Parent Guide
Important Information to ensure you have an awesome summer experience for both you and your child
Whether your camper is registered for one or multiple sessions, know that we work hard to make every day at Capital Camps memorable and one that wont be forgotten. Our office staff are working hard to make sure that all of our systems are in place so that camp runs as smoothly as possible for all of our camp families and if you visit our parent guide, you will find everything you need to know before you drop your kids off. Our information is updated each year and we would love for all parents and supervisors to review it at their own convenience.
Below are 7 important things to make your summer the best one yet
#1. Camper Health and Sun Safety
HEALTH CARE OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of Capital Camps healthcare is to provide basic first aid and monitoring of minor health issues arising during the camp day.
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Early detection and care of campers with health care needs
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Development of healthy attitudes and healthy behaviors by campers
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Ensure a healthy environment for children at camp
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Prevention of communicable diseases at camp
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Life-threatening Allergies
Our camp is a nut-free zone and all of our counselors are trained in First Aid and CPR techniques. If your child has a life-threatening allergy, please take some extra time on the first morning of camp to discuss with the camp director the nature of the allergy and other pertinent information. Although this information will be on the registration form, we find it very helpful to be able to ask you more specific questions in person. If your child has an Epipen, please send 2 to camp. One will be held by a counselor at all times and the other should be kept by your child in a fanny pack that is to be worn by your child at all times.
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Sunscreen and Sun Safety
We ask that you apply sunscreen (rain or shine) on your child before they get to camp each morning. On the first day of camp, please provide sunscreen (LABELLED!) that can be kept in their backpack and reapplied at designated times during the day. Our staff are trained on the various age-appropriate ways to assist their campers with putting on more sunscreen.
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#2. Typical Day at Camp
Well, we actually work hard to make every day at Capital Camps anything but typical! But there is certainly a routine at camp. Campers at Capital Camps (Multi- Sports and Tennis) are organized in “countries”. Arts campers are organized in “colours”. Drama & Dance are organized in “dance styles”. Cheer campers are organized by “types of cheers”.
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Morning Welcome & Country Spirit Presentation:
Our Country Spirit Presentation is the name given to our camp-wide gatherings where we build community through our presentations of the various theme days. Some examples of these theme day presentations are: country colour day, crazy hair day, dress like your favourite athlete and many other days!
ex. Multi-Sports Camp
9:00 to 9:30 - Morning announcements and Country Spirit Presentations
9:30 to 10:30 - Work on sport specific skills in various age groups
10:30 to 10:45 - AM snack break
10:45to 11:30 - Play sport specific games within age groups
11:30 to 12:00 - Entire camp will play cool down game
12:00 to 1:00 - Lunch
1:00 to 2:15 - Entire camp will begin tournament of the day for specific sport
2:15 to 2:30 - PM snack break
2:30 to 3:30 - Campers will be divided into age groups and will participate in various games / activities
3:30 to 4:00 - entire camp will participate in cool-down exercise and will be given a point update to see which country is in the lead and will be told what Country Spirit Event will be held the next day.
# 3. What to Pack
Our experience has taught us that Moms and Dads like to have their campers prepared for anything that Ottawa weather may throw our way during the summer.
Here are more recommendations of what your child should wear and have packed in their knapsack on a daily basis.
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Washable, inexpensive clothing
· We recommend that you NOT send clothing that may upset you and/or your child if for some reason it got dirty, accidentally damaged or went missing.
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LABEL ALL ITEMS
· Our staff work very hard to help your child return home with all the items you send to camp, it is super-important that you find a labelling process that works for you. Even labelling with a sharpie (permanent) marker (first AND last names!!) makes returning lost items much easier.
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Wear a hat
· All campers should wear a hat when outdoors and should arrive at camp wearing a hat to prevent overexposure to the sun
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Multi Sports and Tennis Campers
· Campers are not required to bring specific sports equipment to camp, however, we do insist that athletic shoes (not sandals) be worn so that campers can play safely on our courts and fields. If your child has a tennis racquet, please label it.
