Please ensure you review all of the following information prior to your camp program:
Medications
Illness and injury
Head lice
Homesickness
Safety
Dietary sensitivities, allergies and restrictions
Emergencies
Medications
If you indicated your camper requires medication, prescribed or over the counter (e.g. vitamins, allergy medication), on the registration form please ensure that you send sufficient quantities for the time they are at camp. No medications will be dispensed unless: the medication is in its original container, the exact dosage is indicated on the container, the label on the medication bears the camper’s name, and the time the medication is to be taken is indicated on the container. If your camper requires regular medication, please ensure that a medication holiday is not scheduled for the time they are at camp.
The staff team supervises all medication. When dropping your camper off at camp or at the bus stop, please give medications directly to a staff member. The medication will be self-administered by the camper under the supervision of the staff team. Medications will be stored in a safe place each day but will travel back and forth with your camper.
If your camper requires a puffer or epi-pen we recommend that you pack a fanny pack with the luggage so that your camper has an easy way of carrying this with them throughout the day at camp.
Illness and injury
If your camper is experiencing diarrhea, vomiting or a fever, they may not attend camp until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours. If you find yourself in this situation, please contact the Ontario Council office at camping@guidesontario.org or 1-877-323-4545 ext 2461.
If a camper (of any age) becomes ill or injured while at camp, they will be monitored by the staff team. If the illness is very severe, we will contact emergency services and then the parent/guardian. If this situation is less severe, we will call a parent/guardian to pick up the camper from camp. If the injury or illness occurs during a time when the camper is at camp with a parent/guardian and that parent/guardian has a vehicle at camp then the parent/guardian will be responsible for taking the camper to the health clinic or hospital in non-emergency situations. Emergency situations will be dealt with by contacting local emergency services.
If your camper is seen by our staff members for routine problems (e.g. skinned knee, sliver, headache, etc.) that do not require a physician referral, we will send a note home at the end of your camper’s stay. The decision to consult you in these situations is determined on a case-by-case basis by our staff.
Note: If the camper has been treated by a physician for an illness or injury within one month of the date of the activity, it is recommended that the Wellness Statement (H.5) is completed and signed by a physician.
Head lice
Please check for lice a week prior to arrival, then again the day before arrival. Remember that a good thorough check takes 20-30 minutes per person. The head lice fact sheet can help you know what to look for while you do the check.
We will keep our eyes open discreetly for head lice while your camper is at camp. If lice or eggs are detected at camp we will advise parents/guardians. If your camper is found with head lice, it may be requested that they do not attend camp until they have been treated and are completely nit/lice free.
Homesickness
Our business is happy campers! Occasionally, campers may experience feelings of homesickness caused by anxiety about meeting new people or being in an unfamiliar place. Our staff are trained to react with a nurturing approach and will attempt to divert the camper from their feelings of sadness by keeping them very busy.
If you suspect that your camper may be prone to homesickness, you can prepare them in a variety of ways including: visit the camp web-site with your camper, look at photos and help them imagine themselves there, suggest that when they feel sad they should talk to a friend or counselor or get involved in the activity, and explain that going to camp is a big part of growing up and that you're proud of them for being so mature.
Safety
Based on recommendations from the staff team, we reserve the right to send a camper home if it is determined that their health or behaviour is detrimental to their own or other campers’ full enjoyment of the camp program. We reserve the right to send a camper home that could place themselves or others at risk, who breaches the rules of camp, or who doesn’t follow the Expectations of Participation.
Dietary sensitivities, allergies and restrictions
Some campers have allergies or sensitivities. We asked parents/guardians to record this information on our registration form. Our staff team will be there to assist campers with their dietary needs.
At day camp, most meals will be the parent/guardian's responsibility however a few meals are provided by the camp while at overnight camp all meals are provided by the camp.
When we provide meals, we strive to make them healthy, balanced, and delicious. Vegetarian options are always available for those who have told us that they require this. Specialty diets (e.g. lactose intolerance, gluten restrictions/allergy, egg allergy) need to be supported by the family. Please ensure that you've noted these restrictions clearly on your registration form. Please feel free to contact us at camping@guidesontario.org if you have any concerns. We attempt to provide a nut-aware and shellfish-aware environment, but we do not screen for secondary contamination at the point of product manufacture, and cannot guarantee a nut-free or shellfish-free environment.
If your camper requires a specialized diet, please request a copy of our menu and discuss which alternatives are in place for your camper’s needs with our staff team. We are able to provide you with the menu and discuss accommodations with you one week prior to your arrival at camp. If you still feel you need to provide specialty food to substitute our menu items please ensure you are only bringing items that are peanut and nut-free (e.g. don't substitute almond milk for cow's milk).
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency at camp, all attempts will be made to contact the parent/guardian first, and then if needed, the emergency contact indicated on the registration form. Contact will be made as soon as possible by phone. Please ensure that your contact information and the contact information of your emergency contacts are up to date.
Please contact us at camping@guidesontario.org or 1-877-323-4545 ext 2461 if you need to update any of your contact information.