Camp FAQ

Campers rotate to different activities throughout the day depending on their camp session. All campers participate in a camp-wide game after dinner and finish the day with a fun and meaningful campfire.

 

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Yes, we do. Items will be available on the last day of camp. We will retain lost and found for one month following camp. If not claimed by then, we will donate appropriate items to a local charity. Medication will be disposed of within two weeks following the camper’s week of attendance. Calls to the camp regarding lost and found will be handled as time permits. We can only look for labeled items. Any found items will be sent C.O.D. (at your expense).

To help reduce lost and found items we ask that all possessions brought to camp be labelled. We attempt to help care for the camper’s clothing, but often considerable amounts get left behind. Clothes will be accessible at sign-out at the end of each camp session.

Campers are encouraged not to bring valuable clothing or possessions. Pioneer Camp is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items.

Pioneer Camp is a nondenominational, Christian camp that promotes the teachings of Jesus Christ. We welcome children and youth of any faith and race, encouraging young lives to grow spiritually, mentally, socially and physically.

Your child will have a devotional time during the day plus an evening campfire that will focus on predetermined topics as laid out in the Pioneer Camp general program. These are times of introduction to Christian values and beliefs presented through small and large group discussions, skits, songs and Bible study.

Pioneer Camp is owned and operated by InterVarsity who has been operating summer camps and year-round outdoor educational programs since 1929. We operate nine summer camps across Canada under the names of Pioneer Camp and Circle Square Ranch.

Beside all the normal, camp clothes, there are extra items to bring depending on your child’s camp session. Please see Packing for Camp for a general list. We will also send you an info pack approximately one month prior to camp, which will include travel information, an updated packing list and details about the theme for that week. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Campers should bring enough clothing for the week. Please label all clothing and luggage with labels or indelible markers. Please attempt to bring modest clothing appropriate for physical camp activities.

*Pioneer Camp is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items.

The following items are not permitted at Pioneer Camp and, if brought, will be held in the office for the duration of the camper’s session:

• electronic games, players, entertainment and communication devices (cell phones)
• jack knives, hunting knives, matches or lighters
• nuts and/or peanut products
• inappropriate reading materials
• alcoholic beverages, narcotics or tobacco products

Do not bring anything valuable to camp, as occasionally things do get lost or broken.

We reserve the right to send home any camper who fails to cooperate. Pioneer Camp is a NON-SMOKING facility. Please discuss this with your child prior to camp should you consider this to be a concern.

Yes, we have a Tuck Shop that is open to campers. Depending on the camp, they may go either every day or every second day. Tuck money is submitted at registration and during the week campers can purchase items from the tuck shop using that balance. We suggest a weekly amount of $25-$50.

*Please note: Regular camp fees do not include tuck shop purchases, camp photos, clothing, or souvenirs.

Campers should arrive at 2:30 on Sundays. Remember to bring any important forms. Please note that we are unable to take early registration. For more information about transportation click here.

If you have any questions regarding registration day, please contact us.

Camp ends on Saturdays from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. For more information about transportation from camp click here.

Yes. At sign in, please record the names of the individuals who you permit to pick up your child. Staff may ask for identification prior to releasing campers.

Weekend accommodations may be arranged for two-week campers. There is, however, an additional fee of $30 per camper. For more details please contact us.

Our friendly atmosphere and understanding staff help campers overcome the natural fears and concerns of being away from home. Getting kids involved in the program and making new friends helps to overcome the fears associated with leaving home and their family. It is our goal to make their stay at Pioneer Camp as enjoyable as possible. The camp director will spend time with any homesick child and, if necessary call the parent.

With that in mind, we encourage parents and family not to visit during the week. If a child is homesick, a visit by family is usually not helpful. As well, other campers who are feeling homesick and are aware of the visit may request similar privileges and in most cases, this is not possible. We encourage family to spend as much time on arrival as they feel necessary.

