Summer Camps

N O. 2
APRIL 30, 2011
A Calgary Herald Special Publication
CAMPS
2 • CALGARY HERALD • APRIL 30, 2011
Don Molyneaux, for Summer Camps
Jana Reed of the YMCA Camp Chief Hector says some
of the essentials of packing for camp are rain gear, a
good sleeping bag and clothing you don’t mind getting
dirty or muddy.
Always
plan for
rain, leave
electronics
at home
The dos and don’ts of packing for camp
carry your own sleeping bag.”
Sunscreen and bug spray are must-haves,
adds Becca La Chance, assistant program
ne of the most challenging things
director at Camp Evergreen.
about going to camp isn’t always
“Those are things that are always forgotmaking friends, or avoiding making a
ten,” she says.
fool of yourself on the climbing rope. It’s often
“Also, bring double the amount of socks
about what to pack.
you think you’ll need for a week. Generally,
Whether it’s making sure you have enough campers pack not enough rain gear. We sugclean clothes for a week in the bush, or
gest rain boots, a raincoat and warm sweatwhether or not to take
ers.”
your Nintendo DS,
Some camps have
CAMPS
kids need to give some
their kids sleeping in
ONLINE
thought to what they’ll
tents, while others use
be taking with them becabins, but there are
fore they arrive at camp.
two rules of thumb
WWW.YMCACALGARY.ORG
“The big thing we try
they share: don’t bring
WWW.CAMPVALAQUA.COM
to emphasize is bring
anything to camp you
rain gear,” says Jana
don’t want to get dirty or
WWW.CAMP-EVERGREEN.COM
Reed, assistant direcmuddy.
tor for YMCA Calgary’s
And leave the smart
Camp Chief Hector. “We
phone at home.
do our activities rain or shine. And our kids
“One of the big things we focus on is givlive in teepees, so having a good sleeping
ing everyone who participates a chance to
bag is also important.”
unplug for a while,” says Jon Olfert, director
Since some camping trips involve overof Camp Valaqua. “With kids spending 11night hikes, Reed recommends using sleepplus hours using technology in an average
ing bags made from synthetic material rather day, we’re giving them a chance to leave the
than cotton, “because those tend to be pretty iPod at home and create things by hand for
bulky and for overnight trips you need to
a while, and take technology out of the equaBY ALEX FRAZER-HARRISON
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
O
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tion for a few days.”
Reed says packing extra food is also
discouraged, as camps provide all the necessary meals (if there’s a dietary requirement,
this can be discussed with camp organizers
beforehand).
La Chance says bringing an extra pair of
indoor shoes is a good idea for camps like
hers that have dining halls and other indoor
activities.
All this doesn’t mean kids only need to
pack the bare essentials. “Everyone brings
one or two things from home, like a stuffed
animal or journal,” or even a musical instrument, says Reed.
One item a kid should never forget is a water bottle, says Olfert. “They’ll be spending a
lot of the day active, so having a water bottle
is key,” he says.
As for cameras, Olfert says they don’t
need to bring a “super high-end” digital SLR
to camp, since less-expensive digitals are
available.
Other items kids shouldn’t forget include
hats; basic toiletries such as toothbrushes,
combs and (if applicable) non-electric shaving gear; a flashlight; and a notepad. Also,
not every camp has laundry facilities, so
keep this in mind when packing things like
underwear.
CAMPS
APRIL 30, 2011 • CALGARY HERALD • 3
Building confidence helps
stop jitterbugs from biting
BY SHAWN HOULT
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
I
t’s the first trip away to summer camp, away
from parents, and away from home.
In a lot of ways it’s a rite of passage, a fun
and exciting trip that will never be forgotten. But
it can also be scary.
Clay Stephens, director of Langskib and
Northwaters Wilderness Programs, says every
camper is different, but homesickness is common for kids attending their first camp.
“There are some kids that don’t even think
about home — it’s the most distant thing. But
typically, most kids are a little bit homesick, especially younger ones, and by younger I mean
under 14,” he says.
He says counsellors work to build on kids’ initial excitement and make kids feel immediately
comfortable by feeding them and getting them
familiar with the area and their fellow campers.
They also open the experience by setting
campers up for success with tasks designed to
build confidence.
However, once that excitement dies down a
lot of campers feel the pangs of homesickness,
often on the first night or early in the first week.
“For some kids it doesn’t hit right away —
there’s the excitement of being in a new place
and the adventure and all that kind of thing, but
then things start to get challenging. This might
happen a few days in; it may start to get a little
challenging or they have some difficult weather
and they have a low point and they have to
work through it,” says Stephens.
He says working through that initial homesickness is an important part of the journey and
once campers take that step there is usually no
looking back.
Stephens adds that because it can take a
week to deal with homesickness and get
comfortable, it’s a good idea to start kids off
with a camp that runs for a least a couple of
weeks.
Camp Chestermere director Frank Littel
says building friendships is an important step
in dealing with homesickness.
While some first-time campers will bring a
friend, many make those friendships through
group activities and games that encourage
kids to share and learn about each other.
He adds that parents also have a big role
to play in ensuring that their child’s first camp
experience is a good one.
“It is so dependent on how the parent has
set that child up for the week,” says Littel.
CAMPS
ONLINE
WWW.NORTHWATERS.COM
WWW.CAMPCHESTERMERE.COM
“They need to focus on the child’s positive
experiences at camp, what they’re going to do,
what they’re going to enjoy.”
He says one of the biggest mistakes a parent
can make is to tell their child that if there is a
problem they will come and get them.
Parents can be there to talk to their child on
the phone and help them out, but promising
an easy way out is likely to end up becoming a
self-fulfilling prophesy.
He says as hard as it is for some kids to go off
to camp for the first time, it can actually be just
as hard for parents.
“We find that the worst homesickness is a
parent for a child more than it is a child for a
parent,” says Littel.
