Swim Safety Rules

We take swim safety very seriously. We want to assure you that we have put many safety precautions in place and our staff are well trained in supervising kids as they swim in small groups.

All campers will be paired up with a buddy for the duration of the swim.

Campers who’ve been assigned lifejackets must keep them on for the duration of the swim. We have a zero tolerance policy for kids who remove their own lifejacket. Those who do, will be removed from the pool and sit out the rest of the swim. We will inform mom and dad at the end of the day and discuss the procedure for our next swim.

Our swim policies are firm. “If you don’t follow our rules, you don’t swim.”

City of Ottawa Pools

We use City of Ottawa swimming pools (both indoor and outdoor) and we follow their rules explicitly.

5 and 6 year olds

5 and 6 year olds DO NOT ATTEND OUR AFTERNOON SWIMS. They will instead visit local splash pads or remain at the school for afternoon activities including arts and crafts, movies, sports and cooperative games.

7 year olds

According to City of Ottawa rules (not Camps Canada), 7 year olds are NOT PERMITTED to take the swim test (regardless of their swimming ability). Further, 7 year olds must remain in the shallow end of the pool and remain within arms length of their counselor at all times. 7 year olds will wear an orange wristband and be supervised at a ratio of 6:1 if wearing lifejackets, and 4:1 if not wearing lifejackets.

8 to 12 year olds

8 to 12 year olds must complete a swim test every day before they start their swim. Every 8 to 12 year old camper must attempt to swim approximately 25 meters (approx. 75 feet) unassisted. Our staff are in the water to assist if they have trouble.

If a camper chooses not to do the test or is unable to complete the test without assistance, we will make sure they put on a lifejacket. At this point, we will put an orange wristband on them and they will be supervised at a ratio of 8:1 wearing a lifejacket. Campers who pass the swim test, and are not wearing lifejackets, will be supervised at ratio of 10:1.

City of Ottawa – Wave Pools specifically

7 year olds

According to City of Ottawa rules (not Camps Canada), 7 year olds are NOT PERMITTED to take the swim test (regardless of their swimming ability). Further, 7 year olds must wear a lifejacket and remain within arms length of their counselor at all times. 7 year olds will wear an orange wristband and be supervised at a ratio of 6:1 wearing lifejackets.

8 to 12 year olds

8 to 12 year olds must complete a swim test every day before they start their swim. Every 8 to 12 year old camper must attempt to swim approximately 25 meters (approx. 75 feet) unassisted. Our staff are in the water to assist if they have trouble.

If a camper chooses not to do the test or is unable to complete the test without assistance, we will make sure they put on a lifejacket. At this point, we will put an orange wristband on them and they will be supervised at a ratio of 8:1 wearing a lifejacket. Campers who pass the swim test, and are not wearing lifejackets, will be supervised at ratio of 10:1.

Rules for Cancelling Your Registration

Depending on the date, there may be administration fees associated with cancelling your registration.

Requests for cancellation must be made using our Cancellation Form.

Rules for Changing Your Registration

Depending on the date, there may be administration fees associated with changing your registration.

Requests for changes must be made using our Change Form.

Camp Hours

There is no additional cost to pre and post camp supervision hours. Supervision is provided in classrooms where campers can choose between 2 classrooms: one for quiet activities like reading and listening to music and the other for watching kids cartoons or Disney kids movies on TV.

Age Groups

In our Multisport Camp, campers are divided by age, as per the table below. They travel with the same camp staff for the entire week and participate in age-appropriate activities with campers their own age.

In our other specialty camps (Arts and Crafts, Biking, Horseback, Swim), campers travel together to the activity and then, are more often divided by ability, for instructional purposes. 

There is always at least one Teacher, Senior Staff or Returning Staff with each Cabin Group.

Nut Awareness

Camps Canada provides a nut free camp environment. We do not provide any foods that contain nuts and nut products and we strongly encourage families to refrain from sending foods with nut products to camp.

Staff training regarding life threatening allergies ensures a proactive approach to food safety. Our staff are CPR and First Aid trained so that they will respond appropriately should there be an anaphylactic reaction.

Adding Lunch to an Existing Registration

You can add the lunch option to your existing registration as long as it’s not already sold out for that week. Simply sign-in to your online account and add the lunch option to the week of your choice. If our lunch plan is sold out for a particular week, it will not show up as an available option.

