Global Leadership Summer Camp

Registration Open Now

Develop your global leadership skills while studying in Pickering College’s ideal location. The Global Leadership Summer Camp combines leadership development and global competencies with a summer vacation in Ontario, Canada. The camp will allow students to explore what kind of world they want to live in and what kind of leaders they need to be, through exciting and dynamic activities.

Register before December 31 and lock in last year's price at $6,950 CAD

July 27 - August 22
Students ages 12-16

This all inclusive fee includes:

24/7 supervision by supportive and experienced staff who ensure students have a safe,
engaged and enjoyable stay
On-campus air conditioned accommodation in a modern twin bedroom
Daily nutritious meals three times per day plus fruit and snacks
Health insurance and Canadian custodianship during the program
Airport transfers
Students enjoy excellent boarding, dining, athletic and social facilities at one of Canada’s oldest independent schools

Students enjoy the excellent residential, dining, academic, athletic and social facilities of one of Canada’s oldest independent schools focused on providing students with the social conscience, confidence and skills to shape the future. All aspects of the program provide opportunity for leadership development and personal growth through peer support, creative problem solving and team-building. For students whose English proficiency would not allow for productive contribution in an English-language classroom environment, be sure to check out our ESL Summer Camp.

Camp Details

Program Description

Experience Canada with friends from around the world

Enjoy an exciting evening program of arts, sports and recreational activities while getting to know friends from many different countries. Weekend excursions are carefully planned to highlight exciting destinations for leadership. Excursions include the nation’s capital, Ottawa, and scenic wonders like Niagara Falls. Local excursions to sports fixtures, theme parks and other leisure activities will engage participants and create memories to last a lifetime. All students will receive a hat, camp memorabilia and access to camp photos!

On-campus activities

Sports offered include basketball, soccer, badminton, ball hockey, volleyball, spike ball, yoga and gym fitness. Arts offered include film-making, photography, canvas painting, sculpting, glee club and live-radio production.

Off-campus trips

In addition to a memorable three-day two-night excursion, participants also enjoy supervised day trips to Niagara Falls, the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada’s Wonderland, CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium, a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game, Laser Quest, a Medieval Times dinner show and more!

Program Details

Personal leadership style profile, goal setting and development program
Integrative thinking and design thinking workshops to address a UN Sustainable
Development Goal of choice
Global Leadership Action Project and Pitch
21st Century Solution Carousel including app design, 3D printing, social media campaigns,
community outreach, education program and prototype creation
Two-day Model UN-style conference
Podcast creation and presentation on our radio station, 102.7 CHOP FM
Experiential leadership activities at the Blue & Silver Farm
Skill development focusing on public speaking, creativity and innovation, thinking tools, media creation, project completion, resilience, research, digital literacy, and global competency

Examples of Pickering College Global Leadership Projects

Publishing a children's book to educate young people about Parkinson's disease
Creating biodegradable plates from eggshells
Lobbying location governments to reduce salt use on roads
Presenting a licensed TEDxYouth event to amplify youth voices
Designing a personal fitness tracker app
Creating a student volunteer program to support elderly community members
Adapting a phone camera to perform retinal scans in remote locations

There is so much to see and do while learning at Pickering College! To complement our classroom studies, many exciting excursions are planned for this summer.

Accommodation & Facilities

School and Residence Facilities

Pickering College has a large and historic campus located in the small town of Newmarket, just 40 minutes from Toronto. Campers take advantage of Pickering College's sports and athletic spaces through co-curricular programming and evening activities.

We provide all campers with a safe and supportive place to call home in our residences: Firth House and New House. Campers will be assigned a roommate in comfortable twin-bed study rooms. There are also Common Rooms in each residence for relaxing and socializing. Common Rooms may be used during free time after all school obligations are met. Daily Internet access is provided to allow students to connect with family and friends back home, but is scheduled to ensure that campers get a good night's sleep and are encouraged to practice their English with the other campers.

Each student will have a bed, desk, chair, lamp, bookshelf and cupboard with a dresser and drawers. Bathrooms are shared with other students.