Stephens says parents can help prepare
young campers by talking to them about strategies to help them get over possible hurdles. He
adds that once the child leaves it’s important to
resist the temptation to try to control the experience.
“The hard part for a parent is to allow their
kid to have those experiences. How do you
let them have their own experiences safely?
That’s where camp is really helpful because it’s
an environment where they can have their own
experiences but there’s a safety net, it’s not like
they’re totally on their own,” says Stephens.
Thinkstock Image
Camp can
be a scary
experience for
many kids, so
camp counsellors are well
equipped to
help in friendship and
confidence
building.
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CAMPS
4 • CALGARY HERALD • APRIL 30, 2011
Gymnastics builds key fitness foundations
ments like running jumping, skipping
— all that kind of stuff,” says Kayla
Bonnell, Calgary Gymnastics Centre
ymnastics combines many of
recreational program director.
the things that kids love to do
The Calgary Gymnastics Centre
with a great basis for all of the
offers programming throughout both
sports they will love in the future.
July and August for kids age three to
Calgary is home to several re12.
nowned gymnastics programs with
For younger campers (ages three to
summer
six) morning,
programafternoon,
ming for
and day
CAMPS
kids of all
camps are
ONLINE
skill levels.
available,
Gymnaswith the optics is rection to choose
WWW.CALGARYGYMCENTRE.COM
ognized as
either indiWWW.GYMTASTICS.CA
one of the
vidual days
key foundaor weeklong
tion sports
programs.
by both the
In addition
IOC and Sport Canada and helps kids to plenty of time with all of the different
build the fundamentals of movement
apparatus and an introduction to the
through fun exercises ranging from
world of gymnastics in general, young
floor techniques to trampolines.
campers take part in a wide range
“It’s one of the key sports to build the of indoor and outdoor activities and
foundations for all fitness — it’s flexcrafts.
ibility, strength, spatial awareness, imSEE GYMNASTICS/5
proving motor skills, and basic moveBY SHAWN HOULT
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
G
Summer
Camps
July 4th - August 26th
Half day and Full day camps available
Recreation, Competitive, Trampoline
& Tumbling Programs
Special Summer programs/outings include:
Calgary Zoo, Prairie Winds Park, Calgary Corn Maze,
Science Center, Calgary Reptile Show, and Martial Arts
Phone - (403)720-2711
www.altadoregymnasticsclub.com
CALCH037239_1_1
Thinkstock Images
Gymnastics camps are great resources
to get children into the fitness mode or
to enhance skills during the summer
months.
CAMPS
APRIL 30, 2011 • CALGARY HERALD • 5
From 4: GYMNASTICS
exercises, as well as taking
“It’s perfect for kids part in a range of other fun
For the older group (ages six
to 12) camps include either fullwho are currently activities such as obstacle
day or afternoon options, with
courses, pyramid building, and
in our program and various games, sports, and
all camps running for five-day
sessions.
crafts.
it’s good for kids
While the focus is on intro“It’s perfect for kids who are
who are just
ducing campers to gymnastics
currently in our program and
starting out”
and expanding on current
it’s good for kids who are just
skills, there is also a wide range
starting out,” says Travis Oxley,
of other activities and special
Gymtastics assistant general
events such as visits from
manager.
guests including a magician
Along with providing fun sumand trips to places like the local swimming pool,
mer activity for kids, Oxley says these camps
Calaway Park and the Calgary Zoo.
can be a great place to get a sense of what
“They’re here for so long that we want to make gymnastics has to offer and a great way to build
sure that they get lots of things to do during the
overall fitness.
day and that it’s jam-packed so that they’re not
He adds that many athletes in other sports use
getting bored. We want to keep them going all
gymnastics as a kind of dry-land training.
the time,” says Bonnell.
“I coach the competitive boys and we have a
Gymtastics Gym Club offers summer camps
couple that do aerial skiing and it’s good for trainfor budding gymnasts from ages 4 to 11, including for their sport,” says Oxley. “It just develops
ing morning, afternoon, and full-day camps.
well-rounded athletes. We work on flexibility, we
Campers are introduced to equipment includwork on strength, we work on coordination. It’s a
ing bars, beams, vaults, trampolines and floor
great sport for every sport.”
Courtesy, Calgary Gymnastic Centre
In addition to having time on
gymnastics equipment and
apparatus, campers at the
Calgary Gymnastics Centre
also take part in other indoor
and outdoor activities.
CALGARY GYMNASTICS CENTRE
SUMMER CAMPS
Full Day and Half Day Camps Available Ages 3-12
Online Registration begins April 11, 2011
Come check out all that we have to offer at our
CGC OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday, June 29th from 2 pm - 6 pm
www.calgarygymcentre.com • (403) 242 1171
CALCH035319_1_1
CAMPS
6 • CALGARY HERALD • APRIL 30, 2011
Camps give peek into creative careers
CAMPS
ONLINE
comfort zone, SAIT Polytechnic has a variety of
programs for kids and teens
obot-lovers, future
to participate in this summer.
WWW.SAITSUMMERCAMPS.CA
welders, cake bosses
With camps ranging from
and potters all have
digital movie-making to
WWW.CALGARY.CA
a place to go this summer
the culinary arts, program
at one of the many creative
developer Andrea Jaros
camps in the city.
and SAIT instructors spend
Specializing in niche camps that give kids a
hours coming up with unique camp offerings.
chance to get messy, creative and out of their
Kids grades 4 to 12 can explore what might even
BY CARA CASEY
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
R
become a future career path.
“In school, some students are
afraid to take risks,” Jaros said.
In her experience, the fact
that summer school camps
don’t have report cards or
grades allows children to
step out of their comfortzone and discover their hidden talents.
“They can experiment. Often
they will learn what their strengths
and interests are and they become
self-advocates,” Jaros said.