Returned Payment Fee

A returned payment fee occurs when we attempt to process a payment using your credit card on file and it is “declined”, for any reason.

The Returned Payment fee is $15.00 every time a credit card transaction is declined. The Returned Payment fee will be automatically added to your account, before a new payment is accepted.

Administering Medication

Camps Canada will administer medication only after parents have provided detailed information on their child’s medical form. The Medical Form will need to be completed at the time of registration. The system will not let you proceed without completing the form.

Epipens, Life-threatening Allergies

We have a perfect safety record in dealing with life-threatening allergies. In today’s climate it’s something that is quite common. Staff training regarding life threatening allergies ensures a proactive approach to safety. Our staff are CPR and First Aid trained so that they will respond appropriately should there be an anaphylactic reaction. Please be sure to provide details on your child’s Medical Form at the time of registration.

Please bring two (2) epipens and one (1) photo of your child to camp. Your child should keep an epipen on them at all times (in a fanny pack) and we will keep the other in our first aid kit, which is always close by. Sending a small photo of this camper is also very helpful.

Cell phones, Electronic Devices Policy

Cell phones and all electronic devices (game consoles, tablets, laptops, etc.) are not allowed at camp … not in a camper’s possession, not in their backpack.

This policy will be strictly enforced. If a camper is found to have a phone, it will be confiscated, their parents will be called and the phone will only be returned at the end of the day, to the parents.

A cell phone represents a tether to one’s parents and may serve as an impediment for a child to learn how to solve problems on their own.

For those especially anxious parents, know that you can speak with our Camp Directors by telephone during the day, or in person before and after camp.

If you need to reach your child during the day, or if we need to reach you, communication will happen through the Camp Director on site. You will be provided their cell number in advance of your camp week.

Our campers participate in many wonderful activities at camp which require socialization, full engagement, and focus, in order to get the best experience possible. Our goal is to create a safe environment, conducive to learning, and free of all distractions that may hinder the learning process and joy of camp.

In the past, cell phones have posed many challenges including:

• Inappropriate use including sharing inappropriate websites, images, videos and texts.
• Focusing on friends closer to home rather than friends at camp
• Campers’ instinct to call parents when they face adversity and seek advice, instead of turning to their peers, counselors, leaders or directors.
• Preventing campers from problem solving
• Lost/stolen/damaged devices
• Distraction & disconnection from camp activities, coaches and fellow campers

Overall, the use of cell phones devalues the instructional, educational, social and personal growth opportunities provided by our camps.

Sign-In, Sign-Out

YOU MUST PRESENT PHOTO IDENTIFICATION EVERY DAY when picking up your child. This will help to ensure the safety of your child. You are asked to sign your child in and out each day. This allows us to track your child’s attendance and for security reasons to make sure that we know who is picking them up at the end of the day.

Reluctant, First-Time Campers

For many children, attending camp is the highlight of their summer. For others, usually first-timers, preparing for camp can cause a great deal of anxiety. For them, a new environment, meeting new friends, and adjusting to a new counselor are events that may cause discomfort and apprehension. Not to worry. “I won’t go” or “I don’t want to go” are not unexpected responses. With care and positive exposure to camp, apprehension quickly disappears.

Part-time campers

Unfortunately, we do not allow campers to sign up for only specific days of the week. Payment must be made for the entire week.

Receipts

As soon as you complete registration, you will receive an automated confirmation be email. You can see and print your receipt online any time, after signing in to your account.

Confirmation

As soon as you complete registration, you will receive an automated confirmation be email.

Rain or Shine

All camps will operate rain or shine. However, as disappointing as it is, we reserve the right to hold back our off-site camps due to rain and especially forecasts of thundershowers and lightning. We will make decisions at camp on a case by case basis. Bike Safety, Horseback and Swim Camps in particular will be affected. These campers will have a choice to join either our regularly scheduled indoor Arts and Crafts or Multisport programs. Unfortunately, we do not offer refunds for inclement weather.

Lost and Found

There are two laws of camp Lost and Found. First, more is lost than found. And second, if it can get lost, it will. On a regular basis we try to comb through the Lost and Found bin to reunite articles with their owners. To make the process easier, please label everything clearly.

Despite our best efforts to return lost articles to their owners during the summer, there are always, inevitably, several bags of Lost and Found at the end of the season. It continues to be our policy to make every attempt to return any labelled clothing at the end of the summer. 

On the last day of camp, all unclaimed lost and found items are donated to a local charity.