Families of Oochigeas

Families of Oochigeas
Family Newsletter
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Issue 3
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Volume 2
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Winter 2015
Winter Programs - Time to Register
It seems like yesterday we were enjoying summer but we know the
FROZEN ground will be here in a flash. Don’t worry though because
OOCH IS AN OPEN DOOR all year-round and has opportunities to ensure
you don’t LET GO of those warm summer memories, friendships and fun.
We are going to be busy in the city bringing back some of our favourite
family programs like kick-sledding and skating. We are also introducing
some new programs. In fact FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER we are
offering a Parent & Tot Program and we are going to make it feel LIKE
SUMMERRRR with a big indoor pool party! IF YOU WANT TO BUILD
A SNOWMAN be sure to sign up for a Weekend at Camp (WAC) at our
residential site in beautiful Muskoka.
Sign up today to avoid disappointment as some programs have a
participation limit. If you are new to Ooch please contact 416-961-6624
or email registration@ooch.org to see if you are eligible for programs
and to receive your personal online registration password.
Enjoy the holiday season and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Sarah Nelles
Director, Programs
In-Hospital
Ooch in Muskoka
Ooch Downtown
Camp Oochigeas is a privately funded, volunteer-based organization that provides kids with cancer and kids
affected by childhood cancer with a unique opportunity for growth through challenging, fun, enriching and
magical experiences.
Camp Oochigeas, 464 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5T 2S6
t: 416.961.6624 f: 416.961.2267 e: oochigeas@ooch.org
ooch.org | facebook.com/campooch | @campooch
2015 Winter Programs At a Glance
Winter Weekends at Camp
WAC A(age 5-14)Friday, Jan. 30th - Feb. 1st
WAC B
(age 5-14)Friday, Feb. 6th - 8th
WAC Teomul(bereaved siblings)
(age 5-18)
Friday, Feb. 20th - 22nd
WAC Teen(age 15-18)
Friday, Feb. 27th - March 1st
Family Programs
Kick-sledding in Barrie Saturday, Jan. 24th
Parents and Tots (age 0-3)Thursday, Jan. 29th
Family Art PartySunday, Feb. 8th
A Day of Winter DreamsSaturday, Feb. 28th
Ooch On IceSunday, March 29th
Ooch Downtown Programs
Behind the Scenes of Video Games (age 8-14)
Saturday, Jan. 17th
Iron Chef Challenge(age 4-14)Saturday, Feb. 21st
In-City Sleepover(age 4-14)Saturday, March 7th - 8th
March Break Day Camp
(age 4-7)
Monday, March 16th - 20th
Indoor Pool Party
(age 4-14)
Saturday, March 28th
Leadership Programs
Teen Leadership and Social Club
(age 15-18)
Saturday, Jan. 31st
Saturday, March 7th
Friday, March 20th
Duke Of Edinburgh (age 14-18)
Wednesday, Jan. 21st
Wednesday, Feb. 11th
Wednesday, March 4th
Dog Sledding(age 16-18)Friday Feb. 13th - Feb. 16th
#SL10K SAVE THE DATE
Join the Ooch community on Sunday, May 10th, 2015 as
we come together for the Sporting Life 10K & celebrate the
transformational power of Camp.
Gather your family, friends & colleagues to run/walk & fundraise in support of Camp Ooch. For more
information on how to get your family, friends and/or work place involved please contact
Kristyna Petrollini, Fundraising Events Specialist: kpetrollini@ooch.org or 416.961-6624 ext. 251.
2015 Winter Programs
Winter Weekends at Camp - Warmer than you think!
Come experience the Magic of Ooch Muskoka at a Winter Weekend at Camp (WAC). WAC’s are a great
chance to reunite with your friends from the summer or to try overnight Camp for the very first time! Our
cozy heated cabins, dining hall and gym provide lots of places for you to enjoy some of your favourite indoor
camp activities like arts and crafts, sports and music. We will also be having "SNOW MUCH FUN": Outside
snow-fort building, snowshoeing, chickadee feeding and curling. We will have a maple-syrup pull on Sunday
and lots of hot chocolate all weekend long - hope you can join us!
WAC A – Friday, Jan. 30th - Feb. 1st (ages 5 - 14)
WAC B – Friday, Feb. 6th - 8th (ages 5-14)
WAC Teomul (bereaved siblings)
Friday, Feb. 20th - 22nd (ages 5 -18)
WAC Teen
Friday, Feb. 27th - March 1st (ages 15 - 18)
*The bus will leave
Toronto (4:00 p.m.) and
Barrie (5:30 p.m.) on
Friday and return on
Sunday afternoon.
