How will airport arrival and departure work for my camper?

Many of our campers fly here to Canada as Unaccompanied Minors. We ask that you please send us your camper’s flight details once they are booked and in return we will send you the name and identification of our staff and driver who will be greeting your camper on arrival.

Our team will be at the airport on arrival day, holding a sign with your camper’s name and our camp logo (all staff dressed in camp staff shirts) right outside of the baggage area (typically airline staff will bring your children directly to our staff at this meeting point).

We will send you an email as soon as we have met your camper at the airport, and then again as soon as we arrive safely up at camp. We will ensure they are fed and have had a few minutes to stretch their legs at the airport before we head up north to the camp (an approximate 2.5 hour drive northeast of Toronto).

What airport should my camper fly in to?

Campers should fly in to the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).

Do your camps allow cell phones?

Both of our camps are ‘screen free sites.’

We do understand that campers will fly to Canada with cell phones and electronics (which is completely okay!) but we ask that they please turn these in to their counsellors on arrival, where they will be kept in our camp office safe until departure day.

Without cell phones, how can I communicate with my camper while they are with you?

Even without camper cell phone use, we provide TONS of communication while your child is with us, beginning from the moment they land here in Toronto when we will send you an email or WhatsApp message to let you know that they have safely arrived.

Once at camp, we will be in touch with regular email and photo updates so that you can see how they are settled in, what activities they are enjoying, and about all the friends they have made.

Campers are also provided personalized stationery when they arrive so that they can handwrite letters home as often as they wish. Counsellors gather these letters as they become available, and our office scans and emails these home to you each evening.

Similarly, parents are able to send emails to their campers, which we print out and distribute the following day during ‘mail time.’

You may also reach Alyson or Helen at any time via email, phone or WhatsApp.

What should my camper pack to come to camp?

We will provide every registered family with a suggested packing list in advance of their session. This typically really only includes clothing items, sunscreen, etc.

Please note, that as part of the international camper fees, we will include a sleeping bag, pillow, life jacket and canoe paddle for your camper on arrival, so they will not need to bring these heavy items here with them.

If they forget any items when they come, we are happy to pick those up for them in town at any time.

Do your camps offer canoe tripping?

Yes! Both Onondaga Camp and Camp Kandalore offer canoe tripping programs.

At Onondaga Camp, canoe tripping is optional and may be signed up for at time of registration.

At Camp Kandalore, all campers have the opportunity to go on canoe trips with their cabin mates.

The length of canoe trips at both camps is determined by experience and age level.

What happens if my camper misses home?

Missing home is a completely natural feeling to have, and something most campers experience a bit of in their early days of camp (even the experienced campers!).

Our staff are excellent and very well versed at helping campers work through these feelings, ensuring they are staying busy and engaged, and that they are connecting with the other kids in their sections. We typically find that once campers are settled in, these feelings of missing home are replaced by feelings of wishing they could remain at camp even longer!

In any case, we will be in touch throughout your child’s stay to let you know how things are going - and of course you are welcome to check in with us at any time in between for an update.

Alyson and Helen are also available at any time to hop on a Zoom call with you and your camper to help ease any concerns they may have before they come. Sometimes just meeting face to face is helpful, knowing they will already know one person at camp when they arrive! Please reach out to book this at any time.

Can my camper be in the same cabin as their friend?

Yes! We do our very best to accommodate cabin requests and just ask that they are submitted to us prior to June 1st. We will always be in touch to let you know if there are any challenges with fulfilling your cabin requests.