NEW HORIZONS - Ontario Camps Association (OCA) Strategic Plan 2025-2027

Sep 12, 2026

The Ontario Camps Association (OCA) strategic plan for 2025-2027 sets a forward path for maximizing strengths, addressing weaknesses, capturing opportunities, and reducing threats to sustain leadership in quality camp experiences. It defines an enriching, safe, high-quality vision and a mission supported through accreditation, education, promotion, and inclusive community building. The plan also articulates anti-oppression and anti-racism commitments, equity, diversity and inclusion, and a phased approach linking internal capacity building to sector strengthening and external awareness.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Vision, Mission, Core Values

Our Commitment to Anti-Oppression & Anti-Racism

Why this plan, why now?

Our Strategic Priorities & How We Activate Them

Strategic Priority A: Modernize & Strengthen OCA

Strategic Priority B: Build Industry Capacity & Resilience

Strategic Priority C: Create & Amplify the Case for Camp

How We’ll Implement This Plan

Conclusion

NEW HORIZONS ONTARIO CAMPS ASSOCIATION (OCA) STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2027 CONTENTS 04 Executive Summary | 05 | Vision, Mission, Core | | --- | --- | | 06 | Our Commitment to Anti-Oppression & Anti-Racism | | 08 | Why this plan, why | | Our | | 09 Values now? Purpose 10 Our Strategic Priorities & How We Activate Them | 11 | Strategic Priority A Modernize & Strengthen OCA | | --- | --- | | 12 | Strategic Priority B
Build Industry Capacity & Resilience | | 13 | Strategic Priority C
Create & Amplify the Case for Camp | | 14 | How We’ll Implement This Plan | | 17 | Conclusion | 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ontario Camps Association (OCA) is at a pivotal moment, embracing both challenges and opportunities that demand strategic thinking, a commitment to our community, and a focus on sustainable growth. This plan framework outlines our path forward, focusing on maximizing our strengths, addressing our weaknesses, seizing opportunities, and mitigating threats to ensure that OCA continues to be a leader in promoting quality camp experiences in Ontario and beyond. 4 Vision Enriching, safe and high quality camp experiences for generations to come. Mission To support, strengthen, and advocate for the enrichment of the camp experience in Ontario through accreditation, education, promotion and inclusive community building. Core Values INTEGRITY-Demonstrating honesty and fairness at all times. RESPECT-Recognizing and protecting the inherent worth of every person, including oneself. RESPONSIBILITY-Being dependable and accountable for choices, actions and commitments. INCLUSIVENESS-Fostering a sense of belonging for all. CARING-Building relationships and demonstrating concern for the needs of others. OPENNESS-Ability and willingness to embrace new and different ideas and to be open to change. 5 OUR COMMITMENT TO ANTIOPPRESSION & ANTIRACISM 6 Statement on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion The Ontario Camps Association strives to provide member camps with education, support and resources with the goal of creating safe spaces for all campers, staff and families that recognize and integrate people’s race, religion, cultural identity, indigenous identity, place of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, income and family structure. Land Acknowledgement The Ontario Camps Association and its members operate on the traditional territories of Indigenous nations who have lived on these lands for millennia. Ontario is covered by 46 treaties and unceded territories, and remains home to Indigenous people alongside settlers, newcomers, and descendants of enslaved people. We are grateful to live and work on this land. We are committed to truth-sharing and active steps towards reconciliation. This includes recognizing our responsibilities to the land and its inhabitants. Our camp professionals are engaged in unlearning colonial legacies andre-evaluating traditions. As an Association, we support these efforts through professional development, educational resources, and reconciliation initiatives. 7 8 WHY THIS PLAN, WHY NOW? Our Purpose At the Ontario Camps Association, we champion the transformative impact of camp on the development and wellness of children and youth across Ontario. Why? Because we know that camp changes lives. This is true both for campers and for the world around them. Camps provide a nurturing environment where children and youth have fun and learn vital life skills. These experiences are crucial for building resilience, fostering emotional and physical well-being, enhancing self-esteem, and honing leadership capabilities. For both campers, and parents and caregivers alike, camps instill confidence and contribute to long-term growth and development well beyond the camp season. Camps are instrumental in cultivating the diverse, capable leaders our businesses, organizations, and communities will rely on in the future. As an essential part of the fabr

FAQs

What is the OCA vision and mission in this strategic plan?

The vision is enriching, safe, high-quality camp experiences for generations to come. The mission is to support, strengthen, and advocate for camp enrichment in Ontario through accreditation, education, promotion, and inclusive community building.

How does the plan address anti-oppression and anti-racism?

It includes commitments to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and emphasizes creating safe spaces for campers, staff, and families. It also outlines land acknowledgement and steps toward truth-sharing and reconciliation through unlearning colonial legacies and re-evaluating traditions.

What are the strategic priorities and how are they structured across 2025-2027?

The priorities are Modernize & Strengthen OCA, Build Industry Capacity & Resilience, and Create & Amplify the Case for Camp. They are phased over three years with two focused goals per year and realistic objectives to support internal capacity, then sector strengthening, and finally external awareness and engagement.

Sep 12, 2026

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