Laundry and Housekeeping

Campers are responsible for their own laundry and for cleaning their clothes. Free washers, dryers and laundry soap are provided for that purpose. Staff is on hand to help when needed.

Campers are responsible for making their bed every day and for the general tidiness of their rooms. The housekeeping staff will vacuum the floor and dust from time-to-time. The housekeeping staff will be pleased to help you with any problems regarding your room or your clothing if you ask them for help.

Supervision

The Global Leadership camp is managed and supervised by experienced staff; 24/7 supervision is provided by residential counsellors and tour escorts of university age or older. These counsellors are there to ensure students have a safe, exciting and enjoyable stay.

Staff candidates have a long screening process before being offered employment. Staff must undergo a police background check. The staff attend a number of pre-program training initiatives, including an intensive live-in course at Pickering College. Training is ongoing throughout the summer.

The staff live in residence at the school, developing commitment and furthering the process of forming bonds. A balance of different types of personalities and strengths is consciously maintained.

All staff members are trained in emergency first aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, and treatment for anaphylaxis.

Fees & Start Dates

Campus Arrival and Departure:

For campers being transported to and from the airport by Pickering College, please take note of or flight booking expectations:

Arrival: Flights should arrive at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) after 5:00 a.m. on the camp start date. Complementary transportation is available for all flights with scheduled arrival on the camp start date, or in the early morning hours that night (until 2:00 a.m.)

Departure: Flights should depart from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on the camp end date. Complementary transportation is available for all flights with a scheduled departure on the camp end date, or in the early morning hours that night (until 2:00 a.m.)

For campers being dropped off and picked up from the Pickering College campus:

Arrival: It is our expectation that campers are dropped off between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on the camp start date.

Departure: It is our expectation that campers are picked up between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on the camp end date.

If any student needs accommodation before or after the camp, the agent or family is responsible for securing and authorizing these arrangements.

Method of Payment

You may pay by Canadian cheque, money order or bank draft. Cheques are payable to Pickering College. If you wish to pay by bank wire transfer please contact Pickering College's Business Office.

We accept credit card payments online. Please use student number "9999" for your camp payment and be sure to include the camper's full name as it appears on the registration form.

Withdrawal Policy & Cancellations

If the Canadian Embassy rejects your application for a Tourist Visa for any reason, we will refund your deposit. Copies of documentation from the Embassy will be required. A request to cancel your registration must be made in writing and requires a brief explanation for the withdrawal.

If you wish to cancel for any other reason, a request to cancel your registration must be made in writing and requires a brief explanation for the withdrawal. If a camper withdraws after enrolling, regardless of when the notice is provided, the $1,000 deposit is forfeited and is non-refundable. If a camper withdraws up to two weeks before the start of camp, 50 per cent of the tuition is non-refundable. Within two weeks of the start of camp, 100 per cent of tuition is non-refundable. That means the parents/guardian have financial responsibility for the full tuition.

Visa Information

If you are enrolling in an educational program lasting less than six months, such as the Pickering College Global Leadership Summer Camp, Canadian Immigration does not require you to have a study permit and you may enter Canada as a visitor.

Depending on the country you are from, you may require a visa to enter Canada as a visitor. To find out if you need a visa to visit Canada you may consult Canadian Immigration.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Global Leadership Summer Program

What skills will I learn in the Global Leadership Summer Program?

Public Speaking
Creativity and Innovation
Thinking Tools
Media Creation
Project Implementation
Resilience
Research Skills
Digital Literacy
Global Competencies

Could you please tell us how many students there are in each group? (Maximum group size)

One of our program strengths is to be as personalized as we can by providing each student the opportunity for leadership development and personal growth through peer support, creative problem solving, and team-building activities, so we keep our classes small with a teacher/student ratio 1:18.

How long does every lesson normally last?

An Instructional period usually lasts for 90 minutes.

What kinds of fun activities are available?

