John Island Camp Frequently Asked Questions Before Camp: It is our first time coming to camp. Can we come to visit the camp beforehand? Yes! We run an Open House on July 2nd from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. We encourage all families new and old to attend. We welcome families that are registered for the Summer 2017 season as well as families that are not. Come and visit us on the island and see for yourself just how great it is to be at camp! What should we pack and what should we pack it in? Our full packing list can be found on our website at www.johnisland.ymca.ca. We suggest that you pack your belongings in a duffel bag or plastic storage containers that can be sealed with a lid. Rolling suitcases are not easily carried over the island grounds. There will be help for those who need a hand carrying their bags to and from their cabins. Transportation: What are my options for transporting my child to camp? Please see the bus and car options below. Campers can also be picked up from Sudbury s Greyhound Station or from the Sudbury Airport for an additional fee. Location Pick Up Drop Off Bus Stop: Sudbury Lilly 12:00 PM 5:00 PM Bus Stop: Espanola (HWY 17/ HWY 6 Tim Hortons & 12:45 PM 3:45 PM By Car: At Camp Docks 1:00 PM 2:00 PM If you need to change your transportation selection after registering please contact the camping office at 705-674-6171 or toll free at 1-800-465-9622.
Staff: What training does your staff have? All of our staff go through an extensive, onsite, week long training that prepares them to respond to emergencies and successfully support campers through a variety of issues. There is a certified National Lifeguard in every cabin and all of our counsellors are First Aid and CPR certified. Staff are trained to lead all of our camp activities. And most staff are graduates of John Islands 2 year leadership development program. Who will administer my child s medication? John Island Camp hires a Wellness Manager who is in their 3rd year of a university nursing program and has practical health care experience. For medical emergencies, the Elliot Lake Hospital is less than one hour away. Communication: How can I communicate with my child while they are at camp? You can send emails to your child while they are at John Island Camp. Please see the Bunk 1 section of the parent package (LINK). Please note that your child will not be able to send you emails in response. You can also keep in touch through the mail. We suggest sending your child with pre-addressed and stamped envelopes. See address below: Camper Name and Session c/o YMCA John Island Camp Spanish, ON P0P 2A0 Please note that for shorter sessions you may need to send mail before your child leaves home in order for it to arrive while they are at camp. When signing in your child at drop off you may also leave a letter/package with the camp staff to deliver at your desired time.
How can I keep up with what is going on at camp? The best way to keep up with what is happening at camp is to follow us on Facebook! Please note that we do not post an photos of children that are at camp until after the session is over. You will also receive a weekly email from the Camp Director updating At what point might I expect a phone call from camp? There are very few circumstances that you will require a call from camp. If your child is unable to participate in programming, if their time at camp is being negatively affected, if they are negatively affecting another campers time or before a medication is being administered that is not approved on the health form, a call home will be made. If I cannot make the Open House, is there another way I can ask the Camp Director a question before my child attends camp? Yes! Please contact the Camping Services Office at 705-674-6171 or toll free at 1-800-465-9622 to set up a Camp Director Consult. At your convenience the Camp Director will contact you to answer all of your questions. Meals: What food allergies can your kitchen accommodate? What about dietary restrictions? Our kitchen is able to accommodate most dietary needs. Vegetarian and Vegan options as well as gluten intolerances and allergies specific to specific foods are no problem for our kitchen staff. We are very conscious about continuing to provide a balanced menu for individuals with alternative diets. For those with more sever allergies or dietary needs, we encourage you to contact us to discuss how we can best accommodate your needs.