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Dress for weather
· Since our location in Orleans is susceptible to changing weather conditions, we do recommend you pack a few items that will allow your child to be comfortable regardless of what Mother Nature sends our way. Please check the weather daily but don’t assume that the conditions your child left home in will be the same throughout the day (or even the same as you may encounter wherever you are during the day). We recommend packing light items like a windbreaker, long-sleeve shirt, or a sweatshirt for cold windy days and boots and a raincoat for rainy days. We have great indoor facilities to keep our programs going all day long.
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Extra clothes at camp
· Some of our younger campers may benefit from having some extra clothes labelled and stored in their backpack just in case these items are needed.
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Footwear
· Running shoes and socks are preferred over sandals/open-toe shoes, thus allowing our campers to partake in all of our activities.
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Sunscreen to be left in backpack
· We ask that you apply sunscreen (rain or shine) on your child before they get on to the bus/ or travel with you to camp each morning. On the first day of camp, please provide sunscreen (LABELLED!) that can be kept in their backpack and reapplied at designated times during the day. Our staff are trained on the various age-appropriate ways to assist their campers with putting on more sunscreen.
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The “What to Pack” Summary
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1 bathing suit (campers need this for the Friday water fight and tennis campers also need this for the Tuesday Slip-n-Slide)
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1 pair of shorts and underwear
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Lunch
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Sweatshirt and sweatpants
#4. Food at Camp
Daily Lunch
For 2023 We will ask all campers to provide their own lunch/snacks daily.
-All campers will get a Gabriel's Pizza Party lunch on Fridays where they will have the choice of either cheese or pepperoni pizza.
-Please send your camper with a daily lunch that is nut free
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Sending snacks to camp
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We encourage you to send easy, “on-the-go” types of snacks if you feel your camper would benefit from extra energy.
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Given the fast-paced nature of each day, campers will eat their snacks while travelling around camp between activities.
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Like all food at camp, please ensure that these snacks/treats are Nut Free.
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#5. Camp Forms & Registration
Always having the most up-to-date information about your child is a vital component to a successful Capital Camps experience. We put a lot of effort into developing efficient administrative systems that make information gathering as simple as possible. Please provide all requested information in a timely fashion.
An important part of your pre-summer preparations is completing your online forms. Online forms are now available by logging into the same link as your registration.
PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR FORMS BY JUNE 15!
the following forms are to be completed:
1. Health Form: Please provide the most up-to-date information on your child so our Health Centre staff can best take care of your child should the need arise.
2. Upload a photo of your child: To help our health centre, office, Section Heads and counsellors become familiar with your camper, we ask that you provide a recent photo of your child. It’s easy to do when you are on our online system.
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Information about completing our forms:
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· Completion is Easy!! We have worked hard to make our online process as easy as possible.
· Adhering to deadlines is Crucial!! It is hard to be flexible when deadlines are not met and since safety is our greatest focus, deadlines allow us to be best organized to ensure a fantastic time for everyone.
· You can always update your information! It is always better to submit your forms with the information you have on hand ASAP than wait until your camper begins camp. Whether it’s changes to health or swim information or any forms for that matter, you can always email us at info@capitalcamps.ca and we will make sure a member of our office team updates your information.
Sharing information between home and camp makes everybody feel good about the camp experience. It also allows us to take care of your children to the best of our ability. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
#6. Drop Off Information
Pick up and Drop off
For drop off at tennis camp (1485 Duford Drive) please walk around to the back of the building and find us at the entrance of the tennis courts.
For drop off at Gisele Lalonde High School (Sports, Arts, Cheer, Football, Drama & Dance) drive into the main parking lot. Please use the side doors of the school that are closest to the parking lot and follow the signs to the gym. We will have a sign-in table in the gym.
YOU MUST PRESENT PHOTO IDENTIFICATION EVERY DAY when picking up your child. If another individual (other than the child’s mother or father) is picking them up, we will need a signed note or email letting us know.
Also, if your child has permission to walk to and from camp please write us a note in our registration form and include a note or email on the first day of camp.
#7. Policies & Procedures
Policies and Procedures
Age Groups
The camp will be divided by age for all sport specific activities and the actual age breakdown will vary with the age distribution per week. There will also be whole-camp activities in which the entire camp will participate at once.
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Friend Requests
We can accommodate individual requests to have children in the same group. You will be asked to provide this information on your registration form.
