Our Kids Blog

All I ever needed to know, I learned at riding camp…

At age 10 my parents decided to send me to summer camp, not any summer camp mind you – but one where I would come home everyday stinking to high heaven.  I am not sure if they sent me to horseback riding camp because they knew I would love it, or because it would be a great excuse for them to force me to bathe.

Whatever the motivation behind the decision to send me to horseback riding camp, it piqued my interest in horses, horsemanship and equitation.

Twenty years later I have turned that one summer into a life long interest and a modestly paying career.

I could sit here and list all of the virtues of horses and horse sport, but my computer would run out of memory.  The fact of the matter is that horseback riding is fun!

Although I only look back with fondness at my first summer at riding camp, I wish that my parents had been a little more educated in what to look for in a summer riding program.  Although I emphasize fun when looking at any program, it is important to look for a facility that has quality school horses and certified instruction.

Are the horses:

• At a good weight? (should only be able to see a hint of ribs)
• Friendly?
• Many different shapes and sizes?

Healthy, friendly and safe school horses are a must at any riding facility.  At summer riding programs this is extra important.  Most new riders start off by attending a summer riding camp and they are just starting to become educated in horse handling and behaviour.  There is nothing worse than having a terrifying experience before ever having gotten on a horse in the first place.  This is also where the quality of instruction and supervision is of utmost importance.

Are the instructors:

• Ontario Equestrian Federation certified ‘Instructor of beginner’ or higher (Coach I)?
• First Aid and CPR trained?
• Friendly, effective communicators?

Are the counsellors:

• Experienced with horses?
• Friendly and responsible?

Horses are large animals, and one must become familiar with them with the guidance of experienced, patient and friendly instructors, counsellors and staff.

The Equine industry at the moment is coming to a cross road.  We are quickly approaching a time when it will be required to have the proper certifications and credentials to teach riding lessons.

Recently, the Ontario Equestrian Federation (OEF) changed its learn to ride program, instructors certification and coaching certification programs to reflect this shifting trend towards formal equine and equestrian education.  Finding a summer riding camp that employs OEF certified instructors and coaches ensures that these individuals have achieved a set level of standards and are qualified and capable of teaching safe and effective riding lessons.

Horseback riding camps can sometimes feel like a tough decision because not many parents know the right questions to ask concerning their children’s equestrian education.  Write down some questions to ask the prospective camp.  Take the time to visit the facility where your children will be spending their time.  Observe a lesson or two.

Here is a sample list of questions to ask a prospective horseback riding camp:

• How many horses do you have?
• How many children usually attend your camp program?
• How many counsellors do you employ/how many children are there per counsellor?
• Are all of your counsellors experienced with horses?
• Will there be staff in the barn to help my child tack up/groom/manage his or her horse?
• Are your riding instructors and coaches certified by the OEF or another governing body?
• How many students are in a riding class?
• How much will my child ride each day?
• What other activities do you offer?

About the writer:

Laura Shell works at the York Equestrian Riding School in Stouffville, Ontario.

Tags: Camp, children, day camp, horse, horseback riding, kids, leadership, learning, overnight camp, riding instruction, summer camp

Preparing for Summer Camp – CTV Montreal Interview

Summer camps are filling up quickly and it’s that time of year to begin thinking about camp for your kids. Not sure if your child is old enough? Where to start your search? or what camp your teen would love? CTV Monteal recently did an interview with Jacqui Raill, Camp Director of Camp Ouareau in Quebec about these top parental concerns.  Tune in today at noon (Monday February 8, 2010, 12:00 noon) online at www.ctvmontreal.ca and watch the short interview.

We’ve also got lots of great tips and tools for preparing your child for camp in our Camp Advice Guide, or visit the Camps.ca Community and ask one of our experts!

Camp Show – Lorne Park Public School

Our Kids will be at the Lorne Park Public School Camp Expo on Jan 30th.  Please come by the Expo to learn more about summer camps.

If you stop my our booth you can receive a free copy of the 2010 Our Kids Go To Camp Magazine.

