One of the coolest events this summer—shoot, for the entire year even!—takes place next month in Ontario, Canada as the first-ever Canadian Elite Softball Camp will run from August 4-6.

That’s the good news… the bad news is, with the camp coming up in less than a month, the deadline to apply for camp entrance ends this Sunday at midnight.

The Canadian Elite Softball Camp, presented in conjunction with Line Drive Media and sponsored by Mizuno, is designed for top American and Canadian players who qualify to be there.

Here’s more for those who’d like to decide in the next three days if this hugely-anticipated event is for them…

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Time’s Ticking Away: Apply Before the Deadline!

Spots are earned, not purchased — only 25 athletes per birth year (2009–2014) will be accepted. As noted above, the application deadline is July 12 with selections announced by July 15.

Applications are free and can be made by clicking on this link or by going to www.EliteSoftballCamp.com and clicking on the yellow “Apply” tab in the top right corner of the home page.

Every application received by July 12 will be reviewed, and every athlete will receive a decision by July 15.

Applications after July 15 will be subject to availability.

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Why America’s Top Softball Players Should Be Looking North This Summer… 

Every summer, the best young softball players in the United States log thousands of miles chasing development — showcases in California, instructional camps in Florida, tournaments across Texas.

This August, one of the most talent-dense instructional staffs ever assembled for a softball camp won’t be found in any of those places.

It will be in Georgetown, Ontario — a six-diamond complex about 30 minutes west of downtown Toronto, one of North America’s great cities.

The Canadian Elite Softball Camp, running August 4–6, 2026, is an application-only event built around a simple idea: put the next generation of players on the field with athletes who are competing right now at the highest levels of the college game.

Attendance is intentionally capped at 25 athletes per birth year (2009–2014), so every camper trains in a competitive, high-level group.

For American families, it’s a rare chance to combine elite instruction with an international trip.

But the real reason to look North is the staff and the expertise they’ll impart to the camp attendees.

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Current NCAA Division I Athletes Teaching Today’s Game

The foundation of the camp is its lineup of current NCAA Division I student-athletes, each bringing experience from a top program.

Here’s the roster of those who will be working one-on-one with the camp attendees and helping them learn how to get to where they are today—at the collegiate level:

* Rylie Johnson (LSU) — A freshman outfielder in the SEC who arrived in Baton Rouge as one of Virginia’s top-rated recruits — a two-time High School All-American and a Softball America Top 100 freshman who hit 17 home runs as a senior. She leads the outfield track involving first-step explosiveness, route running, tracking, and throwing mechanics.

* Makenna Bellaire (Ole Miss) — An SEC catcher who transferred to the Rebels from Florida, Makenna leads the catching track that includes receiving and framing, blocking, pop times and throw-downs, and the game-calling and leadership that make a catcher the engine of a defense.

* Emma Knight (Boston College) — A freshman infielder in the ACC who reached double-digit home runs in her first season and ranked among the conference leaders. A four-time Offensive Player of the Year in Texas, she’s also known nationally for her viral essay “When I Am 100 Years Old.” At camp, she will coach corner-infield play and power development at the plate.

* Abby Findlay (Liberty) — A Toronto native bringing elite circle experience home. In her final season before college, she posted a 0.65 ERA with 379 strikeouts in 177 innings while batting .460. She’ll lead pitching topics including mechanics, spin and movement, sequencing, and the competitive mindset of the position.

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Collegiate Coaching, Pro Experience, and an International Perspective

The current players are joined by a staff that spans the entire game:

* Jennifer McKellar (Head Coach, Univ. of British Columbia)— One of only two coaches in UBC history to reach 100 wins, Jennifer led the Thunderbirds to the best season in program history and a first-ever NAIA National Championship-round appearance. A former second-team All-American, she brings a college head coach’s eye to outfield defense.

* Shaun Walker (Next Level Softball) — Respected as one of the top pitching instructors in the United States, Shaun builds deliveries with data — 4D motion capture, EMG sensors, and spin analysis — turning advanced performance data into clear, personalized coaching.

* Katie Weimer (Tennessee) — A Volunteer catcher and middle-of-the-order hitter who reached the NCAA Super Regionals in all three of her SEC seasons, after setting a single-season RBI record to open her career at Buffalo.

