Grand River Friendship Society has successfully completed its five-day Kids To Camp 2026 Summer Program, bringing children together for an active and engaging week of learning, creativity, sports, teamwork, and friendship.
Five Days of Learning Through Play
Each day offered new opportunities for children to explore, experiment, stay active, and work together.
Participants enjoyed team-building challenges, tower-building activities, drawing and guessing games, soccer, volleyball, Spikeball, Frisbee, relay races, and other recreational activities.
Creative sessions gave children opportunities to design keychains, paint canvases, work with play dough, and express their ideas through art.
STEM activities added another dimension to the program. Through Robotix, egg-drop challenges, paper-airplane experiments, water rockets, and other hands-on projects, participants were encouraged to think critically, test ideas, solve problems, and learn through experimentation.
More Than Activities
Kids To Camp 2026 was designed to provide much more than a week of summer recreation.
GRFS sought to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where children could develop friendships, strengthen confidence, communicate with others, respect differences, and experience a meaningful sense of belonging.
Through shared games, challenges, creative projects, and team activities, participants experienced the importance of cooperation, supporting one another, and appreciating people from different backgrounds.
These experiences reflect GRFS’s broader commitment to helping children and youth grow academically, socially, emotionally, and physically while building stronger connections within their communities.
Made Possible Through Kids to Camp Funding
The program was made possible with support from The Waterloo Region Record – Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Kids to Camp Fund, held at Waterloo Region Community Foundation.
Grand River Friendship Society gratefully acknowledges this important support, which helps reduce financial barriers and provides children and youth across Waterloo Region with access to meaningful summer learning, recreation, and community-building opportunities.
This funding enabled GRFS to create an accessible program where participants could learn, play, build friendships, discover new interests, and create positive summer memories together.
Thank You to Our Program Community
GRFS extends its sincere appreciation to all participants, parents, volunteers, mentors, community partners, and supporters who contributed to the success of Kids To Camp 2026.
The dedication of volunteers and mentors, the trust of families, and the enthusiasm of the children helped create a positive week filled with learning, laughter, teamwork, and new friendships.
As the program comes to a close, GRFS is grateful for the connections created and the experiences shared throughout the week.
Kids To Camp 2026 — Building friendships, building confidence, and building community.