We’re so pleased to co-host this camp info session with alum @stephanierdomet to share stories about the experience and impact of camp. Come meet some very special people who went to camp and meet folks going this year!
Have you washed your lettuce bag - with lettuce still in it - with all your clothes lately?
Maybe you need a break? A little reset?
Please join us Wednesday, May 20 5-7 @laraonagricola for an info session about Make.Do.Camp. along with some alumni of previous years to find out what this unplugged sober retreat for the mind/body/soul is all about.
Graciously co-hosted by camp alum, @stephanierdomet
Thanks for those who have registered for Make.Do.Camp!
An in-person Halifax info session is coming soon.
We will be announcing workshop leaders/tracks in the coming weeks!
Some employers will count camp as professional development! We can help provide a letter.
Please DM if you have any questions.
Make.Do.Camp. will be held September 24-27 2026 at Big Cove YMCA Camp, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Camp is for everyone. Camp is for you. We’re looking for leaders and leaders to be, people going through change and change-makers. People tired of just making do.
You will be bussed from Halifax, Nova Scotia into a YMCA camp in the woods on the northeastern shore. You will enter a world of no phones, no internet and no booze and live in a cabin with other campers. You will have full access to the hiking trails, high ropes course, zip line, climbing trees, archery and canoeing. You will have teachers who will lead workshops, yoga and meditation. Your food will be wholesome, made from scratch and customized for your needs.
The schedule includes high-level workshops, recreation and socials. And you can always find the time and space to just be alone. You will make friends and memories that you’ll have forever. You will go back to your life feeling refreshed and inspired. We can’t wait to see you.
“In 2016 I went to Make Do Camp at Big Cove where people of all ages and backgrounds came together and put phones and substances aside so we could just be there. Between time in nature, embodiment practices, shared activities, and simple, honest conversations, everything slowed down and real connection had room to happen—it felt natural, co-created, and shaped by the time we spent together.“ ~ @shawn.selfridge@watershedhalifax
"Make.Do.Camp. is a place where everyone has your back. Where friends and strangers alike are there for you, and there for themselves. Where phones disappear. It's an event with time and space to sit quietly in a forest, unfold a story you didn’t know need to share, and find a workshop to bolster what’s next. A weekend to reflect personally and professionally. And maybe, most importantly, to give, receive, make bonds, and leave more full than you arrived. I can’t wait to be back." ~ Cameron Jantzen, Owner Rarebird Brand Strategy and Design
"I went not knowing what to expect and came away with more than I ever could have imagined: new and stimulating ways of moving forward in life and business, meaningful connections, and a delicious feeling of momentum. This camp gives something rare and unique – a technology-free event where human connection and expansive, creative space are the priority. I was repeatedly offered the chance to step outside my comfort zone, whether it was through diverse workshop choices or adventurous recreation activities. Add to that, the fact that the camp’s soulful seekers (from all walks of life!) are enclosed within gorgeous nature all weekend long. Together we made powerful magic. If you need a little bit of that in your life, do yourself a favour and sign up for next year. I can guarantee it will fill up fast." ~ @reneehartleib ❤️
“I attended this adult summer camp in 2017, and it remains one of the most creatively transformative experiences I’ve had. The workshops blended theatre, communication, life planning and storytelling in a way that pushed me out of my science-brain comfort zone and helped me rediscover creativity I now use every day in my job. It also empowered me to write my own story without self-imposed limitations, and I believe I’m actually living that story now! I met incredible people from all sectors, and many of those connections have lasted. It’s the kind of camp that stays with you long after it’s over.”
@elizabeth_hfx Executive Director Policy, Planning and Sector Relations, NS Municipal Affairs
“Speaking at Make.Do.Camp — the unplugged, creative retreat held at Big Cove YMCA Camp on Merigomish Harbour in Pictou County, Nova Scotia — was a meaningful highlight of my early career. The event, hosted by Laura Simpson and set at this historic residential camp on a wooded peninsula by the Atlantic, combined the beauty of coastal Nova Scotia with a space designed for connection, reflection, and purposeful conversation. I presented on starting Omar Gandhi Architects, sharing the challenges and joys of launching a practice, and was energized by meeting so many motivated, thoughtful participants from varied backgrounds. The setting — cabins in the woods, ocean breezes, and long talks around campfires — made the experience feel more like a genuine community gathering than a typical talk, and it left a lasting impression on me.” ~ @og_architect
Secure your spot today for 2026
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Ten years ago, Make.Do.Camp. was launched and for two annual sessions, it sparked connections, relationships and energy for its attendees and their communities. The goal was to create a substance and screen-free environment that encouraged a sense of spaciousness, play and learning. For years, we kept hearing about the after-effects of these sessions – projects launched, friendships created and spirits repaired. Real positive change happened.
Today, it feels like camp is needed more than ever. And so we’re bringing it back!
What would it be like to give up your phone for four days, go to camp with a group of entrepreneurs, creatives, professionals – change-makers – and have the opportunity to just learn, create and play? Make.Do.Camp. is a retreat for those seeking a new way to learn, collaborate and challenge themselves. Held from September 24-27 at Big Cove YMCA, in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, participants will have the outdoor invigoration of camp with the intellectual stimulation of a TED event.
Make.Do.Camp. is a four day, three night professional development conference in a camp setting – the oldest overnight camp in Canada, founded in 1889. Campers will be offered a balanced schedule of recreation, shared meals throughout the day, and a choice of professional and creative workshops. High ropes courses, archery, games and other recreational activity will be lead by YMCA counsellors. Solo/meditation time is built-in to the schedule, to allow for campers to have the time for peace and reflection. Night socials will include singalongs by the fireside, walks under the stars and dancing in the main hall.
Registration is now open: /
