FAQs
Questions from Parents
As the Summer draws nearer, talk to your camper about the Camp experience. Learn about what they are excited about and also what they may feel anxious about. It’s natural for campers (and parents!) to feel a bit nervous about a first Camp experience, but we are here to help and answer any questions you may have!
We also host 50 participants in our POLARIS and WCIT leadership development programs.
Camp employs over 100 staff members each Summer.
Campers attending Period 1B or Period 3B can also take some PICs during their week at Camp.
Period 1A, 3A, 4A campers visit our most popular activity areas with their cabin groups, allowing them an opportunity to try as many different activities as possible.
A full listing of activities can be found in the Programs & Activities section.
Two week, one month, and Period 1B/3B campers participate in three PIC (Personal Individual Choice) activities during the typical day. Campers choose their PICs on the first day of Camp.
Introductory period campers rotate through three or four of our most popular activity areas during the typical day.
A day at Camp is rounded out by cabin-based programs, section-based activities (including wide games and theme programs), and full Camp programs that can include campfires, talent shows, games, and large group activities.
Because each cabin has a Cabin Staff, and most often also a second junior staff member, living with the campers, we can closely monitor how each child is adjusting to Camp and quickly respond to any worries or concerns.
During our nine-day staff training program that is held before Summer Camp begins, all staff members participate in workshops that teach them Summer Camp counseling skills. Staff members are encouraged to practice and discuss effective strategies and methods to help a camper cope with missing home. Experienced staff members are hired as Cabin Managers, and they work closely with the Cabin Staff. In cases where a child is struggling with homesickness, the Cabin Managers will assist the camper and their Cabin Staff as they work together to move through their homesickness. At times, and depending on the situation, Cabin Managers will contact the camper’s family to update parents/guardians about their camper’s progress and to seek any feedback that may help the child. Registered families will receive tips and additional homesickness resources in their Family Handbook.
Cabin leaders of younger campers are trained to monitor the intake of fluids close to their campers’ bedtimes, and to take an entire cabin group to the washroom before going to bed to help reduce the risk of bedwetting incidents. Oftentimes, parents will let us know in advance if their child has a tendency to wet the bed so, when necessary, cabin leaders will also wake a child up in the middle the night to take them to the washroom.
In some cases, a camper may go to bed wearing pull-ups to help prevent accidents. In these cases, campers are welcome to use a private room in the Health Centre or one or our private washrooms to change before going to bed.
Campers do not have access to email while they are at Camp, and will be unable to respond to any emails. Parents are welcome to email their camper at our campers@campwenonah.com email address (just put your camper’s name in the subject line), and our office staff will print the email and deliver it to your camper with the regular mail once each day.
We also realize and appreciate that more and more campers, ROOTS, POLARIS and WCITs arrive at Camp with an expectation of having some connection with home through a communication device, smartphone, etc.
While we would love to have all communication devices left at home, if a family reaches a decision that a camper or leadership participant will come to Camp with a cell phone we have developed a Talk & Text Policy, where they can have access to their phone for 20 to 30 minutes once a week. Devices may be brought only with parent/guardian permission, and are kept locked in the Camp Office outside the talk and text time.
We prefer that younger and One Week Period campers not bring a device to Camp if possible. Although it may seem impossible for them to imagine, being without a cell phone or other communication device is a great opportunity to fully immerse in the Camp experience and greatly increases the development of independent living and decision-making skills.
Campers love to receive mail while they are at Camp! You may address your letters to:
Camper Name, Cabin, Period(s) Attending
c/o Camp Wenonah
1324 Bird Lake Rd., RR #3,
Bracebridge, ON
P1L 1X1
Mail is delivered to Camp each weekday. There is time each day for your camper to write letters to family and friends. (HINT: You may want to self-address some envelopes for your camper!)
You are welcome to email your camper, and we will print and deliever your email once per day. Emails can be directed to campers@campwenonah.com (please include your camper’s name in the Subject line).
Yes! We have a great relationship with Fabricare in Bracebridge.
Weekly laundry service is provided free of charge to campers staying two or more weeks at Camp. Laundry is picked up, sorted, washed, folded, and returned to Camp usually within 24 hours.
We take great care in putting together cabin groups to make sure that all campers are comfortable and happy with their placement.
Campers are placed in cabins with other campers the same age as them (usually within 18 months). Our goal, wherever possible, is to make sure that campers are in a cabin with others staying at Camp for the same amount of time as them.
We also try to make sure that first time campers are placed in a cabin with some other first time campers whenever we can.
Families can make requests that their camper be placed in a cabin with a friend. Our policy is to consider those requests so long as:
- the request is mutual (made by both families)
- the campers are within 18 months of eachother; and
- they are attending Camp for the same amount of time