By identifying the broad spectrum of learning
styles, providing physical activity throughout the
day and letting campers experiment with equipment used by the pros in a safe setting, instructors at SAIT find that students produce excellent
work as well as long-lasting friendships.
“Camp being a very social experience — you
have to learn how to work in a team and the skills
that go along with that,” Jaros said.
Focusing on the fine and performing arts,
The City of Calgary’s Wildflower Arts Centre in
Calgary’s southwest offers programs for ages
four and up.
With professional artists from a variety of backgrounds as instructors, students are exposed
to a variety of mediums ranging from clay and
watercolour to dance and drama.
Cori Stent, supervisor of the Wildflower Arts
Centre, said she advocates parents let their kids
try out a variety of creative programs to find out
what their child’s strengths might be.
“Without having tried the full range of creative
expressions, parents might find their wee guy
might have great hand-eye co-ordination and is
a magician on the potter’s wheel,” Stent said.
With programs that are developed for a variety
of age groups, younger children get the opportunity to express themselves through movement
while older children have a variety of tools at their
disposal.
“We look forward to the creativity that flows,”
Stent said. “Learning to find the right answer in
the absence of rules is a skill you’ll have all your
life.”
Most creative camps just require a paint shirt
and a bagged lunch but it really depends on the
program. With programs for families in financial
need, the camps at both SAIT and the Wildflower Arts Centre try to make their programs
accessible to all members of the community.
“If you boil it right down, they will come away
with the kind of joy that comes from having
achieved something that they wouldn’t normally
have done,” Stent said. “It is so wholly their own.”
Register
online now for
Summer
Camps
@
gymtastics.ca
403 254 9010
Gymnastics • Tumbling & Trampoline • Cheerleading • Summer Camps
For the creative child, there are many camps that cater to arts and crafts interests.
CALCH031770_1_1
Thinkstock Images
CAMPS
APRIL 30, 2011 • CALGARY HERALD • 7
Documents help camps be prepared
BY GERALD VANDER PYL
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
A
s summer camp season approaches,
many parents are checking out various
options and deciding which one to register their children in this year.
But before phoning to register, or beginning
an online registration, it’s a good idea to have
all the documents and information available
that most camps require.
Kathy Koehler with Camp Kasota West says
a lot of the information needed is just in case an
emergency situation arises with a child, and to
prevent any potential problems from arising in
the first place.
Parents need to provide good, up-to-date
contact information in case they need to be
reached by the camp, she says.
That means phones numbers for both daytime and evening, and for both parents if applicable, says Koehler.
An e-mail address is also handy in case the
camp needs to contact the parent with any lastminute camp information.
Many camps also ask for an emergency
contact person, which Koehler says should be
someone other than a parent, since they would
only be contacted if the parents cannot be
reached.
Other important info to provide will be if your
child has any food issues, such as an allergy
to peanuts, a milk intolerance, or the need for a
gluten-free diet.
For some special dietary needs, Koehler
says parents may also be asked to pack some
of the child’s favourite products to bring to
camp, rather than have the camp try and find
Thinkstock Image
the appropriate ones.
When gathering information to register children
However she says that that is only for special
for camp, parents should remember to include
emergency contacts and medical information.
dietary issues related to health, and parents
should not be giving the camp a list of their
child’s general food likes and dislikes.
ensure their safety, knowing their skill will help
If your child is taking any
place the child in an apprescription drugs, they
propriate group for certain
should be kept in the origiactivities when the camp
CAMPS
nal container that is clearly
begins.
ONLINE
marked with the doctor’s
In addition to providing
information and instructions
information, Koehler says
WWW.CAMPKASOTAWEST.COM
for use.
parents should also take
Koehler says this is both
advantage of the “things
a safety issue and also in
to bring” checklist many
case a prescription runs out and needs to be
camps have prepared.
refilled.
She says sometimes parents forget that
Depending on the type of camp, parents may most camp activities take place outdoors, and
also be asked to rate their child’s skill level in
even during summer, there can be a variety of
swimming, horse-back riding or other activities.
weather, so it’s important to pack items such as
While camps do monitor children carefully to
extra footwear.
• Small classes
Sailing Camps
Calgary Yacht Club
Wet Feet, Puddle Jumpers, White Sail I, II, III
Bronze IV+V
Weekly starting July 4 to August 22
9am-4pm
Programs for boys and girls ages 4-18 Approved C.Y.A. Courses
Adult Learn to Sail Programs
available May, June, & July
• Professional instructors
“Discover the Fine Arts Within Yourself ”
Musical Theatre Showtime
Music, Drama, Movement
& Art Camp
18-22 July
PlayWriting Camp
18-22 July
NEW! Chamber Music Festival
25-29 July
NEW! PlayActing Camp
25-29 July
Adult Piano Camp
CASS Recital
Racing Program for Children ages 7 - 18
635 East Chestermere Dr. Chestermere
Check out our new Club House at www.cyc.ab.ca
For information or registration call 272-3300
manager@cyc.ab.ca www.cyc.ab.ca
CALCH032548_1_1
6-13 July
1-3August
7:00 pm August 1
Piano Pedagogy Workshop
4 August
Music Theory Workshop
5 August
Piano Camp
8-12 August
Jazz Connection
8-12 August
Register now!
See www.calgaryartssummer.com
Email: cassa1@telus.net, Tel 403.271.0418
CALCH034246_1_1
CAMPS
Martial arts camps build confidence, muscles
8 • CALGARY HERALD • APRIL 30, 2011
BY SHAWN HOULT
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
while the camp focus is teaching kids
self-defense techniques and keeping
artial arts are many different
them active, campers take away a
things to different people.
much deeper experience.
Some use these varied
“It builds confidence — there are
disciplines as a form of competitive
some kids that, when they come in
sport; for some it’s a way to stay in
here, they have no voice at all and
shape; for many it’s a system of selfwhen they’re done they’re able to
defense; and for
express themothers a way to
selves more,” he
CAMPS
learn discipline
says.
