Author: Element6

The snow is falling, the temperature is dropping. Winter is in full swing but at least the days are getting longer. Yes, time to plan out your summer! Summer camps are a great way to get your kids out of the house and away from the screen during the break. Parent’s want to find the best camps for their children, but what makes a great camp?

Planning

Having a schedule and knowing what’s on the agenda for today is crucial when running a camp. The best camps not only have their staff plan out their days, but they’ll have them plan more activities than needed. Sometimes an activity that you thought would go for half an hour, only takes up half that time. A great camp leader will have some games in their back pocket meant just for these occasions.

Child-centred approach

While having a schedule in place is very important, it’s crucial to remember that the end goal is always the children’s safety and enjoyment! The best camps can acknowledge when the programmed activity isn’t working for that group and adapt. Small changes, such as increasing the difficulty when a group has already mastered the skill, can greatly increase the enjoyment of the campers. And in the end, it’s the children’s experience that is the most important!

Great staff

And finally, we get to the most important part of a great camp: the staff! Camp administrators can design a great camp experience, but it’s the staff that work onsite, working with the children and the parents, that make the difference. It’s important for camps to always be on the look out for the very best staff.  At Royal City, we look for our staff to be safety-conscious, responsible, enthusiastic, creative, organized, great communicators and willing to go above and beyond!

This winter, while you’re dreaming of the summer and planning your child’s camp schedule, be on the look out for camps that value planning for every step, taking a child-centred approach & hiring the best staff. Here at RCSC, we focus on all of the above at every step of the way, and that’s what makes us an amazing camp!

8:30am – Mom needed to get to work for 9, so she dropped me off early at camp. I was a bit nervous at first, but my camp counsellor was super nice, and there were a few kids my age that were there early too. We played some circle games while we waited for camp to begin, so I already knew everyone’s names.

9:30am – Camp started and they got us all into a group to give out everyone’s soccer ball and camp t-shirt. They wrote my name on my ball so everyone knows it’s mine! After that they told everyone about the camp rules, and broke us up into groups. I’m with the other 5-7 year olds. We’re going to learn about soccer now!

10:30am – We’ve been playing different soccer games this morning, and I’m learning a lot today! I was a little nervous cause I’ve never played soccer before, but that’s okay because a lot of my new friends have never played before either. Our camp counsellor told us today we’d be focusing on dribbling (that’s when you move the ball with your feet), and tomorrow we’d work on a new skill. I like that we can learn using games. Now we’re having a break, which means getting lots of water, a snack, and most importantly, putting on more sunscreen!

12pm – It’s lunch time now! Half-way through we stopped to take pictures; I’m excited for my parents to see them!  Right before lunch the whole camp played a game all together (they called it a scrimmage), which was a tonne of fun! The camp counsellor told us that after lunch we’re going to walk over to the pool to go swimming. This is turning out to be the best day ever!

2pm – We’re back from the pool, and I had so much fun! Now we’re going to take another water break, then play some camp games all together. They said they had some super fun ones planned out, so I’m excited to see what they might be! I hope we play capture the flag, cause that’s always my favourite in gym class.

4pm – It’s pick-up time now they say, which means that camp is over for the day. My mom doesn’t get off work until later, so she won’t pick me up for a while still. I’m kind of happy about that, cause that means I can play with my friends a bit longer! The camp counsellors brought out the nets again, so we’re going to try to score goals on each other while we wait for our parents.

4:50pm – Mom picked me up, and I almost fell asleep on the car ride home! She says I’m going to sleep well tonight. I can’t wait to go back to camp tomorrow and see all my friends again, and my camp counsellor. They said this week is colours week, and tomorrow everyone is going to dress up in the craziest colours they have.

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Camp is almost here…it has certainly snuck up on us! As much as it is exciting for campers, it can be stressful for parents, especially when you’re not sure how to prepare your camper for their first day. We want parents to enjoy the first day of camp, just as much as their camper(s), so we have put together our most thought out and practical tips for parents to utilize.

1. Get a good sleep. This goes for both parents and campers. Getting into a routine at least a week before camp begins will make it easier for both parties to wake up in the morning and be energized for the day ahead.
2. Plan your outfits. Nobody likes waking up in the morning and then having the burden of figuring out what they’re going to wear. So, plan ahead! Choose your outfit the night before and leave it out on a dresser or hanging up together. This will make it easier for your camper to dress themselves and it will give you more time to prepare breakfast.
3. Eat a healthy breakfast. Everyone always says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so make sure that you don’t skip it! Load up on fruits and healthy carbs that will give both you and your camper(s) an extra skip in your step.7
4. Pack. Pack. We recommend packing a backpack for your camper(s) to bring back and forth to camp every day of the week. Inside the backpack, we recommend packing: lots of water, sunscreen, athletic gear (it does not need to be soccer gear), hat, lunch and lots of nut free snacks, and swim suit & towel (if participating in the afternoon swim).
5. Leave electronics at home. The best part about camp is that there are always other campers around to play with and the camp staff have a bunch of activities campers can participate in, so there is no need to bring electronics. Our camp staff are also not responsible if those items go missing! You camper(s) will have so much fun they won’t even notice they’re not in front of a screen.
6. Prepare your camper(s) emotionally and mentally. After sitting in a classroom all day for the last 10 months, your camper(s) won’t be used to being outside all day. Start spending less time indoors, as a family, and immerse your camper(s) in the outdoors. Spend the afternoon at the park or going for a walk. Talk to your camper(s) about attending camp – ask them what they’re excited about, what they’re nervous about, what they think camp will be like – it will give them a better sense of what to expect on day one.
7. Get them excited! They are going to camp! Who can’t be excited for camp?!

