Crusaders Summer Day Camp Program

Summer Day Camp Options All Summer for 4-18 year-olds

The Crusaders Rugby Club offers a range of fun, active and engaging summer day camp options for 4-18 year-olds based at our park in eastern Oakville, open to members and the general public. The camps are multi-activity/multi-sport, about teamwork, making friends, trust, self-confidence, skill development, athletic development, values, enthusiasm, courage, active participation and, most importantly, abundant fun and laughs. They’re inclusive, safe, accessible and designed to welcome both complete beginners and the more experienced alike. The camps have received almost unanimous glowing reviews from parents and kids – just ask someone who has attended or read some of our parent feeback.

Our camp counsellors are university-aged, long-standing club members who have played for the club as minis through juniors and seniors, and played university-level rugby and provincial level rugby. Our Rugby & Leadership camp is run by Don Kroes (Crusaders U14 coach, NCCP Level 2, High School Physical Education Teacher, former Crusaders Senior Men and Brock University player).

Each camp is slightly different in terms of activities and approach so you’re encouraged to read the descriptions – and please reach out to us if you have questions.

Crusaders 2024 Summer Camp Schedule

Quick Links:


Minis Summer Day Camp

5-day camps during July and August, 2024

Ages: 4-11, Co-ed

Now in their fourth year, our Minis Summer Day Camps have become incredibly popular with parents and kids alike. Open to children 4 – 11 years old, boys and girls these week-long day, primarily outdoor camps combine rugby-based activities with other sports, games and fun for kids.

  • Skills and exploration in the game of rugby
  • Great for beginners and more experienced children
  • Healthy, outdoor-based coaching by experienced university-aged coaches who have played rugby at provincial and national representative levels
  • An introduction to the values of rugby and your local rugby club
  • The chance to explore new activities including science, nature, art and group games & activities
  • Endless fun!
  • Sign up for as many weeks as you’d like!

Sports of All Sorts Camp

Week-long Multi-Sport Day Camp

Ages: 9-13, Co-ed

Back by popular demand, the Sports of All Sorts camp is a week-long multi-sport camp intended to introduce athletes to a number of sports and activities, including rugby. Campers will spend most of the day outside on the grass fields, learning the basics of a different sport each day and building fundamental skills. Each afternoon will feature a different mini-tournament in the sport of the day, offering kids a chance to put their new skills to the test and have a ton of fun. The best part about multi-sport camps is that no experience is needed, we welcome campers with a wide variety of skill levels.

  • Open to boys and girls aged 9-13
  • Sports included: touch football, rugby, ultimate frisbee, soccer, badminton, croquet, volleyball, soccer, cricket, dodgeball, field baseball, camp games and more.
  • Healthy, outdoor-based coaching by experienced university-aged coaches.
  • An introduction to the values of rugby and your local rugby club.
  • Endless fun!
  • Sign up for as many weeks as you’d like.

Costs:

  • $295/week (no HST applies)

More information, dates, availability and registration here

Junior Rugby & Leadership Camp

Ages: 12-15, Co-ed

The Crusaders Rugby & Leadership Camp for boys and girls entering Grade 7, 8 or 9 will build fundamental skills to enhance success in rugby and develop leadership skills, helping participants on and off the field. The focus of the camp will be on providing a fun and exciting environment where participants become more confident, skilled and knowledgeable in the game of rugby while also developing teamwork skills, communication skills, and group dynamics through a wide variety of initiative tasks, games and activities. Participants will be encouraged to take risks and try new things to discover their rugby and leadership potential. Participants will be more willing to demonstrate responsibility and leadership as they tackle various tasks and challenges.

Core Rugby Skills

  • Pass, Catch, and Handling Skills
  • Running and Evasion
  • Contact Skills – Tackling Technique
  • Contact while in possession of the ball
  • Offloads
  • Contact Area – Ball Presentation & Rucking skills
  • Kicking Skills
  • Team Attack and Defence

Leadership

  • Team Building
  • Group Dynamics
  • Communication
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Organizational Skills
  • Risk-taking
  • Leadership Styles

Costs:

  • $335/week (+HST)

More information, dates, availability and registration here

What Parents Say

  • “Thank you conducting a real SPORT camp where kids are challenged and build up their strength.”
  • “The coaches play at the highest level of rugby so they make for great role models (especially for the girls).”
  • “It was an introduction to rugby for [my child] and a continuation of her improving her motor skills through sport. I wasn’t sure how she would like it, but she absolutely loved it.”
  • “Both kids loved it. Best camp they’ve been on.”
  • “Good, healthy, active, outdoor play! The coaching was excellent…”
  • “I loved that the camp was outdoors and that the kids were so active all day. I also love how welcoming and inclusive it was.”
  • “Brilliant camp – best week of the whole summer for my kids. Thank you!”
  • “Thank you so much to all involved, [my child] says it was the best camp ever!”
  • “Honestly, it was great. The camp leaders are wonderful. My son has been to lots of different camps over the years, and he has never loved one this much.”
  • “My son can be a little shy and anxious and his confidence really rocketed through the week.”
  • “It was a nice intro to rugby for little kids (mine are 4 and 6) – I can tell that they were learning about rugby and being taught core skills, but it was also very fun and accessible.”
  • “This was my sons 3rd year attending this camp. He has loved it every time. It’s very well run and the counsellors have all been amazing. It’s a great mix of rugby and other fun things and I highly recommend it.”
  • “British Bulldog… Octopus… Water fights… passing and kicking drills… [my child] was raving about his day… everyday!!”