2025 PWS Week at Shadow Lake Centre

Apply Now

OPWSA is delighted to announce that PWS Week at Shadow Lake Centre will take place from Sunday, May 25th to Friday, May 30th, 2025. Registration is now open! Submit your application form now!

PWS Week at Shadow Lake Camp costs $2250 per camper.

This year's PWS Camp Week is available to individuals whose age is 18 years or older.

How to Apply

If your child or client is interested in participating in PWS Week at Shadow Lake Centre, please complete the online application form. A deposit of $1000.00 is required to reserve your spot. In the application form, you can indicate whether you will be sending a cheque or would prefer to pay by credit card. If you indicate that you are paying by credit card, you will receive an invoice by email (within 1-2 business days) that will allow you to submit your credit card payment online. If you require any financial support in order to attend PWS Week at Shadow Lake, please reach out to us, and I can give you some suggestions in regards to subsidies that you can apply for.

Please note, if your child or client has NOT attended camp at Shadow Lake Centre before, you will need to also submit a Guest Profile and Medical Form. Shadow Lake then reviews the forms to check whether they will be able to support your child/client at camp due to staffing ratios. These forms will be emailed to you once you complete the application.

The deadline to apply is Friday, April 4th. All applications are processed in the order that they are received.

The admission package and remaining registration forms will be sent by email in April after the application deadline. Any outstanding balance payment will be required when you submit the remaining registration forms in the admission package.

Since 2007 a great partnership has evolved between the Ontario Prader-Willi Syndrome Association and Shadow Lake Centre, to offer “the greatest camp in the Universe” to individuals ages 16 years and older with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Each year approximately 35 people with PWS come to Shadow Lake for a week of swimming, fishing, boating, dancing, hiking, making crafts and enjoying dozens of other fun activities.

Shadow Lake Centre is a year round outdoor recreation facility which during the summer months operates residential camping and recreation programs to all ages of people with an intellectual disability. Operating since 1965 the facility is located less than a 45 minute drive from Toronto, has over 300 acres of land, private lake, winterized cabins, modern dining hall, health care Centre, recreation hall and indoor crafts hall and basketball court.

All of the meals are designed by a dietitian and are kept to 1200 calories. This coupled with morning, afternoon and evening snacks meet the needs of all of the guests and staff. Two dietitians and professional food service staff ensures that portions are controlled and all of the guests and staff receive the same menu items.

All of the staff are recruited through various Universities and Colleges, and many are enrolled in social service courses. After the PWS camp, staff remain with the camp for the entire summer. In addition to staff working as counselors, we have a full time Director, Program Supervisor and Property Manager. Specialty staff include dietitians, lifeguards, Program Instructors, Health Care Workers and Overnight Awake Staff. All staff receive training prior to the camp and many have worked at Shadow Lake for several years.

For more information about Shadow Lake, please visit their web page at www.shadowlakecentre.ca or contact the Jennifer Coens, Executive Director of OPWSA at ontariopws@gmail.com.