* Damian Blen (Cuban National program) — A lifelong baseball professional with 30-plus years as a player, coach, and mentor, including infield and defensive coaching for Cuba’s Junior National Team, winning gold at the world, Pan American, and Canada levels. He leads middle-infield defense.

* Marcus Knecht (Toronto Blue Jays organization) — A Toronto native and third-round pick of the Blue Jays in the 2010 MLB Draft who spent five seasons in their system and is still raking today (.358 in 2025 in the Canadian Baseball League). He leads hitting and mindset work.

* Tyler Johnstone (Purdue · Auburn · NY Mets) — Played Division I baseball at Purdue and Auburn — where he still holds the Auburn and SEC record for most hits in a single game before playing professionally in the New York Mets organization. He leads middle-infield instruction.

* Savvy Ferstle (Detroit Mercy)— A four-year starter, team captain, and the program’s all-time RBI leader. She now holds a doctorate (PsyD) in Sport & Performance Psychology and leads the camp’s mental-performance sessions — pairing corner-infield instruction with science-backed training in confidence and resilience.

* Jen Johnstone (Kennesaw State) — A former NCAA Division I outfielder and four-year starter who earned 3^rd Team All-American honors, now developing the next generation of outfielders.

* Emilee Walker (West Virginia State) — A four-year collegiate pitcher who now develops arms at Next Level Softball.

* Abbey Steen (Niagara) — A Division I pitcher and certified nutritionist from Guelph, Ontario, Abbey works both sides of performance — circle work plus the nutrition, hydration, and recovery that sustain it.

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A Complete Development Experience

The camp is designed to build the whole athlete.

Every camper receives primary and secondary position instruction, plus dedicated sessions in sports nutrition and mental performance, metric and skills testing with a personalized report card, live game play, and end-of-camp MVP awards — all in a competitive environment capped at 25 athletes per birth year.

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National Coverage with Line Drive Media

The event is presented in conjunction with Line Drive Media, the fastpitch-focused online media outlet founded by Brentt Eads — a 25-year veteran of sports media who pioneered the sport’s first Top 100 player and team rankings and built many of the most widely read articles and features in the women’s game.

Line Drive Media will be on-site throughout the week interviewing players and instructors, evaluating prospects, producing features, and publishing full event coverage afterward.

For an American athlete, that’s exposure hard to get anyway else: three days of elite reps in front of a national fastpitch audience.

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Backed by Mizuno

The Canadian Elite Softball Camp is proud to be sponsored by Mizuno, one of the most trusted names in the game — another mark of the level this event is built to deliver.

Mizuno’s presence goes well beyond a logo.

The brand will set up an on-site booth showcasing its full 2027 product line with giveaway product for every athlete and run social-media activations all week — player highlights, day-to-day video, and athlete interviews (with drone coverage where available) — amplified across Mizuno’s Instagram and TikTok.

Mizuno will also contribute to the registration swag bags, provide custom diamond signage, and host a parent session on elevating the game in Canada, complete with an exclusive discount code for camp families.

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Elite Instruction at an Outstanding Value

For U.S. families, the price may be the biggest surprise.

The current camp fee is $495 Canadian Dollars (CAD) — roughly $360 U.S. Dollars (USC) at recent exchange rates, well below what comparable elite camps in the States typically charge… and that’s before you factor in an international trip.

There’s no cost to apply, and athletes only pay if they’re accepted.

Applications submitted by July 12 are reviewed together, and every applicant receives a decision by July 15. 

Accepted athletes then have 48 hours to complete registration. Beginning July 13, the fee rises to $595 CAD (about $435 USD) for any remaining spots, and late applications are considered only if space remains in the athlete’s birth year.

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More Than a Camp — A Family Trip of a Lifetime

Just outside Toronto, the camp is easy to turn into a vacation.

Families can take in the CN Tower, catch a Blue Jays game, explore the city’s restaurants and waterfront, or make the short drive to Niagara Falls — pairing three days of elite development with an unforgettable summer trip few camps anywhere can offer.

This summer, the best move for a serious American player might just be to look North… as in soaking up the great softball experience that the Canadian Elite Softball Camp will provide!