CAMP DOUGLAS. PARENT PACKAGE for SUMMER PROGRAM

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Clarence Cummings
5 years ago
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1 CAMP DOUGLAS PARENT PACKAGE fr SUMMER PROGRAM

2 Dear Parent/Guardian, Thank yu fr chsing YMCA-YWCA Camp Duglas. Yur child is abut t embark upn the experience f a lifetime! Whether this is their first r their fifth time at camp, this package is designed fr yu, the parent. It will prvide the necessary infrmatin t adequately prepare yu and yur child fr this year s camp experience. After saying gdbye t yur child at the West Prtage YMCA-YWCA, campers are transprted t Camp Duglas by bus. Or, if yu chse, yu can drp yur child ff at Camp Duglas just 35 minutes nrth f Winnipeg. Upn arriving at Camp, campers will be intrduced t their cunselrs and cabin mates. Fr the next 5 days, yur child will experience grup living first hand. They will be part f a demcratic living situatin which will fster cmmunicatin skills, the ability t share and the chance t develp new friendships. Of curse they will als take part in a number f different utdr activities which are an integral part f the camp prgram. On the final day campers will return hme t the West Prtage YMCA-YWCA full f stries and memries t share with yu. At the end f the camping seasn, we will be sending yu a camper/parent evaluatin. This feedback has prvided us with valuable infrmatin n ur prgrams and services, and we have used this infrmatin t cntinue t imprve what we d. Thank yu fr entrusting us with yur child s care. Yu have ur cmmitment t d ur very best. If at any time yu have any questins r cncerns please cntact ur Winnipeg ffice at We are lking frward t meeting yur child at camp this summer. Happy Camping!

Transprtatin Infrmatin Camp Buses All buses depart and return frm the West Prtage YMCA-YWCA, 3550 Prtage Avenue. The bus ride is apprximately 45 minutes t 1 hur. We will have a supervisr n each bus.

3 Transprtatin Infrmatin Camp Buses All buses depart and return frm the West Prtage YMCA-YWCA, 3550 Prtage Avenue. The bus ride is apprximately 45 minutes t 1 hur. We will have a supervisr n each bus. Barding time/west Prtage Drp-ff: 8:15 AM buses will depart at 8:45 AM Return Time/West Prtage Pick-up: First camp bus return apprximately at 3:15 PM, weather and traffic dependent Persnal transprtatin Families wh are arranging fr their wn transprtatin in Wdlands must be at the Camp Duglas site n the fllwing schedule: Camp Duglas Site Drp-ff: 9:30 AM Return time/camp Duglas Site Pick-up: 2:15 PM Driving Directins Frm Perimeter Highway, head nrth n Highway 6 Yu will pass Grsse Isle and Warren befre arriving at the twn f Wdlands On the nrth end f Wdlands, yu are turning west (left) nt a dirt rad (#82) Landmarks fr this dirt rad: n the right hand side f the highway is a Camp Duglas sign, yu will have just passed a Shell statin n yur left, there is Midway Prefab hmes n yur right, there is a large sign n yur left fr Miami Beach Once yu are heading west n the dirt rad, the site is 2.5 km and n the nrth (right) side f the rad. There is a large Camp Duglas sign. Once yu arrive at camp, fllw the rad straight in frnt f yu t the traffic circle. A staff will meet yu there.

4 What t bring t camp PLEASE LABEL ALL ITEMS WITH YOUR CHILD S FIRST AND LAST NAME Sleeping bag and pillw 2 pairs f rugh-wear lng pants (jeans r similar) 2 pairs f shrts 4 T-shirts r light sprts shirts 2 lng sleeved shirts r sweaters (fleece if pssible) VERY IMPORTANT - 1 raincat r rain suit prgrams cntinue in the rain Warm jacket 1 pair f summer shes (sandals, flip flps) 1 pair f clsed te shes (regular runners) VERY IMPORTANT 1 hat 5 pairs f underwear and scks (ne pair fr every day at camp) 1 bathing suit 2 twels- 1 fr swimming and 1 fr shwering 1 pair f pajamas 1 pair f rubber bts (ptinal) Water bttle Sunscreen Writing paper and pen Tthpaste, tthbrush, cmb and/r brush, faceclth, sap and shamp Laundry bag fr string dirty clthes and place a list f packed items in the camper s bag fr their return Optinal Items Camera Flashlight Stuffed Animal Bk Please help us ensure that these items d NOT cme t camp: What nt t bring t camp Electrnic devices such as radis, ipds, mp3 players, GameBys, PSPs, etc. Cellphnes; Knives, cigarettes, alchl and drugs; Mney r valuables; Please avid new r valuable clthing as camp activities can be very rugh n clthing

