Leaders-In-Training Information Package 2 0 1 3 Check out information on equipment, what to pack, transportation and more!
The Quality Eight The major expectations of a YMCA Summer Camp, as developed by the Ontario Resident Camping Advisory Committee, are summarized as the Quality Eight. These are the major principles on which all of the Recommended Practices are based. Fun Camp is fun! Fun is central to camp with new and exciting adventures and experiences that are grounded in positive YMCA values. Safety Camp focuses on all aspects of safety social, emotional and physical, while also recognizing the importance of campers actually feeling safe while at camp. Friendship Camp is a place where friendships that last anywhere from a week to a lifetime are created, valued and maintained. Belonging Camp is a place of caring, belonging and responsibility. It is important for campers to learn about care and responsibility for themselves, others and the camp, while feeling like they are part of something special. Learning Campers have lots of opportunities to learn, to be challenged and to improve in spirit, mind and body. Life Needs Camp meets personal life needs by providing clean and inviting spaces to sleep, wholesome, balanced and enjoyable meals and clean washroom facilities. Natural World Camp treasures the natural world and campers learn to care for and value their natural surroundings and environment. Place to Return Camp is a place to return to as campers develop a committed relationship with the camp and want to come back each year.
Information for LIT Program Participants Greetings from Camp Falcona! Welcome to your YMCA Camp Falcona Leadership adventure for the summer of 2013! Looking forward to another great summer, we often find ourselves wrapped up in the thoughts of seeing old friends, feeling the sand between our toes and thinking of the lyrics to that one campfire song that we can t get out of our heads. For many of you embarking on the LIT Program, thinking about camp now involves more planning than before. Mentally, preparing yourself for the many sessions and challenges that you will come across during your time at camp. While physically, getting fit and putting together your equipment list for the long paddle ahead. This package is to help you get fully prepared for your upcoming adventure at Falcona. Read through it, highlight the stuff you want to remember, and keep it in a safe place for future reference. Enjoy the time before camp and please let us know if you have any further questions! Yours in Camping, Rob Groccia -Director, YMCA Camp Falcona Suggestions: Try to bring one large duffle bag for your gear that you ll be leaving behind at camp Canadian Tire sells dry bags Mountain Equipment Co-op has a great online mail-order store for gear: www.mec.ca The camp provides the group equipment such as tents, canoes, paddles, cooking gear, etc. Wool hats will keep you warm on cold nights and make your sleep better Participants will require a bug jacket It s nice to have dry clothes at night keep one set of clothes in a garbage back during the days to keep from getting wet BIG SIX Bedding Footwear Raingear Lifejacket Clothing Waterproofing More Information Inside
*This information package should be read in addition to the Parent/Camper Handbook. The list of clothes on the last page, "What to Bring To Camp" includes items to be used at camp, on canoe trips and anytime in between. You should treat this information as a guide and make substitutions and additions where you think they will be appropriate. You will be packing at camp for your canoe trips at the appropriate time. Any items that are left at camp can be left in your luggage bag (ideally a duffel or hockey bag). Make sure the bag is clearly labelled with your name. We will store your bag and items not going on the trip at camp. That way, you'll have a set of clean clothes to wear when you return from your leadership trip. MEDICATIONS If medications are coming along on a trip with a participant, there are some important points to keep in mind: All medications should be clearly labelled with the user's name If the participant is taking a prescribed drug which s/he cannot do without, two sets of the prescription should be obtained from the prescribing physician and brought to camp (one for use, the other to be stored in a separate place in case the first is lost or damaged) A detailed note outlining the proper use of the medication should be included with the medication and the medical form in a water tight bag (i.e. Ziploc) to be given to the trip leader at camp BEDDING Your sleeping bag is one of your most important pieces of equipment. A good WARM sleeping bag ensures a good night sleep and allows an individual to be ready for the challenge of the upcoming day. When deciding what type of bag would suit your purpose, consider: fill, durability, compressibility, warmth, and weight. Fill Sleeping bags can be divided into two broad categories by their insulation type: down or synthetic. Down is nature s best insulator. It moulds to your body in the sleeping bag filling gaps, it is highly compressible, it has a great warmth-to-weight ratio. The drawbacks to down are that it is generally expensive, it doesn t retain heat as well when it is wet, and you have to maintain the sleeping bag carefully. Synthetic fills are cheaper, and they provide some warmth when wet. They tend not to last as long as down. There are a wide variety of synthetic fill types available. The less expensive fills will tend to break up when stuffed and un-stuffed repeatedly. Either type of sleeping bag is acceptable for use on your canoe trip. Durability You want a bag sturdy enough to withstand the wear and tear of daily stuffing and un-stuffing (good seams, a durable material for the outer shell, and quality fill). Compressibility You will want a sleeping bag which gets a lot smaller when you roll or stuff it (compare the stuff sack size of the bags you are considering; you want the most warmth for the smallest size, and the least money!).
