What you need to know

Every Open Ice camp is free. There is nothing to pay, ever, and nothing to buy.

Our camps are for children aged five to ten.

Your child is given a full set of equipment to keep, fitted in person before they skate.

The next camp is Christmas Camp 2026, planned at four arenas across Toronto.

Your child does not need to know how to skate. Every child who joins Open Ice is new to hockey, and we teach skating from the very first step.

Bring your child, water and warm socks. We provide everything else, including lunch.

To apply, fill in the form on the Apply page, or send us an email. We reply to every family.

If English is difficult for you, write to us in your own language. We will find someone to translate.

Email openiceinitiative@gmail.com.

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Partners
Stronger Together Hockey

Program Partner

Stronger Together Hockey

School-connected youth empowerment, through hockey

Visit strongertogetherhockey.com (opens in a new tab)Donate to Open Ice (opens GoFundMe in a new tab)

Campers battling for the puck in a small area game

Who they are

Stronger Together Hockey

Stronger Together Hockey is a school-connected youth empowerment initiative that uses hockey as a platform for belonging, inclusion, confidence, leadership, teamwork and community connection. It works through school presentations, classroom resources, tabletop hockey, speaker engagement, student recognition and community partnerships.

Their line for it is the best summary anyone has written: you do not have to wear a jersey to be part of the team. It is a useful counterweight to everything else we do. A camp that only measured crossovers would miss most of what actually happens in one camp.

What they do for Open Ice

Program Partner

What Stronger Together Hockey does for Open Ice

Stronger Together Hockey is a Program Partner. They shape the part of our camps that is about belonging rather than skating, which is the part parents write to us about afterwards. The two organizations are also exploring a school-to-rink pathway: they reach students in the classroom, and we make the next step onto the ice possible.

Some students may play hockey. Some may never play hockey. Some may connect through teamwork, leadership, volunteering, tabletop hockey, storytelling, or cheering others on. The message is that there is room for everyone to be part of the team.
Mario Bellissimo, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Stronger Together Hockey

Read the announcementStronger Together Hockey and Open Ice Initiative explore partnership to build school-to-rink pathways for youthRead it

What that looks like

Back to partners

A camper in a pink cage helmet looking towards the camera

Campers clustered together at the side of the rink

A camper in a blue jersey and cage helmet laughing

Campers and coaches spread across the ice at Ted Reeve Arena

Thank you

Thank you, Stronger Together Hockey

Thank you. Money buys ice and gear. It does not buy a rink that says yes, a coach who knows what to do with a child who has never skated, or somewhere for that child to keep playing in September. You gave us those, and those are the parts that turn a good week into a way in.

Andrew AdairFounder and President, Open Ice Initiative

Next program partnerLeaside Hockey Association

Become a partner

Put your name on the ice

Levels priced in children's places. Every level is the difference between a child playing and a child watching.

Corporate sponsorship Sponsor a camper Donate now (opens GoFundMe in a new tab)