5 Hw t pack yur items Please label each piece f luggage with yur camper s name. If yu are packing the sleeping bag in a garbage bag, please send an extra garbage bag fr the trip hme (clear nes are the best as yu can identify yur sleeping bag mre easily). Please d nt pack clthing int a garbage bag nly. It is nt necessary t g ut and buy every item n the list, use yur wn judgment and make substitutins. Please remember that yur camper will be active, and that camp can be rugh n clthes. Fr this reasn, we recmmend that campers d nt bring expensive clthing t camp. As well, Camp Duglas is an unplugged experience. Campers will nt be allwed the use f mp3 players/ipds, steres, cellular phnes and ther expensive electrnics while at camp. These items shuld be left at hme. Sme Packing Tips Label everything we suggest sewing n labels fr clthing and indelible marker fr ther items. Pack nly what is needed remember that luggage has t travel by car r bus and then be carried by the camper t the cabin, s pack nly what is needed fr yur child t feel cmfrtable while at camp. Please label all luggage/garbage bags fr easy identificatin. Rain gear must be waterprf A gd rain gear is imprtant. Windbreakers are nt generally waterprf and are ineffective as rain gear. Test yurs in the shwer! Lst and Fund Items We d all we can t ensure yur camper returns hme with what they came with by thrughly checking each cabin, ur site, and the lst and fund bin befre the campers leave fr hme. If yur camper returns hme missing an item they tk t camp, please call r the Winnipeg ffice and we will try t lcate the article (if it has been labeled). We d nt accept respnsibility fr any lst r damaged articles. All lst and fund items are brught t ur Winnipeg ffice, 3550 Prtage Ave. thrughut the summer. T pick-up a lst item r medicatin, please visit ur ffice between 8:00 t 4:00, Mnday thru Friday. Items nt claimed by September 30 th will be dnated. Unclaimed medicatins will be dispsed at a pharmacy.

6 Mail Mst parents find that cheery letters t their camper, with the earnest hpe f reply, prvides the best surce f cntact. Campers are encuraged t write hme frequently. All mail sent t yur camper shuld be addressed as fllws: Yur camper s name (sessin/date they are attending) YMCA-YWCA Camp Duglas Bx 160 Wdlands, MB R0C 3H0 Out-ging and in-cming mail is delivered daily. Please send sufficient envelpes and statinery with yur camper. As stamps have a way f sticking tgether, we suggest parents prvide self-addressed stamped envelpes. Please d nt use a private curier cmpany as they cannt reach us n the island nr will they leave packages in ur mailbx. Please make sure a return address is included in yur mail. If mail has arrived after yur child has returned hme frm camp, it will be returned back t sender. If yu get an unhappy letter frm yur child, dn t panic. In all likelihd whatever made them unhappy when they wrte the letter is lng since frgtten, r has been addressed by yur camp s cunselr and/r camp staff. If yu d have a cncern, please call the Winnipeg ffice and they will get in cntact with us. We want camp t be a psitive experience fr bth campers and parents. Faxes While yur child is at Camp Duglas yu can send a fax t them. The fax number is: Attentin: Full Camper Name (204) Please nte that this is a lng-distance number frm Winnipeg. Once a day faxes will be delivered t the campers with regular mail. Fd Parcels We prvide yur child with a carefully planned, well-balanced diet at camp (see Type f Fd t Expect further n in this package). Fd parcels r care packages are discuraged. If yu wuld like t send a treat fr yur child, cnsider a bk, nail plish, a small ty, etc. If fd arrives in a package, the camper is presented with tw ptins: Share the package with his/her cabin mates, with restrictins put n when the fd can be eaten, e.g. nt befre meals r bedtime; The package is put away and given back t the camper when they leave camp;

