Bezant - Riding is a sport many youngsters enjoy at summer camp; The Ontario Camping Association's directory lists majority of residential camps.
1972 – Graham Bezant – Riding is a sport many youngsters enjoy at summer camp; The Ontario Camping Association’s directory lists majority of residential camps.
1972 - Diane Walker and Dermot McCarthy of Hamilton enjoy a peaceful paddle on Lake Muskoka. Thousands of cottagers will start heading north tonight for the first long weekend of the summer season
1972 – Diane Walker and Dermot McCarthy of Hamilton enjoy a peaceful paddle on Lake Muskoka. Thousands of cottagers will start heading north tonight for the first long weekend of the summer season
1975 - Keith Beaty - Camping is one of the things that stick in the minds of former Boy Scouts now that membership in the organization is declining.
1975 – Keith Beaty – Camping is one of the things that stick in the minds of former Boy Scouts now that membership in the organization is declining.
1975 - Regent Park Summer Day Camp's open spaces are just perfect for informal baseball games. The camp; which is the Greenwood Conservation area; is assisted by the Fresh Air Fund
1975 – Regent Park Summer Day Camp’s open spaces are just perfect for informal baseball games. The camp; which is the Greenwood Conservation area; is assisted by the Fresh Air Fund
1978 - At the Future is provided by this camping at the Camping on Wheels Show at the CNE Automotive bulding this weekend. It comprises a towing van; a main travel-trailer and a caboose trailer
1978 – At the Future is provided by this camping at the Camping on Wheels Show at the CNE Automotive bulding this weekend. It comprises a towing van; a main travel-trailer and a caboose trailer
1980 - Mike Slaughter - Kids at the Salvation Army's Camp spend 10-day sessions at Lake Simcoe - canoeing and swimming
1980 – Mike Slaughter – Kids at the Salvation Army’s Camp spend 10-day sessions at Lake Simcoe – canoeing and swimming
1985 - Mike Slaughter - Canoe training - Canoeing is a highlight at Illahee Northwoods - a camp for children with medical conditions
1985 – Mike Slaughter – Canoe training – Canoeing is a highlight at Illahee Northwoods – a camp for children with medical conditions
1985 - Mike Slaughter - Illahee camp special retreat for children with medical problems - By Leslie Fruman Toronto Star - I'm a cardiac you know. So what. I'm diabetic. Big deal.
1985 – Mike Slaughter – Illahee camp special retreat for children with medical problems – By Leslie Fruman Toronto Star – I’m a cardiac you know. So what. I’m diabetic. Big deal.
Vintage Ontario - 1987 - Dick Loek - Camping Canoe tripping Algonquin park fishing Rick and Richard Loek
1987 – Dick Loek – Camping Canoe tripping Algonquin park fishing Rick and Richard Loek
Vintage Ontario - 1987 - Dick Loek - Camping; canoeing
1987 – Dick Loek – Camping; canoeing

 

 

To view or purchase more vintage Ontario pics, please visit the Toronto Archives or the Toronto Public Library Digital Archives.

 

 

 

About Joel Levy 2623 Articles
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography