Volunteering With
Camp Outlook
Camp Outlook trip leaders are people from many walks of life who are respectful, open-minded, and kind. There is no experience necessary! We provide all the training, certifications, and experience for our volunteers to become qualified trip leaders. Our volunteers thrive with a desire to learn, a can-do attitude, and a strong sense of cooperation. We are motivated by a desire to share fun adventures and unique learning opportunities with our campers. People of all backgrounds, identities, and life experiences, especially marginalized and underrepresented people, are encouraged to apply.
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More information about the summer canoe trip leader role is available on this page.
TESTIMONIALS
Every summer is different for everyone, but many people walk away with lifelong friends, fun and memorable stories, and a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment after a couple of months in the woods.
Here are some things our past volunteers have to say.
"Spending the summer volunteering with Camp Outlook was honestly the best thing I could have chosen to do with those first few hedonistic months after finishing university. As a non-profit whose mission is to make the outdoors accessible to disadvantaged youth, Outlook employs volunteers to lead canoe trips in Algonquin Park, a spectacular wilderness area in Ontario. Despite not spending a night under canvas until I was almost an adult, I was gripped by the camping bug and have been continually seeking ways to escape into the great outdoors ever since. Though Outlook doesn’t require any previous experience - one of the great joys is the diversity of backgrounds from which volunteers come - I was keen to share the experiences I had gained over my years adventuring to help young people experience the magic of being outdoors."
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Katy, 2023 Summer Staff​
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"When I first heard about Camp Outlook, I felt it would be the perfect opportunity to blend my passions for sports, swimming in lakes, and the wilderness, all while making a positive impact on underprivileged youth. However, I didn't anticipate just how enriching the training would be, the deep bonds that would form with both the youth and fellow trip leaders, or the incredible feeling of disconnecting completely from the outside world to live fully in and with nature for nine days."
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Juliette, 2023 Summer Staff
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"Volunteering at Camp Outlook was an unexpectedly rewarding experience that brought me closer to my life's purpose. While I initially thought guiding campers in the wilderness would be the main challenge, I was surprised by the strong bonds I formed with the staff, despite our different ages and backgrounds. Our shared love for adventure quickly turned the group into a second family. I was equally surprised by the impact of tripping with campers. Watching them grow in confidence and expressiveness, and seeing them engage deeply with the experience, was incredibly fulfilling. Camp Outlook gave me far more than I expected, both in friendships and personal growth."
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William, 2024 Summer Staff
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BOARD of DIRECTORS
Outlook's Board of Directors is a team of volunteers, working hard to guide Outlook towards the future. Usually past volunteers with either winter or summer, they work on longer term goals, like finances, evaluations, implementing new systems, and looking for growth opportunities.
ASHER
Asher works in M&A at a private equity firm based in Toronto. He was a summer trip leader in 2018 and still has a love for the outdoors. After seeing the impact Camp Outlook has on its campers, Asher was thrilled to have the opportunity to serve on the board and remain involved.
GREG
Greg Gransden is a television writer and director based in Montreal. He was a summer staff in 2017 before joining the Board. Greg works on fundraising and grants, as well as outreach to former staff.
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JAMES
James was an Outlook summer trip leader in 2013 where he developed a lifelong fascination with canoe tripping and the joy of carrying heavy things up hills. He is excited to reconnect with Outlook through the Board. James currently works for the government of Canada and lives in Toronto.
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MANAN
In the summer of 2022, Manan began his journey into canoe tripping as a volunteer at Outlook. The warmth of the Outlook community and their support inspired him to co-lead three camper trips and later become co-director. The combination of volunteer work, shared experiences, the joy of campers, and the beauty of Algonquin Park left a lasting impact on Manan. He is excited to start this new chapter at Outlook as a board member and hopes to contribute to making the programs more accessible for both staff and campers.
JOHN
John started with Camp Outlook as a summer canoe trip leader in 2009, helped out with the winter program while studying math and physics at Queen's, became a summer camp director in 2010, and was on the board of directors from 2010 to 2019. John returned as a summer camp director for the 2021 covid-altered season and rejoined the board of directors in 2022. John has also worked at Project Canoe, Camp Kirk, Trails Youth Initiatives, and Pathways to Education. An avid user of as few trip dishes as possible and enough spices to make it taste good, John's favourite lake in Algonquin Park is McIntosh.