Small Waves Strong Minds is a youth paddling day camp hosted at the Sunnyside Paddling Club on Toronto’s waterfront, designed for children and teens ages 7 to 17. This unique outdoor program introduces campers to a variety of paddling disciplines while building confidence, fitness, leadership, and a lifelong connection to water-based sport.

Campers explore kayaking, stand up paddle boarding (SUP), outrigger canoeing, and dragon boating, combined with dryland fitness, movement literacy, and interactive STEM learning. The program is guided by the Canoe Kayak Canada Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model, ensuring age-appropriate skill development in a fun, play-based environment.

Instruction balances technical learning with exploration and play, maintaining a coach-to-camper ratio of approximately 1:6. Campers develop transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, and resilience while enjoying daily outdoor activity on and off the water.

All equipment, including paddles and non-inflatable PFDs, is provided. No prior paddling experience is required; campers must be confident swimmers. Optional weekend racing opportunities are available for those interested, but competition is never required.

Program Goals include:

Building fitness through speed, strength, endurance, and flexibility
Developing leadership, teamwork, and communication skills
Inspiring curiosity through hands-on STEM learning
Encouraging a love of paddling and outdoor recreation

For questions, contact youth@sunnysidepc.ca