Located in Ontario, Lake Joe Centre provides specialized camping experiences for people with vision loss. It offers recreation and rehabilitation programs to help blind and partially sighted individuals develop new skills and build confidence in a supportive environment. The camp runs from July to September and provides social, economic, human, and psychological benefits to participants. An evaluation found that for the $1.37 million invested in 2014, the camp generated $25.9 million in social value, resulting in a social return of $18.82 for every dollar spent.

1. Located in the heart of Muskoka, Ontario, Lake Joe is a fully
accessible recreational facility that offers unique specialized camping
experiences for people of all ages who are living with vision loss.
CNIB Lake Joseph Centre is a world leader in providing blind and partially
sighted people with life-changing experiences.
LAKE JOSEPH CENTRE
CHANGES FOR BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED GUESTS
It provides a mix of recreation and rehabilitation programs for teens,
adults, children and families to enable blind and partially sighted
people to develop new skills, make friends, learn new activities, and
be themselves in a safe and friendly environment. Lake Joe summer
programs run from July to September.
In a situation where we do not have a summer camp particularly
designed for blind and partially sighted people, as they have the
opportunity to enjoy in a fun and caring camp involving sports,
recreational and physical activities in a beautiful natural outset, they are
able to enrich not just their physical wellbeing, but also economic, human,
social and psychological health.
Social Value of
CNIB LAKE JOSEPH CENTRE
“I enjoyed all aspects the camp and anticipate
returning for two (2) weeks next year. The people at
the camp, especially the staff, were very kind,
friendly and helpful.” - Karen Olivier, a camper

2. As a result of offering and ensuring a fun and caring summer camp for
blind and partially sighted people and their families, volunteers and
partners are hoping to learn and develop new skills, be a part of healthy
community, feel emotional and motivational boost, and open door for new
career options.
This camp also helps families and caregivers, both directly and indirectly,
to make them feel appreciated for their dedication and work, and to
translate better living, confidence and positivism.
“In general, I think that lake joe has made me appreciate
more what I have, and it just made me feel all around
more positive. Everything about the camp is full of
amusement and energy, everyone is so nice, It's really
nice to be somewhere where your surrounded by such
nice and positive people (both staff and campers). I had
a really great time volunteering.” - Chris Hudson, a volunteer
CHANGES FOR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS
CHANGES FOR VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF TEAM
“I really liked networking with other parents and
views members. They offered helpful information.”
- Laura Hansman, a caregiver

3. We have evaluated 2014 summer camp and found that for the year 2014-15,
Lake Joe Camp created $25,905,449 worth of social value, and it needed a
$1,376,325 of investment for that. So, in 2014-2015, Lake Joe has created an
astounding worth of net social value by its camp activities.
SROI is a principle-based method for identifying and measuring the value of
social, environmental, and economic impact that is resulted from the
program. Therefore, for $1 investment in Lake Joe in 2014-2015, we have a
social return of $18.82.
SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTING IN LAKE JOE
100%
100% of respondents said
Yes when asked if they
would recommend Lake
Joe to their friends and
family.
$24,529,124
Not only that, since we have a huge marginal benefit over marginal cost,
there is an open room for further investment here.
2014-2015
2014-2015
$1
Net Worth
Social Return
0%
$18.82