Situated on the most southern point of mainland Canada, Point Pelee National Park offers an incredibly diverse and unique natural environment. The camp itself is centered in the lush, Carolinian Forests of Point Pelee, near the sandy beaches of Lake Erie. With access to the entirety of the National Park, the opportunities for learning and exploration of the natural world are endless. The YMCA Camp Henry Outdoor Centre is equipped with a newly renovated and winterized Dining Hall and meeting space, closed porch area, and industrial kitchen.

Other facilities on-site include:

• Indoor Bathroom Complex – Flush toilets, showers, accessible space, hand wash, and water refill station
• Accommodations – 12 heated oTENTiks/cabins, sleeps 6-7 participants per oTENTik
• Outdoor Space – Green Space with picnic tables, campfire pit, volleyball, and basketball courts
• Waterfronts - 2-minute walk to Henry Beach, + 15-minute ride to The Marsh
• Visitor Centre – 5-minute walk from camp with access to Wi-Fi, shuttle to the tip of Point Pelee

Camp Henry is proud to offer curriculum-linked programming options and lessons. All our programs and lesson plans are designed with risk management policies and strategies in mind.

Highlight Activities Offered at Camp Henry:

• Climate Challengers
  - As an animal living in a unique area of the park, participants will overcome challenges caused by climate change
• Initiatives
  - Work as a team to overcome unique challenges that test communication, teamwork, resilience, and critical thinking
• Orienteering
  - Learn to correctly and effectively use a compass and map to navigate
• Predator vs Prey
  - Take on the role of an animal in the ecosystem and learn about the food chain and what an ecosystem provides to sustain a species
• Migration Madness
  - Focus on the migration of birds in Point Pelee National Park and the challenges they face
• Species Bingo
  - Go on a walk around the site, and see how many different species there are in a relatively small area
• Waste Water War
  - Learn about the importance of water to current and past societies, and what causes water pollution
• Stock Market
  - Practice investing in a fun team game that simulates the real-world stock market
• Geo-Sculptors
  - Sculpt different landforms out of and or snow and describe how they affect each other and are created

View our Outdoor Education Guide to learn more!

YMCA Camp Henry prides itself in its ability to work with each group to create a unique, intentional program that aligns with your group goals. We recognize the importance of learning to work with others in all situations. With high-quality facilitation, spending active time outdoors together is one of the best platforms for developing team and cooperation skills.

Our program is incredibly flexible in all aspects of the outdoor centre experience. We have a variety of traditional camp programs, an extensive assortment of team building and initiative tasks, and development workshops available. We can provide full programs, or simply host and supplement your existing program.

Programming Includes:

• Biking
• Hiking
• Archery
• Initiatives
• Kayaking
• Canoeing
• Campfires
• Outdoor living skills
• Arts & crafts
• Orienteering

Workshops Include:

• Communication
• Leadership
• Goal Setting
• Conflict Resolution
• Team Building and Group Dynamics

All outdoor centre staff facilitators have at least two years of experience working in an outdoor education or similar environment and have their Standard First Aid and CPR-C. Aquatic supervisors have their National Lifeguarding certificate, and many of our staff hold other certifications, including Wilderness Advanced First Aid and ORCKA canoe levels. We work closely with school boards to ensure we meet all safety requirements. 

YMCA Camp Henry provides nutritious meals catered to the dietary needs of each individual during your stay. For a typical overnight program, each participant will be served a delicious hot meal for breakfast, lunch, dinner with two snacks throughout the day. 

Our fees and program structure options can be found on our Outdoor Education Guide.

Financial assistance is available. To learn more or to book with the YMCA Camp Henry Outdoor Centre, please contact us by email or by phone at 519-453-8858 x1103.
 

At Camp Henry we focus on unplugging from technology, reconnecting with nature and making real-world connections within the group and camp community. While we understand that cell phones are a common way for young people to communicate, we consider them distracting from our focus on providing these experiences. If your group is interested in including cell phones in your experience, let us know and we can work with you to ensure that your group’s needs are met!