As part of InterVarsity, we believe that summer camp offers a tremendous opportunity for children and teens to grow and mature emotionally, socially and spiritually. At Pioneer Camp, campers are respected as individuals, challenged and encouraged in all aspects of life, and given the opportunity to experience and develop authentic relationships with peers and leaders. Skill development, social development, personal and spiritual growth are all intentionally fostered by staff and have been hallmarks of the InterVarsity Camp experience since 1929. Finally, and equally importantly, we want every child’s experience to be tremendously fun.

The overall camper to staff ratio is 3:1. Each cabin of 6-8 children will have one leader and if space permits, a co-leader.

The camp director has been leading Pioneer Camp since 2008, as well as more than 22 years experience prior to this in youth ministry.

Our summer leadership team consists of individuals with previous camping experience as well as specific skills and training in their area of responsibility. All staff and volunteers have an up-to-date Criminal Record check as well as participating in camper safety training.

Yes. Because a high level of care for campers is so important to us, the operation of all activities and facilities where campers could potentially experience injury is governed by our risk management manual. This manual clearly details required supervision levels, equipment checks, and operating guidelines to ensure the safe participation of all campers. As well, campers and staff alike are trained to recognize and respond to signals in case of an emergency. This emergency procedure is practised in a drill early in every session.

Medical care is a vital part of our role for your child at the camp. Please advise us at registration if there are any changes to your child’s medical information. The camp reserves the right to refuse admission to any camper with a suspected contagious condition (i.e. chickenpox, lice). To ensure your child has an enjoyable week and to protect other campers, please have any condition treated completely before coming to camp. If this is not possible, please call and reschedule to another week, depending on availability.

Due to the structure of our program, Pioneer Camp requests that medications required throughout the year be sent with your child to camp. All medication brought to camp MUST be kept by camp staff, including vitamins, puffers and Tylenol. They must be labelled properly with medication name and directions for use. Prescription medication MUST be in the original container with user’s name printed on label. If you want your child to carry their puffer or Epipen with them please bring a fanny pack for that purpose. We also request that a second puffer or Epipen be checked in with the camp nurse.

All campers must provide a valid health number and completed medical information on application. Out-of-province campers must have medical insurance.

Details regarding medical/behavioral concerns are to be communicated in writing. Please call to discuss any concerns/special needs by phone.

Should your child have severe food allergies, you must call our office and discuss your child’s condition before your camper application will be accepted. This will allow us to ascertain whether we can accommodate your child safely and enable us to prepare appropriately to ensure your child has an enjoyable stay at camp. Pioneer Camp will make every effort to accommodate allergies; however, we cannot guarantee that there will be no trace of an allergen in food served.

As a camp we can accommodate dairy-free, gluten-free and vegetarian diets but we must be notified prior to camp. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate a vegan diet.

Pioneer Camp cannot guarantee to be a nut/peanut free environment. We do seek to reduce the risk of exposure and therefore do not use or serve peanuts, peanut products or tree nuts on camp property. Nuts or products containing nuts will not be available in our store. However, the food we purchase and serve may contain traces of nut products.

Pioneer Camp is a smoke-free facility. Smoking by campers is prohibited.

Fee includes all meals for camps, housing, use of all recreational equipment and facilities, instruction in activities, and awards.

Fee does not include transportation to and from the camp or tuck shop purchases. We provide weekend accommodations for two-week campers for an additional fee of $30.

If you cancel more than two weeks prior to the start of camp, you will get a full refund less $75/week administration fee. If you cancel less than two weeks prior to the start of camp, you will get NO REFUND (includes camp fees, out-trip fees, and transportation fees if applicable) except for medical reasons with a note from a doctor. In that case, you will get a full refund less $75/week administration fee. No refund will be made for dismissals due to disciplinary action, late arrivals or early departures. Withdrawal during camp on physician’s orders will result in the value of fees for the unexpired term being refunded.

There is financial assistance available. It is awarded on the basis of financial need and is given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Therefore we request that you fill out the Scholarship Form and submit it as soon as possible.

No. You have two options when registering online: Visa or MasterCard or you can mail in a cheque. Paying by cheque will delay the processing of your camp application since registration is not “secured” until full payment is received.

An alternate payment option is only applicable if you are applying for scholarship.