Frequently Asked Questions
Program
At what age does your program start?
How are the kids divided into groups?
What is a typical day during your day program?
What is a typical day during your Residential program?
What does the lunch menu consist of?
What is your Camper to Staff Ratio?
How many people are in each cabin?
Can we see the Camp beforehand?
Child care concerns
Can my child bring a cell phone?
This is my child’s first time away from home. Can they call home at night?
What if my child gets homesick?
Where does the bus pick up my child?
My child has a learning disability. Can you accommodate for special needs?
Staffing
My child is looking for a summer job. How do I enquire about employment for them?
Where do your staff come from?
How do you screen your staff?
Q: At what age does your program start?
A: Children who have completed Junior Kindergarten will fit right in. Our site is challenging for anyone younger than this to get around.
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Q: How are the kids divided into groups?
A: We primarily divide the Campers based upon the grade that they have completed in school. We rarely ever mix Campers more than one grade apart. Other factors include gender and the duration of their sessions at Kettleby Valley.
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Q: What is a typical day during your day camp?
A: All buses arrive around 9:00 am. Following announcements, Campers head off to their first scheduled activity. Everyone is treated to swimming twice each day. Groups take part in other exciting activities such as Canoeing, Climbing Wall, Ropes Course, Drama, Nature, Arts and Crafts and Archery throughout the week. Groups are scheduled for lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. At 3:30 pm, we have final announcements and by 4:00 pm the buses are back on the road and heading for home. For a look at a sample schedule click here.
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Q: What is a typical day during your Residential program?
A: For our residential program, wake up is at 7:30 a.m. After flag break, Campers file into the lodge for breakfast. From 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. is reserved for clean up of both the Camper (teeth face, etc) and their cabin. Following announcements, Campers head off to their first scheduled activity. Resi Campers swim three times each day. Groups take part in other exciting activities such as Canoeing, Climbing Wall, Ropes Course, Drama, Nature, Arts and Crafts and Archery throughout the week. Groups are scheduled for lunch between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. Activities wrap up at about 5:00 pm and dinner is held at 5:15 p.m. After dinner, ‘Resi Campers’ are back in the pool for free swim and then it’s EVENING PROGRAM. Whether it’s a Camp classic Campfire or Capture the Flag or a Kettleby Valley Original, the Campers finish the day with a bang. Lights out is between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.
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Q: What does the lunch menu consist of?
A: We provide a hot meal each day for Campers who choose our lunch program. The lunch consists of a main course, sides and a salad bar. There is always plenty of pasta and sauce available for a substitution. For more details regarding the menu, please click here.
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Q: What is your Camper to Staff Ratio?
A: Our Staff to Camper Ratio never exceeds 1 to 4. In many cases it is lower.
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Q: How many people are in each cabin?
A: Our Cabins can hold as many as 9 campers. We house 2 staff in each cabin in a separate room to ensure outstanding supervision.
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Q: Can we see the Camp beforehand?
A: We hold our Open House in June. Prior to June, arrangements can be made for a tour by contacting our office.
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Q: Can my child bring a cell phone?
A: Cell phones can get lost or damaged during our active days and nights. They can also be a disruption to our program. We have also had situations where Campers misuse their cell phone at Camp. For this reason, we ask that no cell phones be brought to Camp.
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Q: This is my child’s first time away from home. Can they call home at night?
A: We cannot accommodate each Camper phoning home at night. However we can have them fax or mail a letter home and we encourage you to send emails, faxes and letters.
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Q: What if my child gets homesick?
A: Although it varies in severity, homesickness is perfectly normal and should be expected to a certain degree. We know that talking about homesickness helps and that’s where we begin if a Camper is experiencing any rough patches at Camp. Our conversations are kept short and focus on the positives. Keeping them busy is important. We also encourage Campers who are homesick to write a letter home. The vast majority of Campers respond to these and other strategies that we use. Being away from home is necessary for the natural development of a Campers confidence and independence.
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Q: Where does the bus pick up my child?
A: If you live in Maple, Woodbridge, Kleinburg, Richmond Hill, Oak Ridges, Newmarket, Aurora or Holland Landing we will pick up and drop off at your home. If you live in Markham, Scarborough, Mississauga, Brampton or Toronto, we have a number of centrally located pick up locations. Our morning pick up time ranges from 8:00 am to 8:50 am and our afternoon drop off times are from 4:15 am to 5:15 pm.
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Q: My child has a learning disability. Can you accommodate for special needs?
A: We offer a limited number of spaces for Campers with special needs such as Down Syndrome, Aspersers and Autism. We offer a one to one staff to camper ratio to ensure that the children get to level of care and supervision that they require.
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Q: My child is looking for a summer job. How do I enquire about employment for them?
A: First, I would encourage you child to inquire in first person. If interested in looking after children, looking after personal needs is an asset. Please have them go to our Employment page on our website. Interviews begin in January and althought we benefit from a high return rate, there are usually positions available.
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Q: Where do your staff come from?
A: Many of our Staff have grown up at Camp as campers. Others have heard of Kettleby Valley through friends and other forms of word of mouth.
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Q: How do you screen your staff?
A: Each staff member takes part in a personal interview with the Director. We also require 3 references for any new candidate. Finally, we require a police check be submitted by each staff member.
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