7 Hmesickness Smetimes campers wh are away frm hme fr the first time may encunter sme hmesickness fr the first few days f camp. Preventin f this prblem can be helped by: Yur enthusiasm fr the camp and what fun it will be; Encuraging yur camper t actively engage in all camp activities; Please be assured that ur staff receives training n hw t help children feel cmfrtable at camp and hw t respnd t their individual needs. These are peple wh enjy being with kids and will take the time t listen. Our Senir Staff, wh versee the cunselrs, have many years f camping experience and excellent cunseling skills. This caring attitude is reflected in all f ur staff. Shuld yu get a letter which causes yu t wrry, yu shuld d tw things: Write a cheery letter in reply asking abut the gd things that are happening, passing n the news frm hme and generally encuraging his/her cntinued participatin in camp activities; Take care, thugh, nt t indicate hw much yu might be missing him/her r all the gd times he/she is missing at hme Cntact ur Winnipeg ffice if yu have any cncerns. Our ffice will cntact the camp t pass n yur cncerns and get back t yu as sn as pssible; Prepare Early Here are a few things yu might d t keep yur child s anxiety lw and anticipatin high: Read this bklet with yur child and talk abut all the activities and prgrams; Find ut what he/she is mst interested in and get sme bks frm the library; Talk abut what it s like living in a cabin with seven ther kids and ways he/she might g abut making new friends; Talk abut ways t slve prblems at camp, i.e. talking with a cunselr r the camp directr; Have a friend sleep ver and sleep in their sleeping bags; Write a letter befre yur camper leaves fr camp s it will be waiting at camp when he/she gets there; Fcus n the psitive: all the new skills they ll learn and build cnfidence in the skills they already have; Bring them t ur Open Huse;

8 Open Huse If yu wish t visit Camp Duglas with yur child, ur pen huse is Saturday, June 15 frm 10:00 AM t 2:00 PM. There will be a buffet lunch, turs and a chance t explre camp n yur wn. Camp Duglas des nt have a frmal visitr s day while we are in sessin. It can be a disruptive influence n the camp; sme children d nt have parents attend, and the children als lse a full day f the camping prgram. Health Infrmatin Emergency & Health Frm By nw yu will have filled ut the Health Histry Frm which was attached t the camp registratin frm. It is recmmended that parents cnsider any restrictins t activity r any ther medical prblems that the camp shuld be aware f, any dietary cnsideratins (allergies, vegetarian, etc.) and please send us any further infrmatin if it is needed. Medicatins and Health Cncerns If yur child is n any medicatin, please attach a nte t the prescriptin, stating the medicatin usage instructins (e.g. Ann must take ne pill befre each meal) and yur signature. Please send all medicatin in the riginal cntainer with the child s first and last name and hand it t a staff member n the bus. Medicatins are available fr pick-up n the day f their return. If, after yu have returned the frm, yur camper is placed n any medicatin, please send the abve infrmatin and signature t camp with yur camper. If yur camper has t receive medical attentin abve what we can prvide at camp, ur Wellness Crdinatr will cntact yu with the infrmatin, e.g. ear infectins, thrat infectins, sprained ankles/wrists, etc. If it is necessary t btain a prescriptin fr yur child while they are in attendance at camp, yu will be called and asked fr a credit card n which we can place these charges. We will als prvide yu with the pharmacy receipt s that yu can be reimbursed thrugh any medical plans yu may have. IMPORTANT: Please infrm the camp in writing f any changes (medical, scial, emtinal, family envirnment) that ccurs between filling ut these frms and attending camp. Camper Behaviural Cde T ensure all campers at Camp Duglas are having a safe, psitive camping experience, we have a behaviural cde t quickly identify and reslve cncerns within grups. Cunselrs have a supprt netwrk f supervisrs and resurce staff t aid them in situatins r with cncerns. It is ur hpe t keep every camper at camp during sessin, but we will nt hesitate t quickly infrm parents/guardians f their camper s behaviur if it endangers their wn safety r the safety f thse arund them. In this situatin it is ur plicy t cmmunicate cncerns immediately t parents/guardians t find a slutin. If a slutin is nt fund the camper will be sent hme at the parents expense and there will be n refund f camp fees. Fighting, bullying, lighting unsupervised fires, smking, drinking, stealing, swearing, hitting and general misbehaviur will nt be tlerated and are grunds fr being sent hme.

