Home The City History 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.
1908 – Tent and shack, Toronto Island
1910 – Camping scene, Georgian Bay, 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
1911 – Eaton Boys’ Camp
1912 – Tent exterior – family group, David Cummings
1924 – Humber Bay Tourist Camp
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Men cooking at camp
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon Cabin
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 Smoking
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon – Men Smoking
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon Men carrying supplies
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon Men cooking
1925 – H. Armstrong Roberts – Nipigon Men cooking copy
1925 – Nipigon
1925 – Nipigon – Men Carrying Supplies
1930 – 1956 – Man and woman at campfire, French River Bungalow Camp
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, Mr. and Mrs. John Boyd at dinner table
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. 2
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
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
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
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 – 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
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
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
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.
1987 – Dick Loek – Camping Canoe tripping Algonquin park fishing Rick and Richard Loek
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 .
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian.
Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography