Sun Safety Is A Summer Priority

Anyone who knows us here at MKDC knows that we are extremely proud of our track record on sun safety. In our 7 summers of operation, we have never – I repeat, NEVER – allowed a sunburn to occur. Not once. Our staff have often joked that we should really get a sunscreen company to sponsor us, since we go through so much of the stuff during our standard “sunscreen parties” that are specified on our daily schedule.

I’m excited to announce that we’re not stopping there! In our continuing mission to keep camp as safe as possible, we have recently enrolled as a participant of The SUN AWARE Camp Program sponsored by the Melanoma Network of Canada.

As a participant in this program, we are required to complete an initial assessment to review our current sun safety practices and identify areas of improvement. Based on the guidelines and policies provided by the MNC,  we will then create a plan to implement during the 2016 summer season. If the results of our sun safety practices meet the requirements of the MNC, we will then be awarded SUN AWARE certification.

Some of the highlights of this program:

• improving leadership regarding sun safety
• tracking the amount of access to shade during the hottest part of the day
• communicating sun safety policies with parents

Just another way we’re always upgrading the quality of camp for our campers!

Dear Mom carrying the backpack,

I don’t know you, so I can’t really judge. I mean, I’m assuming that backpack belongs to your kid, who is walking next to you. I’m guessing that YOU are not the member of your family who is obsessed with Thomas The Tank Engine.

So I really want to ask you… why are YOU carrying that backpack?

I’m a mom too. I know you’re probably just helping. I know that sometimes backpacks can get heavy. I know that sometimes kids walk really slow (especially when it’s towards something like school) and maybe you JUST. WANT. TO. BE. ON. TIME. THIS. ONCE.

But I also want to ask you, Thomas-the-Train-Mom… how often do you carry it? How often do you NEED to?

Because I feel like maybe too many parents are carrying the backpacks.

I feel like there’s a problem, and it’s not really about the backpack… it’s what the backpack is carrying.

The backpack is carrying their lunch. It’s carrying homework, if they are old enough to have any. It’s carrying their extra mittens, their favorite toy, that school newsletter that you really meant to read last week that’s now crumpled and slightly damp at the bottom. It’s all that stuff that they need for the day while you’re not there.

It’s carrying their independence.

So why are we the ones carrying it? Why are we holding the thing that represents all that they can do without our capable assistance?

I want to ask you, TtTM – when are you going to stop carrying the backpack? Grade 3? Grade 6? When you do stop carrying the backpack, will your kid be prepared for how heavy it has become?

I’m worried that our kids are growing up not knowing how to carry their own backpacks. I’m worried that they are not learning to handle a slowly increasing load over time, and instead are suddenly confronted, dangerously close to adulthood, with a textbook laden cargo they aren’t prepared to bear.

I’m worried they haven’t experienced for themselves the consequences of what happens when you drag your bag through the mud and then find that your permission slip for the big trip is ruined.

I want my kids to carry their own backpacks. I know there will be days when they won’t… when they are too slow or too tired and I JUST. WANT. TO. BE. ON. TIME. THIS. ONCE. Or maybe they’ll need help with a project that is heavy.

But I want them to know whose job it is to carry that backpack. I want them to understand that it is their lunch and mittens and permission slip, not mine. I want them to earn their independence, little by little, with backpacks of a steadily increasing appropriate size, so that someday, that big biology textbook won’t seem like such a big deal.

I want them to feel confident carrying that backpack themselves, but also be aware enough to know when it really is too heavy. I want them to be ok with asking for help, not expecting to hand off the weight to someone else.

What do you think, TtTM? Are you helping, or taking the weight?

Could your kid carry his own backpack today?

This is exactly the sort of cuteness that has inspired the pre-FIREFLY program!

Offered only during the last week of camp, this special program for 11 & 12 year olds provides a complete preview into the demands of our leadership program. It is highly recommended for campers in their last year who may be interested in becoming FIREFLYs. 

Our Pre-LIT Heartwood major runs during the last week of summer and includes the following components:

• leadership and team-building initiatives
• “day in the life” experience by shadowing a current FIREFLY
• hands-on experience working with our youngest campers (properly supervised of course)
• explanation and guidance on the FIREFLY application process
• an insider look at some of the inner workings of camp
• and more!

