Ontario is an amazing Canadian province that has a lot of wilderness and locations for camping. In fact, when combining the multi-cultural urban setting together with the artistic and educational institutions, camping becomes an inspirational platform for many young minds. Summer camps in Ontario inspire many youngsters to experience and enjoy a wide range of activities, including dance, sculpting, and scientific inventiveness as well as sport and wildlife appreciation.
Summer camps first appeared in Ontario as far back as 1900, and in 1925 it became an institutionalized system which reached maturity by 1932 with the formation of the Ontario Camping Association. Today there are over 600 members of which 400 are accredited camps, and a further 200 are individual members. The concept of an institutionalized camping system is to provide a minimum standard of performance to assure parents that their children are secure, treated well and in comfort and had access to a plethora of activities and educational experiences.
Ontario Summer Camps
With a large wilderness and plenty of nature camps, children are given a great opportunity to connect with nature. BY spending many days of outdoor activities surrounded by the amazing natural beauty and being exposed to outdoor activities, the youngster gets a chance to mix sports such as swimming, soccer, tennis, golf, and baseball with cultural and educational activities, as well as forge social friendships that last for years.
The summer camps in Ontario are designed to provide a comprehensive range of services including social, physical and emotional experiences aimed at developing young minds and bodies as well as spirits. With this, camping can be intimidating for new campers and here are some tips from experienced Ontario Summer Campers.
- If you know other parents and find out more information about camp life and what can be helpful for the first time. Also, obtain a schedule and have a meeting with other families so that the children are not pushed alone into a new environment.
- When arriving on your first day at the summer camp, take a full tour of the facilities with our child or children and let them see your interest as well as help them get their bearings.
- During your first day visit, be excited about the camp and prepare your child with positive emotions. Focus on the good and happy.
- If you have a family event that coincides with the camp dates, make sure your child attends the family event. Never leave a child out of a family event since this will become an emotional burden.
- Homesickness is the major issue, so sit down and listen to your child’s worries, explain how you understand them, and even if they become tearful and clingy, remember, after the first night the child acclimatizes to the camp and starts to enjoy their experiences. Reinforce them by stating you will take them back home if they continue to feel miserable after a few days.
- Mobile phones open up the world to your child, so if you do leave them a mobile device, make sure to regulate your connectivity to certain hours, and don’t focus on how much you miss them, focus on how much activity and experience they are enjoying. If mobile devices are retained by staff and only given out once or twice a day, make sure never to miss that mail call.
- Don’t forget a visiting day, if there is one, be there.
- When your child returns home, discuss the experience and ask them to show off any newly acquire3d skills. Reinforce the positive camp experience.