ONLINE
or build self esTriantafillou
teem.
says along with
It’s this flexbuilding confiWWW.HAPKIDOYOON.COM
ibility that makes
dence kids learn
WWW.SGMA.BIZ
the various
discipline and
martial arts parself-control, meet
ticularly popular
new friends, and
with children and which inspires so
leave camp with both lifestyle skills
many to take part in summer camps
and technical self-defense skills.
each year.
Studios Group Martial Arts offers
Yoon’s Martial Arts School is offera series of five-day camp sessions
ing two weeklong camps this year,
running through the months of July
running from July 4-8 and Aug. 8-12.
and August for kids age five to 15.
These camps are designed for ages
These camps focus on teaching the
four to 14 and introduce kids to the
techniques used in the Olympic-style
self-defense style of hapkido — a
of taekwondo.
close-combat martial art that focuses
It’s incredible to see how far
on controlling an opponent with varistudents can progress after being
ous locks.
involved in a full week of intensive inClasses are aimed at kids of all skill struction, says master instructor and
and experience levels. They combine Studios Group Martial Arts owner
hapkido with other martial arts sysPaul Thibualt.
tems, such as taekwondo, as well as
“Instead of just doing two classes
other games and sports.
per week, you’re basically getting 15
Yoon’s Martial Arts School head
classes in the week, so the retention
instructor Bobby Triantafillou says
of this stuff is a lot better,” he says,
M
SUMMER
HORSE
PROGRAMS
at GRIFFIN
VALLEY RANCH
JULY and AUGUST
adding in that time it’s possible for
new students to gain their first belt.
By learning martial arts, students
gain self-confidence, which leads to
being a more respectful person, says
Thibualt.
That respect is so important to the
teachings of the school, in order for
students to test for a belt they need
to display technical skills ,as well as
a good attitude both in class and at
home.
Along with a strong focus on martial arts, the camp also offers many
fun activities on the nearby lake.
In the afternoons campers take
part in supervised activities such as
kayaking, canoeing, boating and
windsurfing. “The idea is that we
work hard in the morning and then
we show them that if they have a
good work ethic they get rewarded
with more time and more fun in the
afternoon,” says Thibualt.
Pony Power Daycamps
6-7 Years Old
Horse Sense Daycamps
8 Years Old & Up
COOL School
13 Years Old & Up
(week long overnight camp)
Phone: 403-932-5323
Schedule, Information and Registration on line
www.griffinvalleyranch.ca www.horsesrcool.com
Summer martial arts’ camps introduce children of all ages to various techniques and skills.
CALCH019075_1_1
Thinkstock images
CAMPS
APRIL 30, 2011 • CALGARY HERALD • 9
School’s
in for
summer
BY ALEX FRAZER-HARRISON
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
Interested? AUG 22-27 AUG 22-26 AUG 22-26 AUG 15-19 AUG 15-19 AUG 15-19 AUG 8-12 AUG 8-12 AUG 2-6
SUMMERISHOTATTHECONSERVATORY
with nine great ways to get the most out of summer
T
he image of summer school has changed since the
days when it was often used as a threat to get kids
to finish their homework on time.
In fact, the term “cool school” might be more appropriate these days, says Jo-Ann Williams, program designer/leader
with Chinook Learning Services at
“ Summer
the Calgary Board of Education.
school ... in“Summer school fulfils a differcreases their
ent objective for students (than
before) – it increases their skillskill-sets
sets so they can move ahead,”
so they can
she says. “It’s the skill-building
that we’re after.”
move ahead.
The CBE offers several levels
It’s the skillof summer courses for grades 1
building that
to 9: remedial, for students who
Thinkstock images
need extra support in a subject
we’re after.” Summer school increases students’ skills so they can
achieve more in the upcoming school year, as well as help
like math or language arts; enrichthose who didn’t have the time to fit in all their courses durment, aimed at students in junior
ing the regular school year..
high who want extra challenges;
English Language Learning, for kids working to improve
their speaking and writing skills in English; and Preview
and get their mark up … or they use summer school to
for Success, aimed at kindergarten to Grade 5, which
catch up on courses they don’t have time for in the regugives students a sneak peek at what the next grade has
lar program.”
in store.
The courses are condensed, but Summersgill says stuFor grades 10 to 12, condensed summer versions of
dents and teachers get a lot accomplished in three-hour
courses such as Science 10, English Language Arts 30,
sessions spread over 20 days, without the other distracand others are offered.
tions and homework of a regular schedule.
For younger students, Summer
“It’s not as formal as a regular
Cool takes on a summer camp feel.
setting — it’s a lot more relaxed,”
“We’re filling a niche,” says Wilhe says.
CAMPS
liams. “They can get better (in a
Students benefit from the smaller
ONLINE
subject), they make new friends,
class sizes and increased oneand rather than just having them do
on-one attention during summer
CSSD.AB.CA
academic things all day, they might
school, says Williams.
CHINOOKLEARNINGSERVICES.COM
do math in the morning and then a
“Typically, students say they
sports camp in the afternoon.”
learn more in summer school
The Calgary Catholic School
than they learn all year,” she says.
District offers summer courses for senior high students,
“Sometimes, parents will continue their children taking a
which are often used by students who don’t have time
remedial program during the rest of the year — eventuduring the year to do all the courses they want, says Don
ally they might put in a Preview for Success class, as opSummersgill, principal of St. Anne Academic Centre.
posed to something remedial.
“Students have a plan of what they want to do and how
“I constantly hear from parents what a big boost this
to make it through high school,” he says. “If they don’t do
is to their child’s self-esteem — the fact they can underwell in a course, they’ll come and redo it in summer school stand concepts better.”