During the program, you will have off-campus evening activities and weekend trips to places of interest. There will also be regular physical, social and cultural evening activities on campus. After your registration is approved, we will email the Camper Information package to you by April, which includes a detailed calendar of activities. Below is an example of activities we have done in the past:

Off-Campus

Day trip: CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Royal Ontario Museum,
Blue Jays baseball game, Canada's Wonderland, shopping mall, Newmarket scavenger hunt, Laser Quest, Medieval Times dinner and show plus more!

On-Campus Activities

Daily Co-Curricular Program: Baking, soccer, drama, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, filmmaking, scrapbooking, crafts, dodgeball, photography and badminton.
Evening Program: Capture the flag, amazing race, bonfire night, cultural night, dance night, movie night, talent show

Is the participation for the evening and weekend social programs optional?

No, we expect every student registered in the camp to participate in all the activities as this is an essential part of the Global Leadership experience.

Will Pickering College be used for lessons and activities, to meals and accommodations?

For on-campus activities (i.e., classroom, field, arena, gymnasium, dining hall, housing residence) these will be carried out on Pickering College's 42 hectare campus. For weekend and off-campus activities, the students will be transported using Pickering College's own buses to the respective sites.

What type of activities will I be doing?

Personal leadership style profile, goal setting and development program
Integrative thinking and design thinking workshops to address a UN Sustainable Development Goal of choice
Global Leadership Action Project and Pitch
21st Century Solution Carousel including app design, 3D printing, social media campaigns, community outreach, education program and prototype creation
Two-day Model UN-style conference
Podcast creation and presentation on our radio station, 102.7 CHOP FM
Experiential leadership activities at our Blue & Silver Farm

About the students and staff

What is the student profile?

International students from around the world participate in Pickering College's ESL and Global Leadership Summer Camps to have a memorable summer experience and learn more about Canada and its culture. Students are between 12 and 16 years old.

Where do your students come from?

Our program guarantees a good mix of students coming from all around the world. In the past, we have had students from Colombia, Germany, Japan, China, Korea, Spain, Thailand, Iran, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, Venezuela, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Iran and Mexico. We strive to maintain a balance of cultures in the classroom so that you will have a solid leadership and cultural learning experience.

What are the qualifications of the teachers?

Our teachers hold a Bachelor of Education. In addition, they are also qualified by the Ontario College of Teachers.

What is your staff-to-student ratio outside the classroom?

Staff-to-student ratio outside the classroom is 1 teacher to every 10-18 students.

About registration, finance and cancellation

What is included in the tuition fees for 2025?

The “All Inclusive” Global Leadership Summer Camp Program consists of:

Personal leadership style profile, goal setting and development program
Integrative thinking and design thinking workshops to address a UN Sustainable Development Goal of choice
Global Leadership Action Project and Pitch
21st Century Solution Carousel including app design, 3D printing, social media campaigns, community outreach, education program and prototype creation
Two-day Model UN-style conference
Podcast creation and presentation on our radio station, 102.7 CHOP FM
Experiential leadership activities at our Outdoor Education Campus, the Blue & Silver Farm
24/7 supervision by Pickering College staff
Comfortable accommodation in a modern twin-bed and study room
Nutritious meals three times per day plus fruits and snacks
Health insurance during the program
Airport transfer
On-campus daily sports and recreational activities

How long will it take to process my application?

Once we have received your completed online application together with the CDN $1,000 registration fee, we will require two to three weeks for the letter of acceptance to be emailed out to you.

When do I get my letter of acceptance?

Your letter of acceptance can be scanned and emailed to you or it can be faxed to you within two to three weeks after your file is complete. The original letter of acceptance will be sent to you by mail upon request.

May I have the acceptance letter sent by express mail?

Your original letter of acceptance will be sent to you by email. If you require an original document, you can request courier delivery.

How can I submit my application?

To submit an online application, please visit our online application form.

Applications are processed on a rolling basis and we will accept them until two weeks before the start of the camp. It is recommended that you submit your application as early as possible to be able to get the visa on time and to guarantee a spot in the camp.

Once the application has been approved, we will email you the letter of acceptance. The letter of acceptance can be used to obtain your visitor visa if required.