Spring and Fall Packing List:

• Warm sleeping bag, or light bag with extra blanket 
• Pillow 
• Supply of socks and underwear for the trip 
• Pajamas 
• 1 pair of sturdy running shoes (must be closed toe and have proper backing) 
• 1 pair of water shoes (sandals with a back strap) 
• Raingear (programs continue despite rainy days)
• Hat 
• Pants, Shorts, T-shirts
• Bathing Suit & Towel 
• Lightweight jacket & heavy sweater 
• Toiletries (comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, face cloth etc.) 
• Medications
• Water bottle 
• Flashlight with batteries 
• Sunscreen (SPF 30 minimum)
• Disposable camera (optional)
• Book/reading material (optional)
• Sunglasses (optional)
• Writing materials, journal, notebook (optional)

Late Fall, Winter, and Early Spring Packing List:

• In addition to the packing list for spring/fall, we recommend also bringing clothes that will keep you extra cozy and warm.
• Winter Hat & Neck Warmer
• 2 pairs of Waterproof gloves
• Snow pants
• Winter Jacket
• Long underwear top and bottoms
• Winter boots
• Wool/Fleece Sweater
• Other winter gear to keep you warm!

What Not to Bring:

• Knives, Hatchets, Matches, Technology (phones, smartwatches, ipads, etc.), video games, hair dryers/straighteners, clothes you don’t want to get dirty, food, valuables
   

At Camp Henry, our programming is totally customizable and tailored to your group. We offer traditional camp programs, creative activities, and leadership sessions. In partnership with Parks Canada, we also offer interpretive programming for an additional cost.

A Typical Day
7:30am    Early Riser Activity
8:45am    Breakfast
10:00am    Activity Rotation 1
11:15am    Activity Rotation 2
12:45pm    Lunch
1:45pm    Free Time
3:00pm    Activity Rotation 3
4:15pm    Activity Rotation 4
5:30pm    Dinner
7:00pm    Large Group Program
8:30pm    Creative Evening Program
9:30pm    Bedtime
 

Participants at Camp Henry are served 3 delicious homemade meals per day, as well as a mid- afternoon and evening snack. Our menu is designed by our caring food service coordinator, in order to meet nutritional needs of participants. We can accommodate dietary restrictions, and other specific needs.
Sample Menu: 

• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, has browns, sausages, oatmeal bar, juice, and cereal
• Lunch: Grilled cheese with tomato soup
• Snack: Cookies
• Dinner: Stir fry with chicken, vegetables, salad bar, and dessert
• Evening snacks: Apples

Camp Henry takes risk management very seriously. All our staff are trained in our emergency procedures and have a current Standard First Aid with CPR-C certification. Our programming is designed with policies in place to mitigate all potential risks. We are happy to discuss risk management policies with your group and customize programs to fit your level of risk tolerance. 

Accommodations
We have 24 oTENTiks on our site, Each oTENTik has 6 beds, a living area with a table and chairs, electric lights, a wall charger, fire extinguisher, smoke detector, and carbon monoxide detector. Each oTENTik has interior heating via a wood burning stove or natural gas fireplace. Outside, the oTENTiks have 2 Muskoka chairs, a fire pit, and a picnic table

Washrooms
Camp Henry has 2 washroom facilities, one attached to the Dining Hall on the southern side of camp, and one on the northern side of camp. There is a shower facility in the northern washroom complex.

Dining Hall
The Dining Hall complex at Camp Henry is a main gathering point for programs! Our kitchen, camp office, an outdoor enclosed patio, bathrooms, and the dining area make up the dining hall complex. This space is utilized for our meal times, as well as for some of our indoor programs.
 

Directions from Windsor

• Take Highway 3 south to Leamington
• Turn Left onto Mersea Road 2
• Turn Right onto Mersea Road 12
• Bear Left at Point Pelee Dr
• Continue into Point Pelee National Park
• Follow the road south to Camp Henry!

Directions from London

• Take Highway 401 south 
• Take exit 56 onto County Road 42
• Turn Left onto Gracey Sideroad 37
• Turn Left onto County Road 8
• Turn Right onto County Road 37
• Bear Left at Mannery Road
• Turn Right onto Deer Run Road
• Turn Left onto Mersea Road 12
• Bear Left at Point Pelee Dr
• Continue into Point Pelee National Park
• Follow the road south to Camp Henry!

Address

• 1118 Point Pelee Dr, Leamington, ON N8H 3V4
   

Contact information
Phone number: 519-453-8858x1103
Email: camp.henry@ymcaswo.ca

Address (London Office): 165 Elmwood Ave E, London ON N6C0A8
Address (Point Pelee): 1118 Point Pelee Dr, Leamington, ON N8H3V4