Tags: Camp, day camp, expo, Lorne Park, Ontario, overnight camp, summer camp, Toronto

Our Kids Go To Camp magazine hits stands today

The 13th annual Our Kids Go To Camp magazine hits stands today! Pick up a copy of any Ontario or Quebec Globe and Mail newspaper on January 12, 2010 for your complimentary copy of the 2010 Our Kids Go To Camp guide to summer camps.

A glance at what’s inside

• Five Reasons your child needs summer camp
• Famous Campers: 6 Canadians credit camp to their success, find out who!
• A behind the scenes look at camp counsellors
• One-on-one interviews with first time campers
• 2009 Summer Camp Photo Contest winners

PLUS: A complete directory of more than 190 leading summer day and overnight camps.

The 2010 Our Kids Go To Camp magazine also includes a special feature on private and independent education. What can it offer your child? What are the benefits? And how do you find the best school?

Please click here if you are considering what camp to send your children and would like to order your own copy of the magazine.

Tags: Camp, Globe & mail, magazine, Our Kids, summer camp

Camp Flyovers: New Blog Feature

Our Kids is excited to show of one of the first new features of our blog for 2010:  Camp Flyovers.

As we are getting ready for next week’s launch of the 2010 Our Kids Go To Camp Magazine (in Tuesday’s Globe & Mail) we are going to be running some special, camp-focused blog posts.   Camp Flyovers will be a new daily feature that will allow you to get a better idea about the camps listed in the Magazine and at Camps.ca.  It’s hard to make a decision about the right camp for your child without a picture in your mind.

First Up: Camp Kandalore

Coming Soon:  School Flyovers!

Can you name the camp pictured above?  Hint: it is listed in Camps.ca, and it’s not Kandalore.

Tags: bing maps, Camp, Camps.ca, google maps, Kandalore, map, Our Kids, satellite, satellite view, summer camp

Series: 5 Questions (Follow-up)

Yesterday we posted the second in our 5 Questions series.   We talked to camp director Beth Allison about the sort of answers you should hear when you ask a director about her counsellors.

We are pleased to also offer you some insight from another director.  Dan Weir, from the Frost Valley YMCA in upstate New York, sent us another list of 5 Questions.

Now you can go armed with 10 Questions to Ask a Camp Director about Her/His Counsellors.

Dan’s list:

1.  Whats your staff retention rate?
2.  How long/what do you cover during staff training?
3.  How long have you (director) been in camping?
4. Would you have your children underneath their care?
5. What’s your policy on drugs and alcohol with your staff?

** We are pleased to announce that Dan will be joining us for the brand new podcast that Our Kids will be releasing in the new year.  This “audio magazine” will be aimed directly at professional camp directors and their year-round staff.

Series: 5 Questions… to Ask A Camp Director – Part II

Five Questions To Ask About The Camp Counsellors

This article, the second in our series (previously) of 5 Questions posts, will focus on the things that you should ask a Camp Director about his/her counsellors.  Both the toughest and most rewarding position at summer camp, good counsellors possess an unique set of talents.   A Camp Director who can answer these questions with confidence will help you feel great about your summer camp choice.

I solicited some expert help with these so that you can get an idea of the type of answers that you should hear.  I’d like to thank Beth Allison, a director with 15 years of experience directing at Glen Mhor Camp and the CAIRN Presbyterian Camping & Retreat Centres (and my wife!), for her help.

Our Kids’ Five Questions To Ask About The Camp Counsellors

What are you, as a Director, looking for in a staff member? I am looking for a young adult who is very involved in making the world a better place:  a variety of clubs at school, church, sports, teaching opportunities with children (swimming instructor, Sunday school teacher, volunteer at Boys or Girls club, etc.).  He or she should have varied interests (photography, art, nature, etc.) and be involved in the community (environmental issues, politics, volunteering), etc.
I want staff members who understand children and teens and their needs and concerns.  Someone with a camping background is ideal but not necessary — great staff members have come from no camp background at all!
Most of all I want someone who cares.  I can teach them the necessary skills but they must possess the right attitude and the desire to make a real difference with their summer.