2015 Winter Programs
Family programs
Kick-sledding in Barrie
Saturday, Jan. 24th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
or 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Back by popular demand, Ooch is heading North to
Scanlon Creek in Barrie for a fun-filled family outing!
Hop on a kicksled and enjoy winter on beautiful
trails, as well as all the fun of playing in the snow.
Warm up afterwards in our indoor space with hot
chocolate and lunch. Come ready to enjoy a winter
wonderland, we’ll have everything you need!
Parents and Tots
Thursday, Jan. 29th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
A fun mid-day program for children under four and
their parents/guardians. Join your young Ooch
friends for a special afternoon of songs, parachute
games and bubbles! There will be plenty of time for
free play, and connecting with other families!
Family Art Party
Sunday, Feb. 8th, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Everyone can be an artist! Come create a
masterpiece with your whole family. Join your
friends from Ooch at the Artbarn (Toronto) for an
afternoon of collaborative art, facilitated by
professional artist Cindy Leech from Gallery Child.
Discover your creative side and make something
your family will treasure for years!
A Day of Winter Dreams
Saturday, Feb. 28th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Get excited for a morning of winter fun Ooch style!
Join us for a delicious brunch, followed by all the
classic camp activities you can dream of! From
arts and crafts to adventure, there’s something for
everyone at this “cool” event.
Ooch On Ice (Scarborough)
Sunday, March 29th, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
An ice adventure for all to enjoy! Come enjoy an
afternoon of leisurely indoor skating at Centennial
Arena. We will also have games, music and hot
chocolate of course! It’s the perfect time to learn
how to skate or refine your skills.
Ooch Downtown
Ages 4 -14 (unless otherwise indicated)
Behind the Scenes of Video Games
(ages 8 - 14)
Saturday, Jan.17th, 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Presenting, all the way from Toronto’s Hollywood at
King and John, the TIFF Bell Lightbox! Come to TIFF
and explore the magic of video game making. Learn
behind-the-scenes tricks and tips that go into your
favourite games.
Iron Chef Challenge
Saturday, Feb. 21st, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Ooch Downtown will be converted into Iron Chef’s
Kitchen Stadium. Aspiring chefs, along with our
volunteers will compete for ingredients through
games and scavenger hunts, and set out to
create meals that will wow our judges. Dishes will be
judged on taste, presentation, and creativity so pack
your chef’s hats AND thinking caps. Allez Cuisine!
In-City Sleepover
Saturday, March 7th - Sunday, March 8th,
6:30 p.m. – 10:00 a.m.
The Space-time Continuum has gone wonky! Come
travel with us as we warp from decade to decade on
a wild and fun adventure. At the end of the night
enjoy the ultimate sleepover party at Ooch
Downtown with all your friends.
March Break Day Camp (ages 4 - 7)
Monday, March 16th - Friday, March 20th,
9:00 a.m – 3:00 p.m.
Join us at Ooch Downtown for March Break Day
Camp. We will be going on amazing out-trips, have
some cool special guests and enjoying wonderful
theme days with all of our Camp friends! Make sure
you join us for a whole week of Camp Ooch fun!
Indoor Pool Party
Saturday, March 28th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
“In the Pool! In the Pool!” Join us for an indoor
Ooch pool party! You bring your suit, we will bring
the beach balls. Enjoy a variety of pool games, a
waterslide, and splash some of your favourite Ooch
counsellors.
Leadership
Duke Of Edinburgh (ages 14 - 18)
Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
The Duke of Edinburgh program is an internationally
recognized leadership award. This program is
the standard of leadership excellence and Camp
Oochigeas wants you to be a part of it. Whether
you are already enrolled in the program or are
interested in this leadership experience, the Duke
of Ed Workshop will help you reach your goals.
Our workshops will ensure that you are on the
right path to success, help you with the new online
record books, and provide an opportunity to work on
activities for your award.
January 21 - You can use your Duke of Ed award
on a resume, and in an interview. We will teach you
how in this workshop that develops resume writing
and interview skills.
Teen Leadership and Social Club
(ages 15 - 18)
January 31 - What to do After High School Fair
Join us with our volunteer community to learn about
what adventures await you. Learn about different
opportunities for education, volunteering and travel.