Are you nut free? John Island is a Nut Aware Facility. We have so many people visiting our site that we can not guarantee that it is always 100% nut free. However, we do ensure that no nut products enter our kitchen and our site is cleaned and sanitized between each group. Epi Pens are located all around camp and our staff are trained in how to react to an allergic reaction. My child is a picky eater. Will there be other options? At John Island Camp we encourage kids to try new things, but we also plan our menu to be child friendly. Each meal offers one main dish and a few side options. We always have our toast station set up and fresh fruit is always available between meals. What are some typical meals you serve? Please see an example of a 2 day menu below. We plan our menu s on a 2 week rotation in order to add variety to the meals. Day Breakfast 8:30 am 1 Oatmeal Cereal Oranges Pancakes Sausages Juice, Milk, Water 2 Oatmeal Cereal Fruit Salad Scrambled Eggs English Muffins Juice, Milk, Water Lunch 12:30 pm Dinner 5:30 pm Snack 8:45 pm Grilled Cheese Pasta Apple Sandwich Garlic Bread Tomato Soup Cesar Salad Veggie sticks & Milk, Water Dip Brownies Juice, Water Pizza Veggie Sticks & Dip Juice, Water Chicken Stir Fry Rice Garden Salad Milk, Water Jello Popcorn
At Camp: How is my child placed in a cabin? Can they be with friends 8 to 10 campers are placed in a cabin with two staff members. We place our campers in cabins with children of the same gender that are within 1-2 years of each other. You can request one cabin mate on your registration form. For those requesting a cabin mate that is older/younger than each other we typically put the two in the younger cabin. Please note that cabin mate requests must be mutual to ensure that they are placed together. The Camping Services Office can not tell you who is attending what session due to our Child Protection Policy. What activities will they be doing? Campers will have the option of trying a variety of activities while they are at camp. We try to add at least one new program each year so that everyone can try something new! All 2 week campers participate in an Outtrip. Our 1 week campers have the choice to select Outtripping as an option. See the list of activities below for an idea of some of the programming offered at John Island. For more information please see our website. Water: Canoe, Kayak, Sailing, Windsurfing, Boogie Boarding Land: High Ropes, Climbing Wall, Archery, Outdoor Living Skills Creative: Arts, and Crafts, Guitar, Drama Are there showers? How will my Child keep clean? There are showers at camp and every cabin is scheduled for one shower block each week. There are also three all camp swims each day as well as daily water activities. For those wishing to bathe in the lake we ask that all products are 100% biodegradable. Our staff is trained on how to support younger campers who may need a reminder to brush their teeth or change their clothes while away from home. What is Tuck? How much money should I be send- The Tuck Shop is our camp store. Every 2nd day children have the option of purchasing John Island items such as shirts, flashlights, hats, postcards etc., or treats. We suggest sending $25 per week spent at camp. All campers receive a free camp t-shirt!
Issues at Camp: How does your staff deal with bullying? Bullying is something that is not acceptable at John Island Camp. No one should negatively affect another camper s experience. Those who are negatively affecting others experience will have varying degrees of consequences including the possibility of being removed from camp. To find out how are staff are trained and how we deal with bullying, please refer to our Parent Handbook. What if my child becomes homesick? We realize that for many campers John Island Camp may be the 1st time away from home. Counsellors are trained on how to identify early signs of homesickness as well as how to help campers adjust to camp life and enjoy their stay with us. For more information please consult our Parent Handbook. What if there is an emergency at All of our staff are trained in First Aid and have specific training in how to respond to a medical emergency at the camp. The Elliot Lake Hospital is a 45 minute drive away and local EMS re notified at the opening of our camp season in case of needed support. After Camp: My child forgot something at camp, how can I get it back? Lost and found is sent in to the Sudbury YMCA and is washed one week after each session. If your items are labelled you will receive a phone call from Camping Services to let you know the items have been found. We find it very helpful to label everything you send to camp with your child. Items will remain in the Camping Services office at the Sudbury YMCA on Durham Street for pick up until September 16th 2017. After this date they will be donated to local charities. For those who live out of town we can mail your items to you at your expense.
How can I give you feedback about my child s experience? We take feedback very seriously at John Island Camp. It helps us to grow and to continue to provide the best service possible. Please fill out our online survey (link to be emailed) to share your child s experience. WE encourage you to fill out the survey with your child at the computer with you. Important Dates: John Island Alumni Work Weekend: May 26 28, 2017 For more in formation on the John Island Alumni Work Weekend, please contact Chris Falcioni chris.falcioni@sudbury.ymca.ca. John Island Open House: Saturday July 8, 2017 10:00am 3:00pm Contact Us! Camping Services Office 140 Durham Street Sudbury ON, P3E 3M7 Phone : 800-465-9622 or 705-674-6171 Fax: 705-675-8577 John Island Camp May September YMCA John Island Camp Spanish ON, P0P 2A0 Phone: 705-285-5111