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camp
DRUMSET educational
BLUES & JAZZ
GUITAR WORKSHOP
Check us out! Call 403.440.6821 or visit
CALCH036703_1_1
CAMPS
10 • CALGARY HERALD • APRIL 30, 2011
Dribbling into the dog days of summer
SAIT Polytechnic is offering three camps
this year. The first runs from Aug. 2-5 for kids
in grades 4 to 6. This camp works on introducwo of Calgary’s premier basketball proing new players to the sport, and like all SAIT
grams — the SAIT
basketball camps it includes
Trojans and The
basketball training, drills, and
University of Calgary Dinos
games along with time in the
CAMPS
— run basketball camps
swimming
pool. Because it’s
ONLINE
each summer to help kids
for new players, the focus is
learn the skills they don’t
on the fun of the game.
WWW.UCALGARYKIDS.CA
have and work on those
“We’re looking to introduce
WWW.SAITTROJANS.COM
they do, to take their game
them to basketball through
to the next level.
a variety of games and acBY SHAWN HOULT
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
T
SAIT
SUMMER
CAMPS
DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT
tivities that they’re used to. We just
try to put a little twist on it and add
a basketball,” says Mike Stevens,
Trojans men’s basketball coach and
intramural coordinator.
“It is a pretty technical sport so we
try not to get too technical with the
young kids — just get them to realize that it’s fun to have a ball in your
hand and that it’s an easy sport to
play.”
The second co-ed camp, also
from Aug. 2-5, is for players in Grade
7 to 9 with moderate experience.
This camp focuses on building the
key skills and fundamentals of the
game.
The third camp is for boys and
girls in Grade 9 to 12 and runs from
Aug. 8-12.
This high-intensity camp is geared
to experienced players who want to
Thinkstock Image
increase performance and condition- For children who love basketball, going to a summer camp deing and learn how to train hard and
voted to the sport gives them advanced skill learning and pracbetter their game.
tice.
Stevens says it’s amazing how
much a player can improve in just five days, addEach day begins with skill development in the
ing the coaches try to take individual care to get
morning and moves to contests and scrimmages
each player over their own personal hurdles.
in the afternoon. Players receive instruction from
“As a coach looking at them, if we can give
a variety of coaches including several Dinos
them one thing that they refine then it was worth
players.
it,” he says.
Harle says in their one week of camp, players
The University of Calgary offers separate basimprove by leaps and bounds.
ketball camps for boys and girls running alternat“They’re getting top quality instruction, they’re
ing weeks throughout the month of July for both
getting quality coaching and they’re getting to
junior high and senior high students.
play with and against kids that they’ve never
Shawnee Harle, head coach of Dinos womplayed with or against before,” she says. “A lot of
en’s basketball, says the camp is caters to a vathe kids are learning things they haven’t learned
riety of skills levels and combines teaching new
before, and when you’re doing it every day for
concepts with helping more experienced players five days in a row, you wouldn’t believe how
enhance the skills they have.
much they improve over the course of five days.”
BATES BAR J RANCH
Box 700 Cochrane, AB T4C 1A8
403-637-2199 Founded 1962
SAIT Polytechnic now offers more than 35
unique summer camp programs for youth
heading into grades 4 – 12. Whether your
child’s interest is in media arts or culinary
arts, self exploration or space exploration
there’s a fun and skill building experience for
everyone. We also offer free before and after
care as well as a camp bursary program.
Register online at saitsummercamps.ca or
by calling 403.284.7248.
Camp Program for Boys and Girls
Ages 8-15, July and August
Celebrating our 50th Camping Season!
We feature horseback riding. Our supervision ratio is one counsellor to every five campers.
Our lodge provides dormitory accommodation, recreation rooms, and a large dining room.
Kitchen staff provide home cooked meals. The ranch is in a very secluded river valley offering
scenic riding and hiking trails. We also offer crafts, fishing, swimming, campfires, dances,
wilderness survival programs, competition games and wagons rides. Campers often form very
lasting friendships from year to year.
• Write or visit our home page for a brochure
• Home Page: www.batesbarj.com
• E-mail: bates@batesbarj.com
CALCH032621_1_1
CALCH037237_1_1
CAMPS
APRIL 30, 2011 • CALGARY HERALD • 11
Saddle up for a jumpin’ good time
Jones said in her experience however, there isn’t a certain type of child
that particularly excels in the sport.
or the kid that is “horse crazy”
“We’ve had every shape, size and
an equestrian camp might be
personality come here over the last
just the thing to keep them
few years,” Jones said of her campentertained for the summer. Rooted
ers. “It is just important to match the
in European tradition, English-style
personality of the child to the personriding camps are a great way for kids ality of the horse.”
to improve their riding or learn to ride
By pairing more timid children to
for the first time.
docile horses and the more spirited
Joyce Enders is owner of Sweet
children to a hot-blooded horse,
Talk Stables in
Jones said the
Chestermere
child and horse’s
CAMPS
and runs sumpersonalities
ONLINE
mer camps for
come into sync.
kids of all ages.
She contends this
WWW.SWEETTALKSTABLES.COM
She said equesmakes life a lot
trian camps
easier for horse
WWW.DJRANCH.CA
not only teach
and camper.
WWW.ALLTHINGSEQUINE.CA
riding skills but
With most
essential horse
camps requiring
care knowledge
children bring only
as well.
boots and a helmet, it is relatively in“We do basic handling, leading,
expensive to try out a beginner camp
crafts and outside activities,” Enders
to see if you should pursue it further.
said. “Everything is horse-related.”
