Robert Land Academy

Robert Land Academy (RLA) is Canada's only non university level private military academy. Located in the township of West Lincoln on the north shores of the Welland River five kilometres west of the hamlet of Wellandport, the Academy began to accept students in 1978. The Academy is an all boys institution. On average, a total of 160 students between Grade 5 (last year of elementary school) and Grade 12 (last year of high school) are enrolled at the Academy during any one school year. All students enrolled at the Academy live in military style dormitories located on campus throughout the school year. The barracks are normally named in tribute to famous military figures in pre Confederation Canadian history, such as Major General Isaac Brock (leader of British forces at the Battle of Queenston Heights during the War of 1812), Major John Butler (leader of the irregular militia regiment named after him, Butler's Rangers, formed for service in the American Revolutionary War), and Joseph Brant (1743–1807) who was a Mohawk military and political leader who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution.

The school itself is named after Robert Land, an adventurous, loyal frontiersman, who served with the 79th Gordon Highlanders of the British Army. He saw action in the Siege of Louisbourg and fought with General Wolfe at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Robert Land remained loyal to the Crown when the American Revolution broke out. After the Rebel Militia razed their home, the Land family fled to New York. Robert Land continued in dangerous missions for the British, leading troops through unmapped, otherwise hostile native Indian Territory to attack rebel strongholds. At the end of the hostilities, Captain Robert Land crossed the Niagara River. It was here, after so many hardships, that the Land family settled under the British Flag of Upper Canada and were the first settlers of what is now the City of Hamilton. Robert Land died in 1818 at age 82. G. Scott Bowman, the Academy's founder, is a direct descendant of Robert Land and his wife Phoebe Land.

According to the Academy's website, the military theme allows for the reinforcement of the importance of organization, teamwork, discipline and personal responsibility. Students admitted to the Academy are chosen for their potential for success. Students admitted to the Academy mostly do not fit in the public school system because of academics, behaviour, attitude and other problems. Other students have been diagnosed with various learning disorders, including Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and various forms of learning disability. The Academy asserts that 100% of its graduating class who apply to university or college are accepted each year. It also states that 95% of all students experience a dramatic improvement in their academic performance and success within their first semester of enrollment.

The Academy sponsors a closed cadet corps of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, #2968 Robert Land Academy Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, which is also affiliated with The Lincoln and Welland Regiment (the Niagara Region's local Canadian Forces army reserve infantry unit) and The Royal Canadian Regiment (one of the Canadian Forces' three Regular Force infantry regiments). Membership in #2968 RCACC was mandatory for grade 9 students of the 08/09 year.

The Fall Ex or Fall exercise is an approximately 90 km hike through the Bruce Trail. The Fall exercise occurs annually every Tuesday before Canadian Thanksgiving and ends on Thursday. During the excursion, students pass through areas such as Ball's Falls, Short Hills and the Screaming Tunnel. On the second day of the Fall Ex students sleep at Fort George. On the third and final day, students take turns carrying a cannon to Queenston heights in which a parade is conducted. Students who have completed the Fall Ex are awarded the Bakers Badge.

Robert Land Academy entered some controversy on November 13, 1998, after two boys, Matt Toppi, 17 years of age, and Christopher Brown, 16 years of age, were both killed after running away from Robert Land Academy and had been struck by a freight train. The Prince George Citizen reported that "original reports from police indicated that the deaths were part of a suicide pact. But one of the victims' family said his family was told Monday by police that Toppi was trying to save the second boy when the pair were hit by the train." Robert Land Academy had come under fire due to some of its students saying that it had partly been the stressful and intense, military like environment that Robert Land Academy had.

For 25 seasons (1995 to 2019) the property was used by the Centauri Summer Arts Camp during the summer. This overnight arts camp closed its doors after 2019, in part due to the COVID 19 pandemic preventing operations the following year.