Due to the nature of this special program, only campers aged 11 and 12 are permitted to register for this major. (No worries to our younger Heartwood campers – we always have another major offered that week that is equally awesome.)

Majors are special programs for our Heartwood campers (aged 9-12) to choose from each week. Read about the rest of our majors here.

Let us take you on a virtual tour! Request more information and we’ll send you our Virtual Brochure – a visual walkthrough of our entire program. (A great way to talk about camp with your future camper!)

Registration for the Summer 2016 season is now open! Registering early has many benefits…

• First dibs on spaces for all age groups and dates
• FREE “Tuber’z” microfibre convertible scarf (these are almost identical to the “buffs” you’ve seen on Survivor – they protect from UV rays and are extremely cool!)
• If you are a new camper, or a returning camper who refers a new camper, you’ll also get a special MKDC stuffed mascot – details coming soon!
• Insider info on all camp news as we count down to our 8th season… it’s going to be a big year!
• MKDC will donate $10 from every early registration towards Jamie Law & family

In addition to what’s in it for you, you’ll also help us to:

• jump-start our cashflow during a critical time of the year
• better identify registration patterns to plan staffing, schedules, etc (and that helps us make camp the very best it can be for our campers)

Click here to register now and save your space!

Have you ever wondered exactly what goes on before the campers arrive?

One of our favorite training exercises is our “Team Building Day”. It’s the day when our staff get to be the campers and work their way through a series of interesting challenges. We NEVER tell the staff anything about what they’ll be doing, and coming up with new surprises for the staff each year is one of my favorite things about training.

This year, our staff were pretty confused when we pulled up in the Value Village parking lot. But things got pretty hilarious pretty quick when they realized they were going to need to channel their inner Macklemore in a thrift shop challenge. With a long list of items to find, limited time, and a requirement of photos for proof, they were off…

We had a crash course in accepting challenges when the power went out and the staff told all the customers we’d have to leave. It only took a few minutes for us to create a new plan of attack. A short drive later we were back on track at the nearest Salvation Army. And then part two… Use a small amount of $$ and limited time to create your own costume & character

After a fabulous lunch (thanks Burger Builder!) we were off to the grand finale… a chance to break free from Escape Manor! (Neither team quite made it, but we came pretty darn close. Sorry no pictures allowed in there!)

We’ll be posting some “get to know you” bios of our amazing staff in the days ahead! I say it every year but it’s true… our campers are a lucky bunch to get to spend the summer with these amazing role models!

Summer camp (when done right) is much more than just a place to go while school is out. Camp has the ability to teach your child alternate skills they may not be learning in school, foster independence, provide new role models and friendships, and even provide an oasis from other more stressful aspects of their young life. But are you choosing a camp that actually lives up to this potential?

Mistake #1: Not asking about accreditation.
Did you know that there is no mandatory licensing for day camps in Ontario? That means that literally anyone can decide to start a camp. The Ontario Camping Association provides accreditation, which holds camps to high standards in a variety of categories. However, this process is completely voluntary. A camp who is accredited has already proven through a 2-year process (which included visitations) that they meet industry standards in safety, staffing, programming, and financial accountability. A camp that is not accredited should have to work that much harder to prove these qualifications to you as a discerning parent. (And if they don’t even know who the OCA is? Run the other way.)
– Is this camp accredited by the Ontario Camping Association?
– What other professional organizations are you a member of?

Mistake #2: Not asking about the qualifications of the owner/director.
Running a successful summer camp for children requires many important skills. For example: an understanding of age characteristics and stages of development, teaching/instructing skills, hiring/staff leadership, etc. There are many different paths to acquiring these skills, but they need to come from somewhere. At minimum, the director should have prior camp experience before becoming a director, and ideally will also have other qualifications such as an outdoor education or teaching degree.
– What is your prior experience working at summer camps?
– How long have you been a camp director?
– What are your qualifications to design a program for children?
– What is your day-to-day role within the camp?
– Is this a child-centred business, or is the camp a side project?

Mistake #3: Not considering all factors when comparing fees.
It’s easy to get hung up on the weekly base fee, but be careful that you also look at how much things will cost altogether. Some camps charge extra for the most popular activities, such as special guests or field trips. Some also charge extra for other necessities like lunch and extended care. What may look like a cheaper price may in fact be more expensive than an all-inclusive option, especially when you consider sibling and multi-week discounts.
– Are there any additional fees for lunch, activities, or extended care?
– Do you offer a sibling discount?
– Do you offer a discount for multiple weeks?
– Can you help me secure funding?

