Author: Element6

The time has come… school is almost out and summer is just around the corner.  That can only mean one thing: summer camp time. But how do you choose the right camp for your child(ren)? Keep reading for our list of everything to keep in mind when picking your camp.

Interests & Hobbies

The first and most important thing to keep in mind when looking for summer camps is your child’s interests. What activities drive their interest? Are they active and want to run around outside all day?   Are they outside with their friends practicing a sport? Choosing a camp that focuses on an activity that sparks their interest is an important first step for a happy camper.

Goals & Expectations

It’s important to keep in mind, not only what activities your child will be doing at camp throughout the summer, but also what you and your child’s goals and expectations are. Is your child active throughout the school year but once summer comes around they transform into a couch potato? Look into an active camp, such as a sport’s camp. Do you have a child looking to overcome shyness? Check out the local theatre camps. Setting goals and working together to meet them throughout the summer is a great way to boost your child’s confidence.

Time Management

Now that you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to start researching! During this process, don’t forget to consider your own needs. Are you a parent or guardian that stays home throughout the day, or will you need childcare when school is out? This is important in your planning, as each camp has its own timing and schedule. If you need full day coverage, look for a camp that runs an early drop-off and late pick-up service. If you need childcare for the whole summer, look for a camp that offers discounts if you sign up for multiple weeks at a time. These are great tools for working parents!

Cost

We know that camp can sometimes get pricey, especially if you are looking to enrol for a full summer. If you’re on a budget, be sure to look into subsidies or inexpensive quality camps. Some camps offer their own subsidies, but there are also lots of great subsidy organizations out there for parents looking to get their children into camp during the summer. We personally work extensively with JumpStart, KidSport, as well as the local CAS, Family Services & Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations.

The good news is…Royal City Soccer Club checks all the boxes.  Great hours, supervision and cost.  Excellent activities, program and drop off / pick up times.  Fantastic discounts for multiple weeks/families.

With all that in mind, you’re ready to start booking! Don’t forget to add us onto your camp list this summer!

 

It’s June, which can only mean one thing here at Royal City… it’s training month! Each weekend from now until the start of camp, we travel across the country to train our summer camp staff. We wanted to share with you why this training is so important!

 

Familiarize yourself with our camps

The first, and most obvious reason for training is to familiarize yourself with our camps. This includes everything from programming to policies. If you have a question, we’ve got an answer! We’ll cover things in detail, such as daily schedules, what to do during the in between time, how to talk to parents, and how to resolve bullying issues. For Supervisors and Regional Coordinators, we’ll also go over all the necessary paperwork required to keep camp running, and the best techniques for managing people.

 

Learning life & career skills

Attending one of our training sessions will not only provide you the tools to run our summer day camp successfully but more importantly it’ll provide you skills you can use throughout your life and career.  Problem solving, team work, managing children and so many other skills are learned at our training session.

 

Meet your fellow staff

The very first day of camp is your first time on the job and we recognize that can be intimidating. Training is a great time to mingle with your fellow staff and start getting to know each other. This way when you get to site on day one, there will be some familiar faces! Your supervisor will touch base with you before camp starts but it’s always nice to know your fellow staff members as well.

 

 

As you can tell, there’s plenty of  important benefits from attending training, we’ve only listed a few of them here. There’s sure to be lots more you’ll pick up during this training-focused month of June, including being more comfortable and confident in your camp position before July arrives!  We hope you’re as excited to attend training as we are to see you there!

The world is becoming an increasingly diverse place with new people immigrating to Canada daily.   More ethnicities and cultures are present within communities today than ever before. It’s important to be aware of the differences between people and use them as a way to learn new ways of doing things – or even learn something about a culture different from your own.

What is culture?

Culture is the shared traditions, beliefs, customs and history of a group of people from the same ethnicity, language, nationality or religion. Everyone develops some sort of culture depending on the environment they learn in and these lessons are passed on to different generations. It’s important to be aware of your own culture as well as others around you.

How can you learn from others who are different from you?

• Learn a new way of doing things!

People coming from a different country or culture may have a new perspective that you may have not thought of before. Be open about new ways of thinking.

• Respect

Being exposed to new culture and ethnicities means you need to respect differences in beliefs, traditions, and ways of thinking – even if they do not agree with your own.

• Openness

Meeting people from different walks of life means you develop a sense of openness to new things, and will make you a well rounded person. Who doesn’t want to be around a person who is accepting, respectful, and open?

Why is camp the perfect place to learn about diversity and inclusion?

Summer day camps are a perfect way for your son or daughter to learn about diversity and inclusion.  At the Royal City Soccer Club, we welcome all families & children (between ages of 5 to 13) to register & participate in our program.  Children are not entrenched in the discourse of some adults so their openness to learn about different cultures & ethnicities that attend camp is high.  With a common goal to learn some life skills, play soccer / camp games and have fun, the campers band together, form bonds and build friendships.  Many times these are the most productive times to learn about new cultures….from their friends!

Camps is not only a fun experience but an opportunity to develop friendships and meet new people & diverse cultures!

-Nastazja

References
American Camp Association. (2013). Camp Diversity: A Call to Action. Camp Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/camping-magazine/camp-diversity-call-action

University of Kansas. (2012). Building culturally competent organizations. The community tool box. Retrieved from https://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/sub_section_main_1176.aspx