Why Wingate

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From the moment you cross the bridge, you belong. The walk to ET Field—the far side of camp—is short enough to sprint during Wingate Wars marathon, but long enough to feel like you’ve travelled to another time zone. On Lower Field, most of the bunks line the path where younger and older campers live side by side—playing soccer baseball, starting water fights, or keeping a tetherball tournament going all summer long. It’s a camp where older kids tuck in their younger siblings at night, and where age doesn’t matter during a free play basketball game. Senior campers have a bit more freedom near Upper Field, but they’re never far from the rhythm of camp: flagpole, shared meals, and coveted wall time before curfew.

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​​​​​​​​​​At Wingate, everyone knows everyone’s name. Campers and staff come mostly from Montreal, but many arrive from across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. A good number are second-generation—the children of alumni who once stood at that same flagpole and sang the same songs on Saturday Night.

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Wingate runs on tradition: Friday night core values awards. Saturday night Sing Song. Cheering for that junior camper’s first moment on stage—when something unexpected turns unforgettable, and they become a camp icon in a single moment. It’s a place to dance, to paint, to play sports, to waterski for the first time. To laugh until you can’t catch your breath. To recognize your friends for being brave, kind, or sticking with something hard. To sing House at Pooh Corner arm in arm with whoever is sitting next to you on the bench. To find your best friend for life.​