Mistake #4: Using price as your main (or only) point of comparison.
Of course you will have a budget that you need to work with. However, there are enough choices that even within this amount you will have room to shop around. Yes, there will be “extras” that you might get with a more expensive camp, but a camp’s overall quality has a lot more to do with their attention to detail and child-centred focus than the price. Cheaper isn’t always poorer quality (but sometimes it is) and more expensive isn’t always better (but sometimes it is). First ask yourself what is important to you and your child, and THEN look to see how you can best fit that into your budget. (Many camps offer their own funding, or may be able to help you source it elsewhere.)
– What am I hoping that my child will achieve this summer? What outcomes am I looking for?
– Will this camp meet my child’s needs?
– Does this camp match our values as a family?

Mistake #5: Not asking questions about the staff and training.
A camp may have “bells and whistles” but quality of staff is what will make or break your child’s experience.
– How are the staff selected?
– How (and for how long) are your staff trained? By whom?
– What is the average age of the counselling staff?
– What qualifications do they have?
– What percentage of your staff are returning this year?
– What is the camper to staff ratio? Is this number “padded” with non-staff such as volunteers or admin staff?

Mistake #6: Not asking about programming.
Does the camp have a full program plan, or just a calendar with one “hot item” each day? How are the hours actually filled in?
– Is there a specific daily & weekly schedule? Is there accountability for how this schedule is followed?
– Is the program adjusted for different ages?
– How much variety is offered in the activities?
– Will my child have any choice in the activities they participate in?
– What are the qualifications of the staff who are in charge of programming?

Mistake #7: Not asking how children will be grouped together.
As a parent you know how quickly a child changes as they grow. A four year old and a nine year old have very different interests, abilities, and social skills, and their programming should reflect these differences. Camps who understand child development will group campers into age-appropriate groupings so that their programming will best fit their needs.
– How large is the range of ages that will be included in one group?
– How many groups are there?
– What is the maximum number of children in each group?
– How many staff are working directly with each group?

Mistake #8: Not considering the culture fit.
A lot of camps will advertise that their campers will “develop confidence”, “make friends”, and “have fun” in a “safe environment”. How many times have you read these words? The trick is how the camp plans to actually accomplish these goals. It doesn’t just happen by accident. The culture that a camp cultivates is a reflection of their goals and values and is what will separate a magical experience from a merely adequate one.
– What are your camp’s traditions?
– How do you help new campers make friends?
– Can you give me some examples of how a camper’s confidence will improve?
– What do you do to ensure a camper’s emotional safety?

Making apple-cinnamon ornaments with Kristie

Our elves’ to do list for our first Santa’s Workshop of 2014:

• Hot Chocolate Kit gift
• Custom Candle gift
• Lemon-Sugar Body Scrub gift
• Bami Ballen gift
• stenciled art cards
• Apple-Cinnamon Ornaments
• Magic Reindeer Food
• Cinnamon-Sugar Snowflake snack
• plus a bingo game, un-wrap race, and some other games!

Phew! Somehow they got it all done. But there’s no rest for Santa’s Elves at Christmastime… so we’re going to do it all again this Saturday – with new projects and games! If you missed us last week there’s still time to register for Workshop #2 on Saturday, December 13th.

Who could do Christmas better than the MKDC kid experts? 😉

There’s something magical about a camp smile!

Registration is now open for our PA Day Series as well as Santa’s Workshops (available on TWO DATES this year – more details coming soon!). All PA Days & Santa’s Workshop include all activities plus a pizza lunch & snacks.

The October 24th PA Day will be a Halloween Theme.

The other three PA Day themes are TBA, but will have an instructional focus similar to the style of our Heartwood Major programs (high tech, etc).

Please note that in order to continue offering our PA Day programs, we need a commitment from a minimum number of campers. If we don’t receive sufficient interest by Sept 19 we will be cancelling the PA Day Series. (We have had many last-minute calls for PA Days in the past – this makes it difficult for us to guage interest as well as adequately plan for the day.) Please tell your friends, and don’t wait until the last minute to register and risk disappointment!

Register Now and save your space!