On the first night of camp, after meeting their leaders and cabin-mates, each cabin group gets to know the exciting activities ahead. Together, they’ll brainstorm fun ideas, share their personal interests, and craft a unique schedule for the week, making sure every camper has a say in the adventures they’ll experience.

Evenings at camp are filled with creativity and connection. Each night features a fun, camp-wide evening program, hosted by one of the cabin groups, followed by a tasty snack. Then, everyone gathers around the campfire for skits, songs, and plenty of laughter.

One special evening is dedicated to a memorable camp-out experience. Campers sleep in tents and enjoy a delicious dinner around a campfire. With their leaders, they’ll plan and take part in exciting activities and adventures around their campsite, like hiking to the Dome Tree, playing a thrilling game of Thicket at the Watchtower, telling stories, playing card games, and more.

A detailed packing list will be sent to you prior to your child’s camp session to help ensure they’re fully prepared. In general, the essentials to pack (in addition to enough clothes and toiletries for 5 days at camp) include a sleeping bag, bedding for a single mattress, sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, and extra layers for all types of weather— although it’s usually very warm during the day, evenings at camp can get chilly and there’s always the possibility of rain. Other useful items to consider bringing are a book for quiet moments and a card game for bonding with new friends. To help avoid mix-ups, please label all clothing and items with your camper’s name. Please note, electronics are not necessary and should be left at home.

Camp meals and snacks are designed with kids in mind—because they’re the ones we’re feeding! While we strive to create kid-friendly meals that are appealing to everyone, we understand that not all dishes will be a hit with every camper. We encourage all campers to try the meal provided, or at least parts of it, even if it’s not their favourite. However, no camper will ever be forced to eat something they don’t want to. Our leaders gently encourage campers to explore new foods, helping them build confidence in trying different flavours and textures during their time at camp. Campers often try new foods and even might discover new favourites- in a setting where their peers are all enjoying the same meal together in community. If a camper is unable to enjoy the meal offered, our kitchen will provide a simple, alternative option such as buttered noodles, a plain sandwich, a bowl of cereal, or a hot dog. These alternatives depend on what’s available, but our dedicated kitchen team works hard to ensure that every camper leaves the table satisfied and ready for more fun.

Our camp kitchen is well-equipped and highly knowledgeable when it comes to preparing meals for campers with allergies or dietary restrictions. We are proud to maintain a peanut/tree nut free environment, and our kitchen team is experienced in accommodating a wide range of common allergies and dietary needs with ease. For more complex allergies or dietary restrictions, we encourage parents/guardians to connect with our Kitchen Manager ahead of time to ensure we have all the necessary information to keep your child safe while at camp. We are also happy to work with families of campers with sensory processing disorders, food aversions, ARFID, or severe allergies to ensure that all food needs are met.

To discuss your child’s specific needs, please reach out to our Kitchen Manager via email at canterburyhillskitchen@gmail.com or by phone at 905-648-2712 ext. 6 approximately 1 week prior to your child’s camp session.We’ll be happy to go over the menu and any accommodations that might be needed to provide your camper with a safe and enjoyable experience at camp. Unsure about whether or not your camper’s dietary restriction requires a consultation with our Kitchen Manager? Don’t worry, we’ll be in touch if we need more information based on the information provided on your camper’s registration form.

We do our best to accommodate group requests whenever possible, as long as campers are in the same registration grouping (Sprout, Junior, Intermediate or Senior) and share the same gender expression. You may indicate group requests during registration. Cabin requests work best when both/all campers mutually indicate each other’s full name on their registration form. 

Can My Camper Request a Grade or Group Exemption? Yes. All exemption requests must be submitted BEFORE registration is completed. Once registration is finalized and spaces are claimed, changes are very unlikely.

Important notes:

• Grade exemption requests are reviewed individually
• Approved exceptions always move an older camper into a younger group
• A younger camper will NOT move up into an older group

Example: A camper eligible for Overnight: Intermediate may request to register in Overnight: Junior before registration. Campers registered in different grade groups will not be placed together.

Group requests cannot be guaranteed, as many factors go into creating our cabin groups and we require the flexibility on our end to be able to make the most appropriate cabin groupings. These include:

• The age distribution of registered campers in each session
• Friend/cabin requests of other campers
• Staffing needs
• Physical space in cabins (some cabins have 8 bunks, others have 12)
• Camper needs and group dynamics

Why Do We Group Campers by Age?

Our camp activity schedules are carefully designed to match the developmental stage and maturity level of campers. Leaders collaborate with their campers to create a schedule that reflects their interests and abilities, ensuring a fun and fulfilling experience.

A 6-7 year-old’s experience differs greatly from that of a 9-10 year-old or a 13-15 year-old.  Grouping campers by age helps us:

• Provide activities that are appropriately challenging and engaging
• Foster friendships among campers at a similar developmental stage
• Maintain balanced and positive cabin dynamics

For example, older campers may take on a longer, more challenging hike, while younger campers may engage in simpler crafts suited to their skills and interests.  Large age gaps can disrupt group dynamics and make it difficult for leaders to offer activities that meet the needs of all campers. By keeping age groups close, we ensure that campers bond easily, thrive together, and enjoy age-appropriate experiences, while also setting our staff up for success in leading engaging and meaningful programming.

At drop-off, our Resource Team will collect any medication at a designated table. During this time, they will gather important information from you about your child’s medication, including dosage, timing, and any specific instructions for administering it. For safety reasons, campers are not permitted to keep medication with them, with the exception of epipens, inhalers, and other emergency medications that must be carried on their person. All other medication is securely stored in our Wellness Centre, clearly labeled, and locked for safekeeping. Your child’s leader will bring them to the Wellness Centre to receive their medication at the appropriate time, and a member of our Resource Team will ensure that it is administered properly.