Allowing more children with chronic illnesses to attend summer camp

Funding provided through the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Fund of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program

Brigadoon Village opens its arms to children who deserve a chance to simply be kids, surrounded by nature and acceptance. Set in beautiful Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Brigadoon Village brings fun and joy to the challenging lives of children and youth with chronic illnesses. This specialized pediatric camp is the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada. With its expanded facilities, Brigadoon now welcomes even more children into a world designed with their needs at heart.

A major expansion project at the camp was made possible through support from the Government of Canada and the Government of Nova Scotia. The project added many new features to the camp, including an arts and crafts building, an outdoor kitchen, a larger campfire pit and amphitheatre, staff cabins and medical accommodations, a high ropes course, a climbing wall and giant swing, and a new facilities management and administration building. As a result, the number of camp activities has doubled and 200 more campers can now attend summer camp each year.

For children like Eva, Brigadoon is a place where healing begins with belonging. “Building Brigadoon bigger and better is an incredible gift to kids like me because it means more kids can gain the strength and confidence to be so much more than their condition,” says Eva, a Brigadoon Village camper living with epilepsy. “Brigadoon has given me so much, and I am genuinely happy, now that I don’t have to hide from myself anymore.”

The clientele is diverse but share some common traits. All campers are young and face significant challenges. A variety of programs for specific health conditions or special needs are offered to youth between the ages of 7 to 18 years old. Some of the camp’s programs are designed for children with hearing or vision impairments, cancer, celiac disease, epilepsy, bereavement, and heart or neurosurgical conditions, to name a few. This allows children and youth with similar illnesses and life hurdles to attend camp alongside others like them. Sharing experiences and having fun together while struggling through similar challenges is invaluable, unforgettable, and life-changing.

Expanding access to healing and joy

Each day at camp is a chance for children to feel like they belong. With the expanded facilities made possible through federal and provincial investment, Brigadoon Village now offers more spaces, activities, and accessible programming tailored to children with chronic illnesses and life challenges. New additions like the arts and crafts building, outdoor kitchen, and high ropes course have doubled the number of activities available, ensuring more kids can enjoy the simple joys of summer in a medically supported, inclusive environment.

The expansion also included upgraded medical accommodations, allowing Brigadoon to safely welcome more children with complex health needs. This integration of care into the camp’s infrastructure means more families can confidently send their children, knowing the right supports are in place.

By supporting this expansion, governments have helped Brigadoon Village reach more children, remove barriers to access, and create a space where healing begins with fun, friendship, and freedom.

A collaborative effort

Fundraising accounts for two thirds of the camp’s operating budget. Thanks to generous donations, support is provided to families in Atlantic Canada whose financial situation might otherwise prevent them from sending their children to camp.

Brigadoon Village continues to grow because people believe in creating spaces where every child feels safe, seen, and supported. With each new camper welcomed through its gates, the camp carries forward a vision rooted in care, connection, and possibility.

Quick facts

• Brigadoon Village is the largest pediatric medical camp in Canada, serving more than 3,500 children and youth annually through its summer camps and year-round school and family programs.
• The Government of Canada invested $3 million in this project through the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
• The Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years to support public transit, green infrastructure, social services, trade routes, and rural and northern communities.

For more information, visit

• Brigadoon Village
• Canada and Nova Scotia invest to upgrade and expand Brigadoon Village camp
• Investing in Canada Plan – Building a Better Canada