No matter what your income,
Although Sweet Talk Stables speChris Franssen, owner of All Things
cializes in camps for kids already
Equine, encourages girls with a love
enrolled in horse riding lessons, there of horses specifically to become
are many camps that cater to the
involved in riding to increase their
first-time rider.
self-confidence and find solace with
DJ Ranch, just southwest of Calthe animals.
gary, focuses its curriculum on the
“A lot of girls here have difficulcompletely inexperienced rider. This
ties at school with cattiness but
includes: how to approach a horse,
they come here and bond with their
how to lead it, how to tie it up, groom- horse,” said Franssen. “They’re
ing and basic riding skills.
never at the mall, they’re never at
“We pair the children with a horse
parties, they’re always at the barn.”
and they are responsible for it for
When choosing a camp, Enders
the week,” Pam Jones, owner of DJ
said it is important to find a reputable
Ranch, said.
stable that employs registered inJones said her camp aims to give
structors.
children the basics so they can deThey will have appropriate safety
cide the discipline (western or Engtraining and the experience needed
lish) most suited to them.
to provide your child with adequate
For those of you who are wonderskills.
ing what the difference is — the EngShe recommends speaking to
lish saddle is shallower and requires
Equine Canada to determine if a barn
both hands on the reins.
and its coaches are reputable — esThis style of riding also requires a
pecially for a young rider.
“post” and “trot” which involves the
Jones said that any camp you
rider rising and sitting with the rhythm choose should enable the child to
of the horse.
learn respect and love for all aspects
The most well known of Englishof the animals.
style events is show jumping. It at“Fostering the bond between child
tracts the majority of kids to the riding and horse is absolutely wonderful to
style.
see develop,” Jones said.
BY CARA CASEY
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
F
Thinkstock Image
Equestrian camps teach kids riding skills and horse-care
knowledge, including handling.
SUMMER
CANOE CAMPS
Camps in July and August for youth ages 10-17.
4-5 day river canoeing,
and river tripping camps.
Ask about our discounts
on multiple bookings!
16th Annual
Summer
Camps
July 4 –
Aug 12, 2011
1 AND 2
week CAmpS
Call 235-2922
AGeS 6 – 18
for more info.
Or check out our website at: www.bowwaters.org
CALCH039934_1_1
Serious fun with
dramatic results!
voiCe • improv
ACtiNG • movemeNt
performANCe
RegisteR online at
www.questtheatre.org
gust 15-26
Summer Camp• HipAu
-Hop: 10-14
5
• Wee-Bop: Ages 3 to
• Be-Bop: Ages 6 to 9
oR call
403-264-8575 ext. 21
p
• Serious Dancer Cam
2-0555
2020 12 Ave. NW 28
caMPs Held at
.com
www.freehousedance
900 – 47 Ave Sw
(one block west of elbow drive)
CALCH019068_1_1
CALCH035317_1_1
12 • CALGARY HERALD • APRIL 30, 2011
BY SHAWN HOULT
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
Go ‘wild’ this summer
CAMPS
B
ecause Calgary sits on the
doorstep of the Rocky Mountains, Kananaskis Country, and
in the path of both the Bow and Elbow
Rivers we have access to camps and
activities that are available in very few
places in the world.
Activities like rock climbing, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, and
some of the world’s most exciting
hikes and campsites are all waiting in
the vast wilderness just minutes away.
This July and August the Calgary
Outdoor Centre at the University of
Calgary is offering a range of wilderness and adventure based camps for
kids in grades 1 to 12.
Tour-de-Calgary takes kids on cycling adventures, Thrill Of The Catch
send campers out to Kananaskis to
fish in a new spot each day, Packs
and Pixels is an outdoor photography
camp, and Climb-On Camp introduces kids to the exciting world of
rock climbing. Other camps include a
program that takes Grade 1 campers
out on short treks, and two outdoor
multi-sport camps — one for grades 2
to 4 and a second for grades 5 to 7.
“It’s something that’s pretty unique
for the kids that they might not be able
to experience otherwise — a lot of
families are busy or they don’t have
the experience to take the kids out
and do these types of activities,” says
Logan Jones, Calgary Outdoor Centre
From kayaking to mountain-biking, there are numerous camps for kids to get in touch with their wild side.
youth program co-ordinator.
The centre also has several camps
for teens in Grade 8 to 12.
Overnight expedition camps include
focuses on mountain biking, canoe-
ing, and backpacking, and run for
three days and two nights.
Day trip camps are also available,
including ones focusing on fly-fishing,
rock climbing, and introducing kids to
hang-gliding, paragliding and traction
kiting.
Kamp Kiwanis is 10 kilometres from
Bragg Creek and gives underprivileged children summer camp experi-
Thinkstock Image
ences. Campers are nominated by
teachers and other professionals and
are subsidized for their stay.
SEE WILD/16
your child wil
l have a blast
this summer
with our exp
ert
instructors a
nd our “keep
moving”, “ge
t skilled”,
“play fair” an
d “have fun”
philosophies
for every cam
p!
entary
PLUS ComPLimt-Care!
S
P r e - an d P o
CALCH035169_1_1
CAMPS
APRIL 30, 2011 • CALGARY HERALD • 13
Experiment with a science camp this year
BY ALEX FRAZER-HARRISON
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
S
cience is cool — you’d be
hard-pressed to find anyone who can really argue
against that point.
What can beat spending a
summer day doing science
experiments, or learning to hunt
dinosaurs?
“It’s great to encourage kids to
have a passion at a young age,
and see them loving science,”
says Leanna Mohan, marketing
co-ordinator for the Royal Tyrrell
Museum at Drumheller. “And
when these kids are around
other kids who love science as
much as them, they feed off
each other, instead of being the
only kid who loves dinosaurs in
a group of Nintendo fans.”
This summer, Tyrrell hosts
the EnCana Badlands Sci-
ence Camp, a series of camps
that lets kids (and even their
families) sleep in teepees, dig
for fossils, and go behind the
scenes at the museum.
“One of our camps is a Family
Science Camp (for kids ages
five and up), so parents get to
be with their kids and it allows
younger kids to get involved,”
says Mohan.