Enrolment will be on a first come, first served basis.

If I do not receive my tourist visa, may I cancel my registration and receive a refund?

If the Canadian Embassy rejects your application for a Tourist Visa for any reason, we will refund the fees paid. Copies of documentation from the Embassy will be required. A request to cancel your registration must be made in writing and requires a brief explanation for the withdrawal.

If I cancel for other reasons, can I receive a refund of my tuition payment?

A request to cancel your registration must be made in writing and requires a brief explanation for the withdrawal. If a camper withdraws after enrolling, regardless of when the notice is provided, the $1,000 deposit is forfeited and is non-refundable. If a camper withdraws up to two weeks before the start of camp, 50 per cent of the tuition fee is non-refundable. Within two weeks of the start of camp, 100 per cent of tuition is non-refundable.

How much money do I need for spending expenses for one month of study?

You will need some pocket money for snacks, souvenirs, and for shopping. Average spending ranges from about $30.00 to $50.00 CAD a week without any major purchases.

Can I receive a scholarship for the Global Leadership Summer Program?

Unfortunately, there are no scholarships or financial aid provided by Pickering College for the Global Leadership Summer Program.

Do I need to purchase health insurance?

This medical insurance will cover the basic services of physicians and hospitals in the event of illness or injury.

Mandatory health insurance provided by Pickering College is already included in the tuition fees.

About On-Campus Accommodation

What are the advantages of living on campus?

Students who live on campus are located close to classes and student activities. It is very convenient to live on campus because it allows the students to be fully immersed in the English language environment. The ESL camp is managed and supervised by the experienced staff of Pickering College; 24/7 supervision is provided by residential counsellors and tour escorts of university age or older. These counsellors are there to ensure students have a safe, exciting, and enjoyable stay.

What are the options for meals?

Equipped with leading-edge cooking equipment, our kitchen team serves high quality and nutritious meals.

All meals are provided in the Dining Hall. Some meals will be off campus. Please indicate on the medical form if you have any food allergies or dietary concerns.

Can I cook in the campus residence?

No.

Will you help keep safe students' money, tickets, valuables and medicines upon their arrival?

Upon students arrival, they will be provided a large personal envelope for safekeeping. They will place their passports, airline tickets, valuables and extra spending money in the envelope. The envelope will be kept in the vault at our school and they will have access to it any day during set hours. The rooms are also equipped with a safe if students have any valuables they would like to personally store. Concurrently, they will also handover any medication to be kept by our staff.

How often can students do their own laundry?

Students are free to do their laundry one to two times a week. Laundry soap is provided on-site.

About Pickering College

What makes your camp unique?

Students benefit from personalized small class size. Our staff to student ratio is kept at 1:18 to ensure that students learn English in a comfortable and more personalized environment and to provide each student the opportunity to participate.
Students participate in operations of live radio station, 102.7 CHOP FM. 102.7 CHOP FM is a CRTC-licensed radio station where students get the opportunity to become on-air hosts, producers, editors and interviewers, enhancing their presentation and public speaking skills.
Leadership development and team building trip to an outdoor recreation centre. Students participate in the elements of overnight trip preparation and experience multiple different activities on land and water. These activities create an ideal environment for the students to develop leadership, critical problem solving, communication skills and is also a powerful way to connect the wide diversity of students to actively support and respect one another and the natural environment. Some of our past year activities include voyageur canoeing, ziplining, pole walking, paddle boarding and participating in a high ropes course.
Escorted service for evening and weekend activities. The camp is managed and supervised by experienced staff of Pickering College. 24/7 supervision is provided by resident counsellors of university age or older. These counsellors ensure students have a safe, exciting and enjoyable stay. They are also trained in emergency first aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and treatment for anaphylaxis.
Excellent boarding facilities. Students enjoy the excellent boarding, dining, academic, athletic and social facilities at one of Canada's oldest independent schools.

Will I be able to use the athletic facilities at Pickering College?