BEDDING continued Warmth Most bags are rated by temperature. A "three season" bag with a rating of 0 to -9c will be adequate for the trip. Weight and space are two important factors in selecting trip gear. Remember that what you bring is what you will be carrying; space and weight are always limited. The lighter and smaller the bag, the better. Sleeping Pads We strongly recommend that all participants have a sleeping pad. Sleeping pads insulate your body from the ground, which without a sleeping pad, wicks away heat during the night and can make for a very uncomfortable sleep. Closed cell (blue foam-10mm) pads cost around $10 and work well. Do not bring large air bubble or air mattresses. Your sleeping pad must not be large or bulky. FOOTWEAR Two sets of footwear are essential for outtrips. One pair will be used during the day (and most likely will be wet) and the other pair will be dry for evening campsite wear. The shoes you choose to bring should be sturdy, durable, and comfortable. One pair of shoes MUST cover and protect the toes and have good treads. These will be worn as the day shoes for hiking and canoe/kayak trips (for portages and other on-land explorations). **PLEASE NOTE THAT THONG SANDALS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE (flip flops) When choosing hiking boots, please consider the following: Comfort: When you first put the boot on it should feel comfortable. There should NOT be any unusual sensations or pressure points that you think will go away eventually. Cost: Most hiking boots range from $75-$150. Good sturdy running shoes are fine for Leadership, but you may wish to consider the extra investment. Snug Fit: Hiking boots should be a more secure fit than your typical street shoe. They should hold your heel, instep, and ball of your foot firmly in place. When you walk there should be minimal heel lift and your foot should not slide around. The only place there should be space is at the front of the boot; you should be able to wiggle those toes! Support: Hiking boots are designed to protect your feet from undue fatigue and ankle injury, particularly on uneven terrain. They are built around a platform which resists twisting yet bends at the ball of the foot. You want ankle support which has a firm upper and heel counter that will centre your foot over this platform firmly, yet comfortably. Helpful Tip: If you need additional information, any outdoor store associate will have a wealth of knowledge in the equipment/tripping field.
RAINWEAR Rainy days can be a common occurrence in the summer and should be prepared for. When you are on an expedition, you won't always be able to stop and wait for the rain to go away. Good, waterproof (NOT water-resistant ) rainwear is essential. We require you to bring quality two-piece rainwear which fits loosely enough to allow for the layering of warm clothing underneath. You should test the rainwear for its range of movement (you should be able to move your arms and legs with minimal restriction) and for its ability to repel water (test it in the shower!). LIFEJACKET For your canoe trip, you must bring your own government approved PFD. PLEASE NOTE: Although dark coloured PFDs are now government approved in Canada, they are not allowed on canoe trips YMCA Camp Falcona. The PFD MUST be Red or Yellow. The dark colours are not safe for the types of trip we undertake. All staff and participants are REQUIRED to wear a personal flotation device at all times in all boats. A vest style PFD is recommended as it is light and comfortable on hot summer days and allows for free movement of the arms. Proper fit is very important, make sure the PFD is snug and won t ride up when you are in the water. CLOTHING Dressing properly while away from the comforts of home is challenging given the unpredictability of summer weather. Some days will be hot and dry, while others will be cold and wet. Hot weather can be overcome with lightweight and coloured clothing, sunscreen (minimum 30SPF), a hat, sunglasses (inexpensive but UV protected), and lots of water. Cold weather is dealt with using the layering system. A thin layer worn next to the skin (wool, silk, or polypropylene undergarments are best...cotton works poorly) that wicks moisture away from the skin. The second layer is for insulation (a wool shirt, fleece jacket, or sweater is sufficient). The rain suit is the outermost layer; it acts as a barrier for wind and rain. For dry cool days, a wind breaker will be more comfortable because it "breathes" (allows for the transfer of moisture from you to the outside air). WATERPROOFING You want to be sure that your gear is packed so that it won't get wet. We recommend using the multi-bag system. We also recommend using waterproof dry bags. One bag is used for your sleeping bag and the other is used for your personal gear and clothing. The dry bags should be about 20-30L in size. A groundsheet is a simple way of keeping your sleeping bag dry at night; it goes under the bag to keep moisture from getting at you and your sleeping bag from underneath.
Suggested Packing List Mandatory Lifejacket government approved PFD (vest style) Health History Form Waterproof Raingear jacket and pants *Your canoe trip will be 3 days/2 nights Bedding Sleeping bag Clothing Other Adequate supply of underwear (long johns may come in handy) Socks (some wool) Quick Dry Shorts Quick Dry Pants T-shirts Long-sleeved shirts (fleece/polypropylene) Warm sweaters (fleece jacket is a good substitute) Jacket Hats (one wool and one cap) Bug Jacket Sturdy running shoes with laces & rubber soles Cotton should be avoided as it takes a long time to dry and offers very little insulation when wet! Water shoes and/or sandals (shoes/sandals must be worn in the water and they MUST have a back strap) ***NO THONG SANDALS (flip flops) Bathing suit Toiletries Toothbrush/toothpaste Insect repellent (no aerosols please; Health Canada recommends repellents with less than 10% DEET) Book/journal Water bottle Sunglasses Towel Stuff sack (20 litre max.) Sleeping pad Flashlights, extra batteries Sunscreen (very important, SPF 30 or higher) Optional Camera, film, fishing rod, books, paddle You cannot bring: matches, firearms, computers, knives, tobacco, illegal drugs, offensive material, video games, CELL PHONES, ipods, hair dryers, cd players, candy or gum.
YMCA Camp Falcona 140 Durham St. Sudbury, Ontario P3E 3M7 Camp Office: 1-800-465-9622 Summer Office: 1-647-478-2924 Fax: 1-705-675-8777 Email: Rob.Groccia@sudbury.ymca.ca Camper Email can be sent to: falconacamper@sudbury.ymca.ca