The Pathfinder Experience
Camp Pathfinder offers the finest wilderness summer camp experience to 100 boys, ages 7 - 16. Located on Pathfinder Island, Source Lake in world-famous Algonquin Provincial Park.
Pathfinder is all about exciting outdoor sports and canoe trips, a boy's ideal summer adventure. A Pathfinder summer also means growing independence, character, values, abilities, and friendships for life.
Boys attend Pathfinder from the U.S., Canada, Europe and South America. Our campers hail from 14 U.S. states, 4 Canadian provinces, and 6 overseas countries.
Since 1914, Pathfinder has provided a renowned canoe tripping program, and a rich in-camp program of paddling, nature lore / ecology, swimming, athletics, arts, and ropes-challenge. Traditions are many at Pathfinder, including everything from games to awards, to events celebrating our long history of fellowship. Pathfinder puts the emphasis on friendships and community, on simple-living in a low-technology setting and on a boy's personal connection to the natural world.
At Pathfinder, an expert, highly trained staff of 70 counselors and guides provide the crucial 1:2 ratio that ensures individual attention for every boy. Owners Glenn & Heidi Arthurs and Mike & Leslie Sladden personally steward Camp's leadership tradition.
Traditional Pathfinder sessions are 2 weeks, 3 1/2 weeks or 7 weeks during July and August. For new boys, ages 7 - 8, there is a special one-week "Mic Mac" program offered twice each summer. For boys 9-12 there are special first-timers' 2-week sessions.
A Boy's Summer Life
What is it like to be a Pathfinder camper? Viewing our gallery of photos will give you a pretty good idea. View "A Pathfinder Season" slide tour.
The Pathfinder in-camp program features a wide variety of water and land sports, from paddling to swimming, from archery to ropes course.
The Pathfinder canoe trip program ranges from 3-day to 25-day expeditions in the back country of Ontario and Quebec.
Pathfinder Island has provided a boys' summer life for 98 seasons.
Pathfinder has sessions of 2 weeks, 3 1/2 weeks and 7 weeks each summer. Each session is designed especially for the camp's age groups, ranging from age 7-16.
Camper age groups ...
Jonathan had a great time on both of his trips, and goes over the pictures regularly. What a good experience for those guys! Thanks for the great opportunity you’re offering all of your campers, and my sons in particular. They will carry that experience the rest of their lives.
D. Trimble, Parkland, FL
Leadership and Friendship
Leadership makes all the difference at summer camp. Pathfinder has a highly trained staff of counselors and directors, raised from within the camper ranks. Staff training and preparation is the very best available. The Staff-to-Camper ratio at Pathfinder has always been 1:2. This ensures individual attention for every boy, and the proper safety and supervision on Pathfinder canoe trips.
Leadership and the Pathfinder camper
Setting and Tradition

- Algonquin summer days in Pathfinder canoes.
Pathfinder is a close community of campers and staff, enriched by long history and a large, active alumni family. The routines, traditions and values of the camp are shared by 4 generations, remaining vibrant as Pathfinder approaches her 100th anniversary.
Pathfinder Island and Algonquin Park provide a spectacular north woods setting. Algonquin is the crown jewel in the Ontario parks system. Pathfinder has remained beautifully rustic and wooded since her founding in 1914. Here in Canada's canoe country is a chance to live simply and in harmony with a pristine ecosystem.
Learn about Pathfinder traditions ...