There’s also a Junior Science
Camp for ages nine to 11, and a
Senior Science Camp for ages
12 to 15.
“The junior campers will
learn about the anatomy of a
stegosaurus and reconstruct a
dinosaur,” says Mohan. “Senior
campers get the opportunity to
work on real fossils in the prep
labs.”
Mohan says there’s an important message to be taken away
from these sorts of camps.
“They get
giving kids
CAMPS
hands-on
access to
experience
plenty of onONLINE
learning
site experiabout prements, says
WWW.TYRRELLMUSEUM.COM
serving our
Richards,
CALGARYJCC.COM
heritage,
adding
about where
the camp
Alberta
is open to
comes from, and why we need
people of all faiths. The Calgary
museums,” she says.
JCC also runs an after-school
The Calgary Jewish CommuKidsmart program dedicated to
nity Centre offers a one-week
science.
science-themed day camp this
Richards adds parents want
year from July 18-22.
their kids to excel in school, and
“We’ll be focusing on the four- having a good basis in science
to-six year-old age group, and
helps toward that, especially if
it’ll be a week filled with a variety they gain a love for it at an early
of experiments,” says children’s
age through a program like the
program manager Rhona RichJCC offers. “Not everyone loves
ards.
going into the water or feels conUnder the auspices of longfident to put on skates, but who
time science teacher Betty
doesn’t love making bubbles or
Woodhouse, Calgary JCC has
setting off rockets outside?” she
developed its own science lab,
says.
Courtesy, Royal Tyrrell Museum
Senior campers at the EnCana Badlands Camp at Royal
Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller get the opportunity to work
on real fossils in the prep lab, and learn how to interpret
bonebeds.
U of C Camps for Kids
U of C Summer Camps:
Cochrane Gymnastics Camps
Computer Camps
Dinos Sports Camps
Director’s Cut
Minds in Motion
Mini University
Multi-Sport Camps
Olympic Oval Camps
Outdoor Camps
Tennis & Squash Camps
Veterinarian Medicine Camps
Something for every kid - grades 1-12!
Register today! www.ucalgarycamps.ca (403) 220-7749
CALCH035767_1_1
CAMPS
14 • CALGARY HERALD • APRIL 30, 2011
N O. 2
APRIL 30, 2011
Summer
Camps is a
special
publication of
the Calgary
Herald
Special
Projects
Department.
A Calgary Herald Special Publication
A division of Postmedia Network
Special Projects manager:
Barb Livingstone, 403-235-7339;
blivingstone@calgaryheraldcom
Camps score big with hockey players
BY CARA CASEY
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
W
hether you have a Timbit,
novice, peewee or midget
in your household, there
is a hockey summer camp geared
especially to them.
The summer
curriculum
at Calgary
Edge
Hockey
School,
Publication co-ordinator:
Karen Petkau, 403-235-7513;
kpetkau@calgaryheraldcom
CAMP KASOTA WEST
Sylvan Lake
Alberta
A residential camping experience for children and youth.
Activities include swimming, canoeing, kayaking,
campfires, discovery hour, arts and crafts, field
games, nature walks and more!
Transportation
Provided From
Calgary!
Counsellors in Training (C.I.T.) Program.
Other specialty programs:
SAILING AND KAYAK/CANOE CAMPS.
Register online at www.campkasotawest.com
For information
e-mail: campkasotawest@telus.net
or phone 403 275 3636
REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
CALCH037238_1_1
HIGHER TRAILS
“FOR THE LOVE OF THE HORSE”
DAY CAMP
Thinkstock images
Many hockey players choose
the summer to practise their
skills and to learn new techniques.
Not your average horse camp!
Besides learning western riding skills with their own horse, campers will:
*work with a variety of rescue horses and learn their stories!
* learn & practice equine first aid!
* learn hands-on what a farrier does!
*observe herd dynamics and equate that to real life!
*experience the round pen, play games & have FUN with the horse!
*bring mom and dad back for a BBQ and wagon ride!
Visit www.highertrails.org or call (403) 700-9152 for details & registration
CALCH038170_1_1
CAMPS
held at Calgary’s Trico
sion and development in
Centre and Cardel
their skill base.”
ONLINE
Place, focuses on the
Besides time on the
fun of the sport accordice, the Cougar Hockey
WWW.EDGEHOCKEY.NET
ing to coach, Peder
program includes crossWWW.MTROYAL.CA
Lodoen. Kids ages six
over games such as
WWW.PROAMBITIONS.COM
to 14 are drilled on skatlacrosse, soccer and
ing, stick handling and
indoor hockey to develop
shooting skills.
necessary team skills.
For the younger, more inexperienced play- Also, there is a goal-tending component for
ers, Lodoen focuses on skating ability. He
the atom and peewee groups.
says this is crucial in the younger age groups
ProAmbition Hockey Camps makes their
before any other skills can be honed.
way around North America each summer
“For those little guys, just standing up can
training more than 4,000 kids in the skills
be hard so we’re just working on that, starting needed to go all the way. Run by former NHL
and stops,” says Lodoen.
player, Jeff Serowik, the camp is geared
Whereas the older players are keen to
towards more experienced players that are
work on their checking skills, Lodoen says
willing to work.
safety plays a big part in teaching the skill of
“The majority of the kids that come to the
hitting.
camp are very good players,” Serowik says.
“They just want to hit everything that
“We have fun but it’s not a fluff-camp.”
moves,” Lodoen says. “From day one we
Serowik says his camp focuses on the
focus on why we hit, why we are doing this,
fact that hockey is a battle. By drilling battle
when not to hit and how to take a hit.”
skills (protecting the puck and stick,) he says
Cougar Hockey Camps, held at Mount
that the curriculum gives players the ability
Royal University each summer, aim to get
to think outside the box and appreciate the
kids ready before minor hockey starts.
fundamentals of the game.