What are the specifics involved in the hiring process? Staff members are required to apply every year, even if they are returning staff.  The application is filled with new questions each time which help to determine how the staff member has grown throughout the school year and why he or she wishes to return.  References are required for all staff members.  A hiring day or interview day is a must.  All staff members are put through activities and situations which help to determine whether or not they are suitable for the position.  Online activity by each staff member is monitored and checked. Additionally, contact is kept up throughout the year with returning staff members and LITs wishing to become staff members to ensure they are truly applying for all the right reasons.

What, if anything, are returning staff members encouraged to do for camp between summers? I always encourage a staff member to increase her/his certifications of hard skills (climbing, swimming, ropes, canoeing, sailing, etc.) and to take the opportunities to learn new soft skills.  I am always looking for a very well-rounded staff.  Staff members are the best form of advertisement for camp so their help in getting the word out and in presenting themselves in the most professional manner is something I always encourage and expect.

How long is training and what specific sessions are taught? Training begins before staff even apply.  Expectations are set out in the application and during the hiring day of how our community is run.

• A weekend in the spring in the Greater Toronto Area  is set aside for group building and an opportunity for a successful group experience.
• A spring orientation weekend is held at the camp in early May to begin the training process.
• A minimum of seven day’s training must be completed by all staff members prior to the start of summer camp.  Sessions include all of our hard skills, the necessary soft skills required by staff members (communication, consensus decision making, conflict resolution, etc.), training on all the important issues children deal with (ex. bullying, child abuse) and training on how to teach creatively, etc.
• Online training modules are also completed by staff members before they begin leadership training at the end of June.
• Training continues throughout the summer with staff meetings, experiential learning times set aside each week and the mid-summer 24 hour in-service.

Why do these young people want to be counsellors at your camp? They love children, the camp philosophy and they fully understand and appreciate the camping experience.  They want to work hard to make a real difference in the lives of young people and to give them back what they have experienced in their lives.

Beth Allison is a Camp Consultant, Author and Leadership Training Specialist.  For more information you can contact her through her website: http://www.bethallison.org/

Series: 5 Questions… to Ask a Camp Director

Five Questions to Help You Feel Comfortable When Choosing A Camp

You will feel great about the camp you choose if you get excellent answers to Our Kids’ Five Questions to Ask a Camp Director.

Choosing a Camp for your children cam be a nerve-wracking experience: How do I know what’s best for my child? If my neighbour recommends it, does that mean that its a good fit for us? How will my son be treated by his counsellor?  Will the staff look after my daughter to make her feel welcome and important?

Our Kids’ Five Questions To Ask A Camp Director:

1. When will my child not be supervised by an adult? Children often get into trouble when they are bored. If there are large chunks of time when campers will be unsupervised (and, therefore, not being engaged), problems can arise. Specific times to ask about: in the evening when campers have gone to bed, traveling between programs and rest hour.
2. What do you do on the first day to make my child feel like they have an important place at camp? Those first moments are crucial to a camper’s enjoyment of camp. A great counsellor will begin immediately to play games with the children; he/she will want to help them learn the names of the kids in cabin and make them all feel comfortable. An excellent counsellor will know which campers request to be in a group together and will work to ensure that they mix will with the other children.
3. What will you do if my child misbehaves? Discipline is a deeply personal choice and parents really need to be comfortable with the methods that the camp uses. Short time-outs and a discussion with a counsellor are good first steps for camp discipline. A camp that has a Head Counsellor or Section Head who specializes in dealing with child behaviour is a camp that will take good care of your son/daughter.
4. How does your camp deal with bullying? Bullying is a common concern for parents. A Camp Director should be able to answer this question in a way that demonstrates that she/he has already considered the problem and has solutions in place. A camp that takes this issue seriously will have a solid teaching component on prevention, recognizing the signs and how to deal with the outcomes of bullying.
5. Why does your camp not allow my child to keep his/her cell phone? Most camps do not allow campers to have their cell phones with them at all times. A good Camp Director will be able to explain the policy to your satisfaction.  Camp experiences are most successful when their campers are occupied with the camp activities and not concerned with their latest text message or calling their friends from home.  Most camps have a policy that will allow parents to call and speak to a staff member to see how their child is doing. A camper who is missing home will often have greater difficulty adjusting to camp if they speak to their parents.

Do you have any other questions you would ask?  Please leave us a comment with the questions (or, better yet, the answers) that you used to make your decision.