Your registration in the Global Leadership Summer Camp Program allows you to use all of our recreation space including:

three playing fields for soccer and rugby
a baseball diamond
a rubberized surface track

What is Pickering College like?

At Pickering College, parents and students will discover our long history of leadership amongst independent schools – a tradition of educational excellence and innovation since 1842. Founded on solid values emphasizing learning through action, students will discover a school where academic, co-curricular and residential programs focus on developing leadership, values-based decision-making and social responsibility through service to others. And they will discover a spirit of community linked to the past, energized in the present and focused on the future.

Pickering College is located on a beautiful 42-acre campus just 45 minutes north of Toronto in Newmarket, Ontario. Our majestic buildings speak to the history and tradition of Pickering College, and with regular investments and upgrades, we continue to provide leading edge learning spaces for our students.

About Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

What is the city of Newmarket like?

The Town of Newmarket has a population of 87,000, with both small town charm and big city conveniences. The close proximity to Toronto makes it attractive to business and citizens. Its proximity to the Holland River Trail System and Fairy Lake allows for recreational, cultural and arts activities. The Town of Newmarket is the home of York Regional Headquarters, and the Southlake Regional Health Centre.

How close is Newmarket to Toronto?

Newmarket is about 45 minutes to downtown Toronto by car, bus or train.

What is the nearest airport and how long does it take from the airport to your school?

Students attending the ESL and Global Leadership Summer Camp program will fly into Pearson International Airport. The airport is 45 minutes from the school and transportation from and to the airport is included in the camp fee.

How is the weather in Newmarket during July and August?

During July and August, the weather is sunny, warm and humid with a temperature range from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius. Early mornings and evenings are cool in August.

What type of clothing should I bring?

Canadians tend to dress casually during the summer months, especially on a school campus. It is rare to see someone wearing a suit during the summer. Be sure to bring your bathing suit, shorts and casual athletic clothing. Early mornings and late nights can be cool, so you will need a warm sweatshirt or a light jacket.

Clothes: shorts, socks, t-shirts (golf shirts), jeans, sweatshirts
Shoes: Comfortable shoes for the classroom, evening and weekend activities; running shoes (for sports and outdoor activities) and sandals for the shower (optional)
Light waterproof jacket for the cool evenings or rainy days
Dress clothing for special events; eg. khaki pants/shorts, dress pants, dress shirt/golf shirt, skirt/dress, blouse, and nice shoes/sandals
Personal care products: your own towels, soap, toothbrush, shampoo, deodorant, and other toiletries
Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher)
Bathing suit and beach towel (you will need a towel for showering)
Pens and pencils
Duffle bag or back pack
Several pictures from home (baby picture, family, friends, landscape)
An item(s) that represents your culture (to be used on “Culture Night")
A small book that you can use as a journal to record your experiences
Don't forget your camera!
Bed linens will be provided for you.

"This is the sort of program that could change the world if every student took advantage of it to its highest ability. This is the one time in your high school career that you will actually get some perspective of what the world is really like. This is the one time that your hand isn’t being held the whole time through a project and that what you do will really make or break its feasibility. This is the time to be ambitious and really show how far you’ve come as a person." — Celeste C. '19

"The creativity, passion, determination, and perseverance of each of these finalists shone through in their video presentations along with their live answers to the questions. I hope they are all celebrating in their achievement. I also hope every PC educator is celebrating – you are creating innovative learning opportunities that are creating positive change in our world!" — Melissa Mikel, Director of Education at Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies

"What incredible students you have developed. I left the presentations today inspired! The work you are undertaking with the Capstone Project provides key foundational skills for your students to live a life of impact."
— Kevin Peesker, President, Microsoft Canada

For more information about the Global Leadership Summer Camp Program at Pickering College, please contact Lian Senior, Program Development Coordinator.

16945 Bayview Avenue,
Newmarket, ON,
Canada
L3Y 4X2

Telephone: 1-905-895-1700 ext 252
1-877-895-1700 ext 252
Fax: 905-895-1306
Email: auxiliaryprograms@pickeringcollege.on.ca