Grouped according to age, level and posiAll of the camps require full gear that the
tion, head coach Jean Laforest says he
players would wear during their regular
wants the players to be engaged in what
season. Players are asked to bring bagged
they would experience during the season. lunches or they can purchase a meal pro“Our main goal is two-fold,” Laforest
gram at most of the camps.
says. “We want to make sure they enjoy
The number one requirement, however, is
themselves and that there is progresthat kids have a love of the sport .
“When you have a hockey player that
enjoys what they are doing, they will be a
hockey player for life,” Laforest says. “Their
skills are improved, their outlook is positive,
and they head into the season with a positive frame of mind.”
Lodoen feels the same.
“Making it to the NHL isn’t the reason for
playing. It’s a game and it’s supposed to
be a game and having fun is what it’s all
about,” he says.
CAMPS
APRIL 30, 2011 • CALGARY HERALD • 15
Camps cater to special needs
BY GERALD VANDER PYL
FOR SUMMER CAMPS
S
ummer camp can be a
wonderful experience
for children of all ages,
but sometimes parents may
be reluctant to send their child
to a camp due to a physical or
learning disability.
However there are a growing number of residential
camps and day camp programs aimed at special needs
children, to give them the opportunity to enjoy the summer
camp experience.
“In the scope of a child’s
life, it doesn’t matter whether
they are regular kids, kids with
difficulties, kids with learning
disabilities — a good camping experience can have a
very, very positive impact on
anybody,” says Marty Hornstein, executive director on the
Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta (LDAA), which
has run its Camp Amicus program since 1978.
Hornstein, who attended
summer camps for many
years as a child, then later
became a counsellor, then a
program director, says he has
seen firsthand the positive impact that children receive from
being in a group setting with
other kids.
He says Camp Amicus is
aimed at children with learning disabilities, and provides
all the fun of a regular camp,
with the added component of
learning the social skills that
some children lack.
Eryn Murray, LDAA director of services, says there is
about an hour of formal social
skills training a day, then kids
enjoy swimming, horseback
riding, a climbing wall, rope
course and other traditional
camp activities.
She says to ensure that the
camp is right for a child, both
the parents and child take
part in separate suitability
interviews. Parents may be
asked questions such as how
their child is doing socially,
As the name of the camp
and what has worked or not
suggests, the focus is on inworked in the past in terms of
teraction with animals, but not
advancing their social skills.
just dogs and cats, says Ward.
Hornstein says the goal
She says they have special
for some people is to have
guests who bring pets as
their child progress to the
diverse as reptiles, ferrets,
point where they can attend
rabbits, and other animals that
a mainstream summer camp,
and become part of the group, many children might not usually get to meet.
rather than a potential target
Interaction with animals has
for other campers.
long been seen as a good exAt Camp Pet A Bow-Wow,
perience,
run by the
says Ward.
Calgary
“There is
Humane
CAMPS
huge posiSociety,
ONLINE
tive impact,
special
especially
needs
WWW.CALGARYHUMANE.CA
with chilchildren
WWW.LDAA.NET/AMICUS.PHP
dren. With
have
humane
always
educabeen
tion in general, our goal is to
welcome to attend, but the
organization decided to offer a build empathy by playing on
children’s love of animals. We
separate camp this summer,
are able to build empathy for
says Kristy Ward, Humane
animals, and other children
Education department head.
and people as well. They will
Ward says some parents
be able to understand and
are more comfortable having
their child start out in a camp
relate to the feelings of both
with similar kids, and might
people and animals.”
later choose to have them atFor parents who are considtend a regular camp.
ering a camp for special needs
She says special needs chil- children, most camps have a
dren of all abilities can attend
list of frequently asked questhe camp, which is wheelchair tions on their website, and are
accessible, and a parent or
also happy to answers quesaid is welcome to accompany
tions over the phone about the
them to look after any special
program or whether a camp
assistance a child might reis potentially suitable for your
quire throughout the day.
child.
Courtesy, Calgary Humane Society
Calgary Humane Society’s Camp Pet A Bow-Wow offers programs for children with and without special needs and considerations.
Courtesy, Learning DisabilitiesAssociation ofAlberta
Camp Amicus is aimed at children with learning disabilities, with
all the fun and learning of a regular camp.
CALCH035733_1_2
CAMPS
16 • CALGARY HERALD • APRIL 30, 2011
From 12: WILD
CAMPS
The residential camp
mature than when
also offers several leaderthey
started out,”
ONLINE
ship programs for junior
says Nestor Kelba,
high and high school stuKamp Kiwanis manWWW.CALGARYOUTDOORCENTRE.CA
dents who want to build
aging director, addWWW.KAMPKIWANIS.COM
their leadership skills
ing that campers get
while taking part in wildera lot more than just
ness adventures.
wilderness skills out
The six-day leadership camp includes
of the experience.
mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, and other
“We find that the high school kids are much
outdoor sports as well as an overnight campmore idealistic than maybe adults might be
out.
and they can lose themselves in a situation
The 20-day leadership camp also includes
like that and really give of themselves and feel
a five-day mountain hike, and a lot of time in
good about it. Not many people get to feel that
the pool with campers working towards their
passion and if you start getting a passion for
bronze medallion and doing other classes that things, of course, it carries into other things in
could potentially lead to lifeguard training and
life.”
could be turned into high school credits.
Both camps also focus on leadership and
Thinkstock image
Mountain biking is a favourite past time
camp counselling skills.
for many teens, and there are many camps
“When they get back they are a lot more
around the Calgary area to cater to the hobby.
log on
surf
Balance busy lives and screen time with simple living, adventure and fun.
Northwaters & Langskib Wilderness Programs
Wilderness canoe trips with heart and meaning. Girls, Boys & Co-ed
chat
www.northwaters.com
www.langskib.com
866.458.9974
CALCH037240_1_1