Page 27 - Demo 2

The First 48 Hours at Camp continued...
If your child has any special dietary needs, please call us prior to camp to discuss them. It is important, for your child’s feelings of comfort, to know that their special needs will be accommodated. After dinner there is an activity period, which helps to bring the campers closer together. This is followed by a cabin fire, at which time the campers talk about their hopes and wishes for the summer. Some basic safety rules are presented, so that from the first hours of camp, the safety policies and practices are put into place. There is a snack served around the fire. Recognizing what a long day it has been for the campers, they go into their cabins and get ready for bed. The bedtime routine includes teeth brushing and tidying up personal areas to get ready for the day to come. The counsellors go from bed to bed to talk to each camper, creating personal connections and learning a little more about each camper. These few minutes each night are very important to every camper.
After lights out, the counsellors may talk quietly to the cabin or tell a story. A night light is on all night in the cabin. The counsellors sleep in the same cabin as the campers, so that they are always under care and supervision. A staff member is always in the cabin in case of an emergent need by a camper.
Our Health Centre is available 24 hours a day. Should a camper need attention during the night, there is always a health staff member on duty. If your child needs special medications, or has some other special medical routine, we will ensure strict adherence.
MORNINGS: Younger children get up at 7:30 am and are at breakfast with their cabin mates by 7:45 am. After breakfast, the campers return to their cabins for cabin cleanup (most campers’ favourite activity of the day). Cleanliness and good health are closely linked. Hand washing is our mantra at camp, throughout the day and especially before eating.
HEALTH CENTRE: Should a child wake up not feeling well, he/she is taken by a counsellor to the morning clinic to be seen by our medical staff (4 nurses and 1 doctor). Follow-up care, when needed, is supervised by the counsellor and medical staff. Should a child have any medical condition beyond the ordinary, it is our policy to call the parents and advise them of the condition and the medical care being dispensed.
ACTIVITIES: Cabin groups participate together in all activities, especially the younger children, so that they can experience the widest possible range of activities. Counsellors accompany their campers to all the activities to ensure continuity and smooth transitions throughout the day. After two morning activity periods, we break for lunch, followed by rest hour. This rest hour is a quiet time for campers to play games, write letters or just hang out as a group. There is always a counsellor supervising the quiet times.
LETTERS: We recommend that you write one or two letters prior to camp, which will be waiting for your child. Keep the tone upbeat and the focus enthusiastic and supportive. Letters don’t have to be long. Kids just like receiving mail regularly. The campers write home at least three times per week. We will supervise this to ensure that the letters get to you.
27 • TIMBERLANE • www.camptimberlane.ca