Our staff are experts at welcoming campers! Here are a few things you can do to prepare them (and you!)
If your child is leaving home for the first time, there are several things you can do to help them have an easy adjustment to camp life:
- Arrange with friends or relatives for your child to have the experience of going to bed away from home.
- Prepare your child for independent living by allowing choice of clothing each day and being responsible for their own personal hygiene.
- Problem solve with your child, i.e., “What if you don’t feel too well one day?”, “What if you lost your swim suit?”.
- Role-play with your child; i.e. go for a walk in the park with a flashlight.
- Practice letter writing. Not all children know how. Postcards are great for camp. Parents should send paper, envelopes and stamps.
- Explain the camp’s telephone policy.
- When talking or writing to your child assume they will enjoy it. Do not say, “I miss you”.
- Assure them that they will have a good time at camp and that the family at home will be fine while they are away.
- As a member of a small tent group, campers are expected to share housekeeping duties. Parents can impress campers with the values of these duties and the importance of taking a cheerful and willing attitude toward them.
Campers soon make new friends and will get along just fine. We will make every attempt to put your camper with one specially designated friend, if it is requested three weeks prior to their camping session. If you have any doubts or concerns, talk to the camp director about them. PLEASE NOTE: Tent units are made up by the Director or their designate. Campers will find out who their counsellors and tentmates are when they get to camp.
A Typical Camp Day
7:30 Wake up, polar bear, voyager, morning watch, breakfast
9:30 to 12:30 – 3 morning activities
12:45 Lunch
1:30 Rest Hour
2:30 to 3:15 Individual Interest Activities
3:30 to 4:15 Streams levels program
4:30 to 5:15 Free Time (supervised in a program area)
5:45 Supper and camp clean up
7:00 Vespers – All camp activity/Staff Development
8:15 Snack/Unit Time
9:00 Lights Out
Swimming Information
Each camper’s swimming ability is evaluated on the first full day of each camp session. Evaluations help determine to what extent campers may participate in programs on the waterfront during the remainder of the camp session, campers have the opportunity to improve their swimming qualifications.
Campers may want to practice swimming before arriving at camp in order to be well prepared for the first day swimming evaluations.
Personal Fitness
In addition to preparing for the swimming evaluations on the first day, it is a good idea to work on physical preparation for the active life at camp. The vigorous outdoor activities are usually a departure from a camper’s normal routine at home. It is advisable to “get into shape” for camp!
Finally…
Thank you for choosing Camp Big Canoe for your camper. We appreciate your trust and support. The summer program is planned to encourage campers’ physical, emotional and spiritual growth and we will do our utmost to provide a worthwhile camping experience along with lots of fun!