What happens at camp?

What Happens at Camp?

Here at Island Summer Camp, we provide our campers with a variety of exciting programs that are run by our dedicated Program Directors. Over the course of the week, campers will get to experience all four of our programs, plus two sessions where they can choose activities based on their interests. There are 4 teams that campers will be sorted into: The Bears, The Foxes, The Ravens, and The Dragonflies.

Art Program: Campers will get a chance to explore and expand on their creativity using a variety of mediums during their time at camp. Activities include, painting, drawing, beading, and making friendship bracelets, among other activities. Campers have the opportunity to participate in a range of art projects during the week, some of which include rock painting by the beach and garden, creating beaded jewelry, and bookmark making. We also offer periods of free choice during the week in which campers will be able to visit the art room and work on art projects of their choosing. Campers will be able to take home all art that they create during the week.

Survival Skills Program: This program is designed to help campers widen their knowledge of survival skills in the wild. All campers will have the ability to learn about and participate in shelter building (e.g. making tents/ shelters using natural resources such as tree branches/ leaves/ sticks, and tarpaulins) and fire building (using flint and steel, kindling, etc.). Campers also learn about how to identify natural resources that will be beneficial to them when camping in the wild (e.g. how to identify and use certain berries and herbs) and will participate in making bannock.

Sports Program: Campers will be participating in a number of fun and exciting sports games and be given a chance to bike around parts of the island with the guidance of experienced counselors. Campers have the opportunity to practice their community building skills when participating in games such as “Predator and Prey”, “Capture the Flag” and “Where the West Wind Blows”. A number of sports will also be offered for interested campers, including, soccer, disc-golf, and basketball. Campers will have the opportunity to explore Wards Island, Hanlan’s Point, and other destinations around Toronto Island during their biking excursions.

Nature Program: Campers will expand on their ecological knowledge and learn about preservation of natural resources. They will learn about how to identify the wide variety of plants and animals that inhabit the Island. They will have the ability to participate in pond studies, in which they investigate creatures and plant life living in the surrounding ponds and lake around the Island. Campers will be able to improve their gardening skills and learn how to brew herbal drinks. Bird watching is also offered.

Interest Sessions: There will be two sessions each week where campers will be able to choose an activity that most interests them. Activities change from session to session as the Program Directors get to know the campers and cater the Interest Sessions to their interests. Some of the popular activities include photography, an extra session of biking, disc golf, beach day activities (no swimming), watercolour hikes, and much more!

Camp Olympics: On our final day together, campers get a chance to demonstrate team spirit by playing a number of cooperative games in which teams face off against each other! As well as the final game of camp wide capture the flag to win a final prize before the end of their camping journey.

Free Time: After a long day of activities, campers have some time before dinner for supervised free time. During this time, there will be opportunities to participate in quiet resting time in the common room or garden, go to the splash pad, art activities, or time outside for sports or to play on the playground.

Evening Program: During the evenings, campers will participate in camp-wide activities. Favourite activities include going to the maze, playing ‘Predator and Prey,’ the ISC scavenger hunt, talent show, and campfire (with s’mores!).   

Sample Camp Schedule:

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Questions? Contact IslandSummerCamp@tdsb.on.ca