Summer Camp

Our Healthcare Coordinator is responsible for safely storing, managing and dispensing all prescription and over-the-counter medication at camp.

For daily medication, a camper will receive their meds at the same time and in the same manner they do at home. Because the camp schedule can look very different than a home schedule, we often work with families to adjust the medication plan to suit their child’s needs in the camp setting.

NOTE: If medication is needed to help a child get the most out of a school environment, the support will likely be just as helpful within the intensive social environment of camp. We encourage families to consider this before opting to take a ‘medication vacation’ while at camp.

Absolutely – we always ensure kids and youth with incontinence issues have a supportive environment and that they feel comfortable, at ease, and well supported in an overnight camp setting. 

During your Home Visit, we will go over our support system for campers with bladder/bowel difficulties so your child can feel well prepared for the camp experience. Our support system includes:

• Dedicated change space: Our Health Hub has a change room with a set of cubbies. On arrival day campers who have ‘Daywear’ or ‘Nightware’ (i.e. diapers, pullups or extra underwear lining) will be given their own cubby to store their supplies. When a camper needs to change in or out of their daywear or nightwear, they simply head to the changeroom with a change of clothes.
• Laundry facilities: Each camper has their laundry done every other day. However, if a camper has an accident their clothes and/or sheets can be sent down to the laundry immediately. 
• Staff support: The staff are trained to understand the feelings and needs of campers who have incontinence issues. Staff understand that campers may be embarrassed about their incontinence and will be discreet about providing help and support. Staff are also trained to schedule in regular washroom breaks for their campers.
• Understanding environment: Incontinence issues are common – particularly for kids and youth with learning disabilities and ADHD. On the first day of camp we talk about this, so campers do not feel insecure if an accident happens. 

We strive to offer a menu that is ‘kid-friendly’, nutritious, and adaptable to many types of eaters. All our meals are served ‘family-style’ in our Dining Hall. Each meal has a main dish and side dishes served at the cabin table, but campers also have the option of cruising the salad bar (lunch + dinner), or porridge bar (breakfast). To please the masses, we often serve ‘build-your-own’ meals (ex: spaghetti, sauce, and meatballs in separate serving bowls). 

Two healthy snacks are served each day- one in the mid-afternoon, and another before bed. A snack table is also accessible at all points in the day and night for campers whose appetites may be affected by their medication. 

Vegetarian and gluten-free diets can be accommodated at camp – families are asked to select these diet options on their Health Form. We most likely will be able to accommodate other specialized diets – we are flexible, and are keen to work hand-in-hand with families to assess how we can meet their child’s dietary needs at camp.

Each night we have two staff members on duty between the hours of 10:00 pm – 7:45 am. These staff members sleep during the day so that they are awake and attentive to the needs of the kids during the night. ‘Night Watch’ are stationed in our central Dining Hall, and they check each cabin group every 45 minutes to ensure the campers are asleep.

If a camper wakes up during the night and needs help, they can either: 1) stay in their bed and wait till Night Watch comes to their cabin, or 2) walk across to the Dining Hall and meet the Night Watch there. 

Homesickness is quite common, and is a normal part of developing independence. No doubt about it, though – it is not a good feeling! There are many ways to reduce the chances or the degree of homesickness. Here’s our approach:

1. We’re on the lookout: The Camp Kirk staff keep their eyes peeled for signs of homesickness, and know that these feelings are most likely to pop up during unstructured or less active points in the day (i.e. first thing in the morning, bedtime, meals times, etc.). 
2. We validate the feeling: We listen to hear how a camper is feeling – are they missing home, having a hard time settling into the new environment, or both? We talk about how homesickness is not a good feeling, but that it is completely normal (no matter how old you are!).  
3. We make a plan to connect with home: Writing an email home can be helpful, and we encourage campers to tell their families the honest truth about how they are feeling. While writing the letter, we also encourage campers to write about what they are enjoying, or what they may be looking forward to- this can help the camper process the positive and negative feelings of the camp experience. 
4. We create a plan to connect and get busy: After providing a listening ear and some TLC, we talk about making a plan to make camp feel a bit more comfortable – who is one person you’d like to build a friendship with, and what is an activity that we can look forward to doing together? Typically, this looks like inviting a cabinmate to go swimming, planning a special cabin activity with a staff member, or even just making plans to do their favourite program at free time. The focus is on doing. Keeping the body busy can help keep the mind busy – both help with easing the feelings of homesickness. 

1. Include your camper in the planning process: As early as possible, include your child or youth in the process of looking for a suitable camp. Talking openly about going away to camp, and the benefits it can bring, can help build excitement and ownership over the experience. 
2. Normalize homesickness: Build the expectation that going to a new environment is an adventure, which means they may feel unsettled at first and miss home- that’s a totally expected and normal feeling. Let your child or youth know that you may miss each other, but reassure them that you will be reunited after camp.
3. Focus on camp fun: After validating their feelings, help your child or youth focus on what they can look forward to. If your camper is homesick during the session, place the emphasis in your communication on what they are enjoying at camp and minimize chat about what is going on at home. 
4. Be proud!: Tackling homesickness is not easy and takes a great deal of emotional effort. Tell your camper that you are proud of them- they are taking on a new challenge and learning the skill of being independent.
5. Monitor your own feelings: Quite often family members are the ones that have the toughest time with their child being away from home. If you’re in this category, know this is normal, but also remember that your words and actions will shape the camp experience for your child. Role model how to manage anxious feelings about camp, and remember that you are helping your child build independence.

All our staff are 19+ years old. Many are studying or working in related fields such as education, social work, or therapeutic recreation. The common thread amongst all staff members- they love kids, and are looking to make the world a more inclusive and welcoming place for all.

There are two key qualities that we’re looking for when we recruit staff- a good head and a good heart. We seek out individuals who are compassionate, eager to learn from others, and who aren’t afraid to try different approaches (even if it means failing!). We look for individuals who can see the good in others, who seek out the silver lining in any situation, and who are ready to take a deep breath and try again. We know these are the qualities that parents, grandparents, and caregivers lean on to care for our campers, so we seek out these qualities in our staff. 

We put a big emphasis on staff training.  To prepare for the summer, the entire staff takes part in an intensive 10-day training period. During this time staff are trained in child-centered care, positive behaviour management, therapeutic crisis prevention and intervention, and concepts and strategies to support neurodiverse kids and youth. We also spend plenty of time doing team-building activities to ensure our staff is a united team. 

To learn about our Camp Directors, office staff, and board of directors, visit Our Community page.