Child 1 Age 8 - 10 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Traditional (multi activity)
Child 2 Age 7 - 8 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Traditional (multi activity)
(5) Overall experience
My daughters thoroughly enjoyed this camp. They were both nervous their first time attending as they had never stayed at an overnight camp before. Right away the staff made them (and me) feel comfortable. They were bubbling with excitement when we picked them up from camp. They had made lots of friends and shared so many exciting things they had done. They were to experience so many new things in an environment free from distractions like electronics. They felt safe and cared for. They will definitely be going back every summer.
(5) Reason for choosing the camp
I originally sent my kids to this camp because I had been a staff member there when I was a teenager. Our church is affiliated with this camp and I was familiar with the safety standards they adhere to which was a top priority for me. This camp was definitely worth the fees. There were no hidden costs, in fact there were a few bonuses for the cost including free tuck shop money (when registering early) and a free T-shirt.
(5) Program quality and activities
My two daughters have varying interests so I appreciated the diversity of activities this camp offered. My one daughter loved trying out new physically challenging activities like the zipline and the climbing wall. I felt safe knowing their staff had safety training to facilitate these activities. My other child loved trying out some of the water activities like canoeing and tubing. Again, as a parent I was reassured by the fact that a certified lifeguard was on duty. It was glad to hear they had also modified the activity based on skill level such as driving the boat slow for my daughter who was quite nervous to try tubing for the first time.
(5) Social dynamics and experience
One highlight of camp for both my daughters was making new friends. They enjoyed getting to know kids they were already familiar with in a deeper and more meaningful way. The staff fostered an environment of inclusion within their cabin group. There was also opportunity to get to know all the kids attending the camp. My children loved receiving a birthday card from camp with a photo of their cabin group and a message from each child.
(5) Skills and growth
My kids gained independence in a safe and supportive environment. They felt proud of themselves for being away from their parents overnight. They learned lifelong skills like how to deal with personalities they clash with. They learned problem solving skills and experienced the chance to make decisions for themselves. I think the best ways they learned and grew weren't from challenging new activities like the zipline, rather life skills. They learned how to keep their clothes organized for the week, how to ration their tuck shop money and how to decide when to take showers to name a few. This was all done under the care of a cabin leader who was there to support and encourage them.
(5) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
From our first interaction at check-in with all the staff (including junior staff in training), there was a real warmth and genuineness to them. The staff right away learned, and used my kids' names. By pick-up day even the kitchen staff and program staff knew my kids and interacted with them. There were two staff in each cabin which was great because my one daughter connected better with her support staff than her cabin leader. The staff were really centered on the campers and you could see it in how special the kids felt when they were interacting. In my opinion, the people are what make this camp great.
(5) Preparation and packing
I thought I was pretty well packed for each child but, didn't realize how wet and dirty they can really get! This year I plan on packing extra shorts and towels for my daughter who loves to get messy.
My kids loved having stuff along that made their bunk feel "like home" for the week, including sheets and a blanket instead of a sleeping bag, a special stuffy, a picture of our family, and a flashlight.
They also each brought a notebook and I enjoyed seeing their notes and drawings from their week away.
They can get really muddy and wet so I would recommend at least one pair of shoes that dry easily.
(5) Advice and tips
I would definitely recommend this camp, it is big enough that it feels exciting to the kids but, small enough that everyone is known and welcomed. I would encourage other parents to reach out directly to the camp if they have any specific questions or concerns. The camp was very quick at responding to emails and answering questions and it would definitely put your mind at ease.
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