Friday or Saturday 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Join your Ooch friends for a slew of new adventures
this winter! In this club will be giving back to our
community, developing our leadership skills and of
course having fun socials!
February 11- Find volunteer projects that speak to
you! The service component of the award will be
discussed and worked towards, with our own small
community service project.
March 4 - Learn how to use the skill development
section to provide opportunities to find your
passions, or develop a skill set. We will be cooking
together to practice a new skill.
March 7 - Nothing says “Winter TLSC” quite like
a skating adventure. Put on your scarf to start, and
get in some laps with your TLSC friends, then join
us for some hot chocolate and marshmallows.
March 20 (Friday) - It is very exciting to be a part
of something big, and we are going to do just that.
The Daily Bread Food Bank is the largest food
bank in Canada, and we will be spending our time
volunteering to sort incoming food donations. This
experience can be used for your Duke of Ed Award
and high school volunteer hours.
Dog Sledding (ages 16-18)
Friday, Febuary 13th - Monday, Febuary 16th, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Dog Sledding Leadership Expedition is an exciting and challenging trip for aspiring leaders. On
Friday morning, participants will head up to residential Camp in Muskoka for a one-day leadership training
experience. On Saturday, participants will head to Chocpaw Headquarters to begin their three-day, two-night
dogsled trip. By day you’ll be on sleds, trekking with the dogs in beautiful Algonquin Park. In the evenings
you’ll enjoy home-cooked meals around the snowy campfire and get a good night’s sleep in heated tents.
Participants may use this experience as an Adventurous Journey for their Duke of Ed Award. The trip will
focus on developing teamwork and leadership skills.
Online Application guide
what you’ll need:
Your username and Family ID#.
If you are a new family to Ooch, please contact
registration@ooch.org to see if you are eligible
and to receive a username and Family ID#
Camper’s OHIP number
Any new contact information (address, phone or
email) for you and/or your spouse
Phone number for camper’s oncologist and/or
family doctor
Address, phone & email information for any new
emergency contacts you may wish to designate
Camper’s immunization dates
Your family calendar to check for conflicts with
school and social events
Names of medications camper is taking
Begin here:
Step 1 Family Sign In
In this step you will log into our secure application
portal at www.ooch.org.
Step 2 Family Profile Update
Update any contact information we have in our
database for your family and the people you have
designated as Emergency Contacts for your
child(ren).
Step 3 Family Waiver
The first time you apply for programs in a given
year (starts in Spring/Summer), you will need to fill
out a Family Waiver.
Registration:
(Please note you will need to repeat steps 4 - 6 for
each camper)
Step 4 Enter Your Camper/Sibling(s)
Provide the name of your child and your Family ID#
Step 5 Apply to Programs
Choose the programs in which you and your family
wish to participate. They will be listed in four sections
– Family Events, Ooch Downtown, Ooch in Muskoka
and Leadership.
Receipt of Application: As you sign up a camper
for each section of Step 5 you will receive an email
acknowledging that we have received your application.
Step 6 Camper/Sibling Medical Forms
If your child applied for any programs in Spring,
Summer or Fall 2014 you will fill out your Medical
Update form (MU Form).
If your child is a new camper or did not apply in
Spring, Summer or Fall 2014 you will fill out M1
and print M2 to get it filled out by a physician.
Sibling Campers
If you are applying for a sibling to attend any of our
Ooch Downtown events (with the exception of the
ones under the Family Events category), you will need
to repeat Step 4 - Step 6 for the sibling(s) as well.
Confirmation:
Once we have received and reviewed your complete
application – Steps 1 through 6 – we will send you
a CONFIRMATION listing the programs in which your
campers applied for as you could be on a wait list. We
work to complete our part of this process quickly, but
during ‘peak season’ it could take up to a week!
Let’s Celebrate!
Join us for the Annual Camp Ooch
Reunion & Family Day
When: December 6th, 2014 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Carnival from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Graduation Campfire from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Havergal College, 1451 Avenue Road, Toronto
M5N 2H9 (Avenue Road and Lawrence Ave.)
Why: Because reconnecting with Ooch friends and
families makes for a fun-filled day and creates
memories that last a life-time. New families are
welcome!
A bus will be provided for our Barrie area families!
RSVP REQUIRED by December 3rd, 2014 to
registration@ooch.org or 416-961-6624