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Extended Care
Our extended care runs from:
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MULTI-SPORTS, DRAMA & DANCE, FOOTBALL CAMP, CHEER LEADING, ARTS CAMP HOURS
7:30am – 9:00am FREE Morning Care
9:00am – 4:00 pm Regular Camp Activities
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm FREE After Care
TENNIS CAMP HOURS
7:30am – 9:00am FREE Morning Care
9:00am – 4:00 pm Regular Camp Activities
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm FREE After Care
Sign-In, Sign-Out
YOU MUST PRESENT PHOTO IDENTIFICATION EVERY DAY when picking up your child. If another individual (other the than the child’s mother or father) is picking them up, we will need a signed note letting us know.
Also, if your child has permission to walk to and from camp please write us a note in our registration form and include a note on the first day of camp.
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Late Fees
Late Pickup Fee: Please note that if you are more than 5 minutes late you will be changed $1.50 per minute that you are late
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Daily Lunch
For 2022 We will ask all campers to provide their own lunch/snacks daily.
-All campers will get a Gabriel's Pizza Party lunch on Fridays where they will have the choice of either cheese or pepperoni pizza.
-Please send your camper with a daily lunch that is nut free
​
Sending snacks to camp
-
We encourage you to send easy, “on-the-go” types of snacks if you feel your camper would benefit from extra energy.
-
Given the fast-paced nature of each day, campers will eat their snacks while travelling around camp between activities.
-
Like all food at camp, please ensure that these snacks/treats are Nut Free.
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Administering Medication
If your child will need to have medication administered, please fill out our medication administration form.
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Life-threatening Allergies
Our camp is a nut-free zone and all of our counselors are trained in First Aid and CPR techniques. If your child has a life-threatening allergy, please take some extra time on the first morning of camp, to the nature of the allergy and other pertinent information discuss with the camp director. Although this information will be on the registration form, we find it very helpful to be able to ask you more specific questions in person. If your child has an Epipen, please send 2 to camp. One will be held by a counselor at all times and the other should be kept by your child in a fanny pack that is to be worn by your child at all times.
Ratios of Campers to Counselors
Our ratio of campers to counselors is 8:1. This is to ensure maximum safety and sport improvement.
Receipts
Tax receipts will be issued on the last day of camp. You will also be able to log back onto our online registration system at any time to print out a receipt.
Confirmation
Once you have finished the online registration you will automatically be sent a confirmation e-mail with the details of your booking. Also you will be able to log back into our system at any time to view your bookings. If you have mailed in a hardcopy registration form you will be e-mailed a confirmation when we receive the registration form and cheque. Also if you have registered online and paid by cheque you will be sent a confirmation e-mail when we receive your cheque and printed out registration form.
Cancel Registration
Cancelations made BEFORE May 15th
All cancelations will be subject to a $10 per week cancelation fee. This fee is to cover our credit card processing fees and the time it takes to make the cancelations.
Cancelations made AFTER May 15th
All cancelations will be subject to a $20 per week cancelation fee.
Cancelations made AFTER June 24th
All cancelations will be subject to a $40 per week cancelation fee.
All cancelations must be sent via email and must come 4 weeks prior to the camp beginning in order to qualify for the entire fee of the camp being returned minus the $10, $20 or $40 cancelation fee. For example if a camp is set to begin on July 30th and we are notified of the cancelation as of July 2nd there would be a full refund minus the cancellation fee.
If we receive a cancelation with less than 4 weeks notice before a camp starts, we will try and fill your child’s spot and if it gets filled we will add a credit of 50% to your account that can be used on future camps.
If we receive less than 1 week notice before a camp is set to begin, there will be no refund.
Change Registration
Changing the week of camp that your child is attending is not a problem and will not be subject to any fees, provided that the camp has at least 28 days notice on any changes being made, provided that there are still spaces available in the desired week. If less than 28 days notice is given we will do our best to fill your child’s spot but you would be subject to our cancelation fees.
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Rain Days
When it rains during any of our camps, we move everyone inside and play sports and participate in a wide range of activities.
If a Half-Day Camp is completely rained out during the morning, participants will have the option to attend a future morning of half day camp free of charge. If you choose this option, please give us 2 days notice that you are coming, so we can accommodate your request.