9 A typical day at camp We strive t build a better wrld ne child at a time. T d this, we believe that there must be a hlistic apprach t learning: in spirit, mind, and bdy. Camp is a magical experience where campers are granted tremendus independence in a safe and supervised envirnment. 7:20 AM Wake-up and ptinal Mrning Swim and Mrning Activities 8:15 AM Table Setter Bell and Flag-raising 8:30 AM Breakfast One persn frm each cabin grup cmes t the dining hall t set their table, while the rest f the cabin grup gathers arund the flagple t hear an inspiratinal thught and t sing the Natinal Anthem. 9:30 AM Prgram Time 11:30 AM Clubs (See prgram verview) This is a chance fr children t sign-up fr hard and sft skill clubs in which they wuld like t participate. Clubs include anything frm climbing t cking t arts and crafts t drama, climbing, biking and everything in between. 12:15 PM Table Setters Bell 12:30 PM Lunch After lunch, everyne is given half an hur t rest, read, write letters hme, etc. back at their cabin with their cunsellr. 2:00 PM Prgram time 4:00 PM Freebies Children get a chance t sign-up fr the recreatinal activity they wuld like t participate in each day. An extra swim, kite-flying, frg-catching, reading the pssibilities are endless. 5:15 PM Table Setters Bell 5:30 PM Supper 7:00 PM Evening Activities 9:00 PM Snacks Big grup games, theme activities, campfires each night brings a fun, new fcus

10 Prgram Overview T help yu understand a little f what ges n at Camp Duglas, here is an verview f sme f the prgram areas at camp. Each area varies in depth and cntent depending n the age f the campers. The principal unit f activity at Camp Duglas is the cabin grup. We have fund that an activity fcused arund a small grup f peers encurages the develpment f clse friendships as cabin mates play and meet challenges tgether. At camp, we d ur best t fster an atmsphere f cperatin rather than cmpetitin. If we d run an activity cntaining sme element f cmpetitin, we fcus n challenging campers t achieve their wn gals, rather than encuraging them t measure their accmplishments against thers. Cabin grups chse sme f the activities that they participate in and sme activities are sltted in s that everyne can try all the different areas. Every day campers have the pprtunity t g and try an activity again n their wn r with a few f their friends. Cunselrs will design a prgram that is safe, active and apprpriate t the age level f the cabin grup. Activity Areas Pl and Waterslides Alng with sltted pl times, in gd weather ur pl is an ptin fr campers every day. N frmal swim instructin will be ffered. Crafts Crafts are dne as a creative activity and ften invlve natural r recycled materials. Climbing Twer This is a simulated rck climbing prgram that teaches the basics f rck climbing and safety. High Rpes Curse Designed exclusively fr Camp Duglas with ur unique prgram in mind. It cnsists f a series f mvement challenges 35 feet up! This is a safe envirnment t challenge neself bth physically and mentally. Biking Campers will explre extensive trails with their grup. Gecaching Using GPS devices, campers will navigate ur curse. Orienteering At its highest level, this invlves the use f map and cmpass and at its mst simple, it uses a cmbinatin f clues and map rientatin t cmplete treasure hunts. Mass Days This is a prgram where the age grup sectins r the whle camp will be engaged in a cmmn theme day prgram. Mini Glf Our 9-hle curse ffers campers a tn f fun! We als ffer activities like: campfires, initiative tasks, games and sing-sngs, envirnmental and internatinal themes.

11 Types f Fd t Expect At Camp Duglas we fllw the Canada Fd Guide and we have a nutritinist examine ur menu. We serve ur meals family style and encurage everyne t try a little f everything. Dietary requirements such as allergies, vegetarianism, lactse intlerance, cultural, etc. will be accmmdated if the restrictins are written n the camper s registratin frm r if camp is ntified well befre the child attends their sessin t assist the kitchen staff in accmmdating any needs. Sme f the meals we serve may include: Breakfast Cld cereal Bacn and Eggs Tast Pancakes Hash brwns French tast Fruit Milk and Juice Lunch Make yur wn sandwiches Sup and grilled cheese sandwiches Ht dgs and beans Veggies and dip Macarni and cheese Chicken fingers Supper Spaghetti and sauce Stir fry with rice Salad Hamburgers and fries BBQ chicken Ham and scallped ptates

12 Cntact Infrmatin Winnipeg Office (3550 Prtage Ave., Winnipeg) Please cntact ur camp registrar fr inquiries abut registratin, payment infrmatin and ther general camp questins. Office hurs: Mnday thru Friday, 8:00 AM t 4:00 PM Direct line: Fax: Website: campduglas@ymcaywca.mb.ca r visit ur website t use ur frm and select Camp Duglas Camp Duglas Directr campduglas@ymcaywca.mb.ca r visit ur website t use ur frm Shuld yu have questins and cncerns abut yur child during camp sessin, please cntact the Winnipeg Office and yur message will be delivered as sn as pssible. Due t prgrams running thrughut the day, Camp phne is nt available fr public.

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