June 2026 news

Here are the highlights of this month's newsletter:

• ACQ summer schedule 
• Coming soon: The 2026 Camp Conference, propelled by Gestion ParaMédical
• ACQ Awards 2026: Submit Your Nomination!
• The ACQ Exhibitors’ Fair: An Event Not to Be Missed!
• New Resource: Menstrual Hygiene in a Camp Setting
• A New Campaign to Better Understand Camp Staff Rights

A new season is beginning!

Summer is finally here! Over the coming weeks, your teams will welcome thousands of campers and families who will enjoy memorable experiences at your camps.

Behind every activity and every memory created lie months of preparation, organization, and dedication. The entire ACQ team would like to acknowledge the exceptional work you do to provide safe, enriching, and memorable environments.

We wish you a summer season filled with wonderful moments, successes, and fun.

Have a great summer!

— The dynamic ACQ team

ACQ summer schedule 

Please note the ACQ office’s summer hours for the period from June 24 to August 31:

• Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: Closed
• Holidays: June 24 (Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day) and July 1 (Canada Day)

Coming soon: The 2026 Camp Conference, propelled by Gestion ParaMédical

The must-attend event for Quebec camps 

Every year, more than 400 professionals from the camp industry gather at the only event entirely dedicated to Quebec camps.

Over three days, attendees will learn from more than 20 conferences and workshops led by experts, network and share best practices, explore industry trends, and discover offerings from over 40 exhibitors.

Between Sky and Camp: The 2026 Edition Under the Theme of Aviation  

For the 2026 edition, taking place November 10–12 at Mont Sainte-Anne, the conference will be themed around aviation, inviting participants to take flight toward new ideas, discoveries, and collaborations.

We are also fortunate to have a major sponsor to help propel our conference: Gestion ParaMédical, a company well-known in the camp community that has been offering various first-aid products and services since 2007.

Registration opens in August! 

Pack your bags — Broaden your horizons — Discover the world: ACQ has a flight plan just for you!

Ready to take off?

• Registration opens in August
• All the information is on our website
• Don’t miss a thing—follow the event on Facebook

ACQ Awards 2026: Submit Your Nomination!

The ACQ is very proud of the excellence with which its members carry out their roles day after day with campers, camp counsellors, and their families. It is therefore to highlight the professionalism, quality, and vitality of this industry and to showcase these inspiring ideas that the ACQ Awards are presented at the annual conference.

These awards are divided into two categories

The Excellence Awards recognize the exceptional quality of recent projects carried out at ACQ member camps:

• Excellence Award — Camp Experience
• Excellence Award — Organizational Vitality

The impressive contributions of individuals to the world of camps are honoured through three awards:

• Grand Prix Hommage — the ultimate recognition in the world of camps
• Distinction Award — Torchbearers
• Distinction Award — Next Generation

Submit a nomination!

Certified and compliant municipal camps are invited to submit their nominations for the ACQ Awards by Friday, September 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

 Visit the website to learn everything about the ACQ Awards

The ACQ Exhibitors’ Fair: An Event Not to Be Missed!

Every year, the Exhibitors’ Fair at the Association des camps du Québec’s annual conference offers attendees a unique opportunity to discover products, services, and solutions designed specifically to address the realities and needs of camps.

On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, more than 40 trusted suppliers will gather under one roof to share their expertise and showcase tools and resources that contribute to the success of camp organizations.

Do you know an exceptional supplier who deserves to be discovered by our community? Send us your suggestions at [email protected].

New Resource: Menstrual Hygiene in a Camp Setting

Menstruation is a reality for many young people who attend camps. However, the topic can sometimes be difficult to broach and may raise several questions for management and staff.

To help camps create more inclusive, supportive environments that meet everyone’s needs, the ACQ is providing a brand-new resource sheet on menstrual hygiene.

What you’ll find in the guide

• The essentials you need to know about menstruation
• The main challenges related to menstrual hygiene in a camp setting
• Concrete action steps to promote inclusive and supportive practices
• Recommendations for adequately supporting young people who are menstruating during their stay

Check out the resource guide now (French only): 

A New Campaign to Better Understand Camp Staff Rights

Camps are often the first job for thousands of teens each year. This first work experience is a unique opportunity to learn, develop new skills, and contribute to a meaningful environment for children and youth. To ensure this experience is positive for everyone, it is essential that staff members know their rights and responsibilities at work.

With this in mind, the Association des camps du Québec (ACQ), with financial support from the CNESST, is launching an awareness campaign on labour laws tailored to the realities of camp life.

From June through early August, short video clips and resource sheets will be shared across our platforms to explain key concepts related to labour laws. Topics covered include: wages, working hours, breaks, time off, workplace harassment, employer responsibilities, and much more.

The goal is simple: to make information accessible, practical, and tailored to the realities of camp life to foster healthy, respectful, and safe work environments.

We invite managers to share these videos with their teams throughout the summer.

For camp staff

All videos and resources for camp staff are available on the “Your Rights at Camp” page.

For managers

Because a solid understanding of labour laws starts with employers, the ACQ has prepared a comprehensive video for managers. It outlines the key legal obligations applicable in camp settings and serves as a reference for participants in the UrsaMajor camp management certification program.

The information and video are available in the Labor Standards tool in the Legal Index.

Together, let’s help make camps the most exemplary workplaces possible, where everyone’s rights are known, understood, and respected.