Camp Life

Not sure what to expect at camp? The following will describe how the camp functions, schedules, and some daily activities involved in camp life.

Cabin Assignments

The campers at each camp are divided into cabin groups of 10 to 15 campers. A minimum ration of 5 [campers]:1 [counsellor] will be maintained. Normally, one counsellor and one CIT will be assigned to each cabin, although additional counsellors will be added as required.

Daily Schedule

This is a sample of a typical day at Camp McDougall. Theme days and special events will often mean an alteration to the schedule. Please notice that this is a very active and busy schedule, so it is important to get as much sleep as possible every night.

Morning Watch & Vespers

Each day begins with Morning Watch. All of the people at camp gather around the flag-pole to sing the national anthem, which is followed by a brief reflection or thought or prayer to start the day. Similarly, the day is ended with a brief thought or reflection around the campfire known as Vespers.

Sessions

The main programmed activities of the average day at camp are the three sessions. These are Arts & Crafts, Recreation, and Waterfront. The campers are divided into session groups, and each group rotates from one session to the next.

Campfire

The last program activity of each day is the campfire. Campfires involve many different elements, all of which should be blended together to create a well-rounded campfire. Campfires include a variety of types of songs, stories, and skits. Each cabin will be responsible for one campfire throughout the course of the week.

What To Bring to Camp

• Clothes [pants, shorts, shirts, sweaters, shoes, socks, underwear]
• Swimsuit
• Rainwear
• Bog Clothes
• Costumes
• Sleeping Bag & Pillow
• Flashlight
• Toiletries (No Aerosol Cans Please)
• Hat
• Towel
• Musical Instruments
• Story Books
• Bug Repellant
• Sun Screen

What NOT To Bring to Camp

• Walkmans, Stereos, MP3 Players, Cellphones etc.
• Knives, Axes etc.
• Alcohol, Non-medicated drugs
• Make-up, Perfume, Hairspray, etc.
• Food
• Valuables, Jewellery, Money

Allergies at Camp

Camp Staff will do all possible to prevent allergic reactions by avoiding or removing allergens that cause the reaction, ie: certain foods, moulds, insects. In the event of an allergic reaction, camp staff are trained to deal with the situation. Please speak to the Camp Director to advise them of any special requirements for your child regarding allergies.

Peanut Allergies

When a registered camper has a peanut allergy, camp will operate as a "nut-aware zone". This means that the camp will take all measures possible to ensure that no one on site comes into contact with nuts or products that may have come into contact with peanuts or peanut-oil derivatives. All food labels will be thoroughly checked, any food that may have previously come into contact with nuts will be disposed of or securely stored, and any food that is brought to camp by campers or staff will be sent home with parents or securely stored.