At Camp Chikopi, our technology-free tradition has been part of who we are since the very beginning. It is not a trend, and it is not a marketing idea. It is a long-standing commitment that works. Boys arrive here and step into a summer that feels real, honest, and unforgettable, a summer shaped by nature, activity, and genuine human connection. Something no screen will ever replace.
One of the greatest traditions we protect is not found on a schedule or printed on a map. It is a simple idea that has defined our summers for decades: no technology. From technologies earliest days to today, Chikopi has remained a place where boys step away from screens, not as a punishment and not because technology is negative, but because the world feels different when you live fully in the moment.
Parents already understand this feeling. It is the hope and wish many families share today: to give their sons a space where they can breathe, move, explore, and remember what it feels like to enjoy a day without being pulled in many directions by a device. For the boys reading this, do not worry. Our technology free environment is not about taking something away from you. It is about giving you something bigger.
Chikopi is a small camp with a huge heartbeat. Every day here is shaped by the land, the lake, and the friendships that form naturally when you are surrounded by people instead of pixels. When you wake up to birds instead of alarms, dive into the lake instead of scrolling through notifications, or tell stories at the table instead of “sharing” them, something changes. You begin to feel more awake, more connected, and more yourself.
The setting does half the work. We are tucked into one of the most beautiful natural areas in Ontario with tall trees, winding trails, open fields, and a lake that becomes your second home. Nature has a way of quieting the noise and resetting the mind. Without screens, the world becomes sharper. The sound of a paddle cutting through water, the smell of the forest after the rain, the thump of a soccer ball on grass, and the laughter that carries across the cabins all become clearer. These moments stay with you long after summer ends.
What sets Chikopi apart is the personal connection. We keep our enrollment small on purpose. It means every camper is known by name, personality, strengths, quirks, and dreams. You are never one face in a crowd. You are part of a close group where teammates become friends and friends grow into something very close to brothers. This size allows boys to talk, laugh, compete, solve problems, and share experiences without the distractions that weaken real interaction.
For boys, this is where the magic begins. You will not miss technology because you will be too busy. Whether you are learning a new sport, mastering a skill, jumping off the dock, or sitting with your cabin group sharing stories, your days fill themselves naturally. You start to notice things about yourself, such as how strong you feel in the water, how fast you run when you are not thinking about it, how good it feels to cheer for a teammate, or how relaxing it is to sit on the porch and simply talk. Not text. Not type. Just talk.
For parents, this is the Chikopi promise. We offer the same meaningful break from technology that many elite camps charge thousands of dollars per week to provide, but we do it through tradition, sports, and genuine personal connection, not through strict programs or forceful rules. Boys do not detox here. They simply rediscover how wonderful it feels to be active, to be outdoors, and to build friendships face to face.
Every meal at Chikopi ends the same way it has for decades. People talk, laugh, and share stories from the day. That simple rhythm, the one many families remember from their own childhoods, stays alive here. It happens naturally. When boys disconnect from technology, they reconnect with each other, with the world around them, and with their own confidence.
Chikopi remains proudly technology free because it gives boys the chance to experience a summer that opens their eyes, strengthens their bodies, builds lifelong friendships, and feels entirely real.
“More than half of Canadians aged 12 to 17 engaged in social media (61 %) … several times a day or more.” https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2023002/article/00002-eng.htm
Kerr, S., & Kingsbury, M. (2023). Online digital media use and adolescent mental health. Health Reports, 34(2). Statistics Canada. https://doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x202300200002-eng