We cannot wait to see you at site this summer! For any other tips and tricks for preparing for camp 101, email info@royalsoccer.com.

The time has come… school is almost out and summer is just around the corner.  That can only mean one thing: summer camp time. But how do you choose the right camp for your child(ren)? Keep reading for our list of everything to keep in mind when picking your camp.

Interests & Hobbies

The first and most important thing to keep in mind when looking for summer camps is your child’s interests. What activities drive their interest? Are they active and want to run around outside all day?   Are they outside with their friends practicing a sport? Choosing a camp that focuses on an activity that sparks their interest is an important first step for a happy camper.

Goals & Expectations

It’s important to keep in mind, not only what activities your child will be doing at camp throughout the summer, but also what you and your child’s goals and expectations are. Is your child active throughout the school year but once summer comes around they transform into a couch potato? Look into an active camp, such as a sport’s camp. Do you have a child looking to overcome shyness? Check out the local theatre camps. Setting goals and working together to meet them throughout the summer is a great way to boost your child’s confidence.

Time Management

Now that you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to start researching! During this process, don’t forget to consider your own needs. Are you a parent or guardian that stays home throughout the day, or will you need childcare when school is out? This is important in your planning, as each camp has its own timing and schedule. If you need full day coverage, look for a camp that runs an early drop-off and late pick-up service. If you need childcare for the whole summer, look for a camp that offers discounts if you sign up for multiple weeks at a time. These are great tools for working parents!

Cost

We know that camp can sometimes get pricey, especially if you are looking to enrol for a full summer. If you’re on a budget, be sure to look into subsidies or inexpensive quality camps. Some camps offer their own subsidies, but there are also lots of great subsidy organizations out there for parents looking to get their children into camp during the summer. We personally work extensively with JumpStart, KidSport, as well as the local CAS, Family Services & Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations.

The good news is…Royal City Soccer Club checks all the boxes.  Great hours, supervision and cost.  Excellent activities, program and drop off / pick up times.  Fantastic discounts for multiple weeks/families.

With all that in mind, you’re ready to start booking! Don’t forget to add us onto your camp list this summer!

It’s June, which can only mean one thing here at Royal City… it’s training month! Each weekend from now until the start of camp, we travel across the country to train our summer camp staff. We wanted to share with you why this training is so important!

Familiarize yourself with our camps

The first, and most obvious reason for training is to familiarize yourself with our camps. This includes everything from programming to policies. If you have a question, we’ve got an answer! We’ll cover things in detail, such as daily schedules, what to do during the in between time, how to talk to parents, and how to resolve bullying issues. For Supervisors and Regional Coordinators, we’ll also go over all the necessary paperwork required to keep camp running, and the best techniques for managing people.

Learning life & career skills

Attending one of our training sessions will not only provide you the tools to run our summer day camp successfully but more importantly it’ll provide you skills you can use throughout your life and career.  Problem solving, team work, managing children and so many other skills are learned at our training session.

Meet your fellow staff

The very first day of camp is your first time on the job and we recognize that can be intimidating. Training is a great time to mingle with your fellow staff and start getting to know each other. This way when you get to site on day one, there will be some familiar faces! Your supervisor will touch base with you before camp starts but it’s always nice to know your fellow staff members as well.

As you can tell, there’s plenty of  important benefits from attending training, we’ve only listed a few of them here. There’s sure to be lots more you’ll pick up during this training-focused month of June, including being more comfortable and confident in your camp position before July arrives!  We hope you’re as excited to attend training as we are to see you there!

The world is becoming an increasingly diverse place with new people immigrating to Canada daily.   More ethnicities and cultures are present within communities today than ever before. It’s important to be aware of the differences between people and use them as a way to learn new ways of doing things – or even learn something about a culture different from your own.

What is culture?

Culture is the shared traditions, beliefs, customs and history of a group of people from the same ethnicity, language, nationality or religion. Everyone develops some sort of culture depending on the environment they learn in and these lessons are passed on to different generations. It’s important to be aware of your own culture as well as others around you.

How can you learn from others who are different from you?

• Learn a new way of doing things!

People coming from a different country or culture may have a new perspective that you may have not thought of before. Be open about new ways of thinking.

• Respect

Being exposed to new culture and ethnicities means you need to respect differences in beliefs, traditions, and ways of thinking – even if they do not agree with your own.

• Openness

Meeting people from different walks of life means you develop a sense of openness to new things, and will make you a well rounded person. Who doesn’t want to be around a person who is accepting, respectful, and open?

Why is camp the perfect place to learn about diversity and inclusion?

Summer day camps are a perfect way for your son or daughter to learn about diversity and inclusion.  At the Royal City Soccer Club, we welcome all families & children (between ages of 5 to 13) to register & participate in our program.  Children are not entrenched in the discourse of some adults so their openness to learn about different cultures & ethnicities that attend camp is high.  With a common goal to learn some life skills, play soccer / camp games and have fun, the campers band together, form bonds and build friendships.  Many times these are the most productive times to learn about new cultures….from their friends!

Camps is not only a fun experience but an opportunity to develop friendships and meet new people & diverse cultures!

-Nastazja

References
American Camp Association. (2013). Camp Diversity: A Call to Action. Camp Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/camping-magazine/camp-diversity-call-action

University of Kansas. (2012). Building culturally competent organizations. The community tool box. Retrieved from https://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/sub_section_main_1176.aspx