Camp FAQ
We will try to answer your camp related questions here, but if you still need assistance, please contact us.
Life at Camp
We will do our best to post as many photos as we can, two or three times during the week. We think it is important for you to remember that while photos can be a great insight into what is generally happening at camp, a single snapshot should not be used as an assessment tool as to how your campers are doing at camp.
Your child will have a devotional time during the day plus an evening campfire for overnight campers that will focus on predetermined topics as laid out in the Circle Square Ranch general program. These are times of introduction to Christian values and beliefs presented through small and large group discussions, skits, songs and Bible study.
Campers can purchase a snack or a souvenir during the afternoon from the canteen store. If you’d prefer, you are welcome to send snacks from home as long as they are nut-free. Canteen money can be paid in advance when completing an online registration or on arrival day. We suggest adding $20- $40/camper for each week they are attending camp. Any unspent money greater than $3.00 will be refunded back onto your credit card or via cheque after the session ends.
Day campers:
Day Campers who have pre-purchased a Daily Canteen Package will have their snack (as chosen in cart) each afternoon. Families that are opting out of the canteen packages should pack a nut-free afternoon snack from home instead.
What to Bring
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Campers should bring enough clothing for their stay as laundry facilities are not available. Please label all clothing and luggage! (Labels or indelible markers)
*Circle Square Ranch is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items.
Arrival and Departure Days
Communication during Camp
Teen Week, Crew Camp, and LIT campers will be given the option to hand in devices at registration to be stored during the week. These campers will be given 2 allotted times throughout the week to sign out their devices. We are not responsible for loss or damage. While we understand the importance of staying in touch, Circle Square Ranch does not offer internet access for campers.
Telephone: If a camper inquires about calling home, we will reach out to parents first before having them make a call home. If a child is struggling with homesickness, we will call or email you to let you know how they are feeling and come up with an action plan together (i.e. setting up phone calls, going home for a night, etc.). In case of emergency calls, to or from parents, the camp director or office staff will relay messages as quickly as possible and have your child talk to you if needed.
Email Your Camper: Email credits can be purchased, allowing you to send one-way emails to your child. These emails are printed and delivered so campers do not have a way to respond. Click here to go to our camper email page for instructions on how to email your child or how to purchase an email credit package.
Parcels & Mail: Letters and parcels may be dropped off during sign-in and will be delivered throughout the week. Please be sure any food items in parcels are nut-free. Letters and parcels should be labeled with the camper’s first and last name, and the date you would like it delivered.
You can purchase a care packages can also to be delivered to your child during their week of camp. Please click here after June 15th to order care packages. *Any mail received after the camper has left will be returned to sender.
Our Caring Staff
Our summer leadership team consists of individuals with previous camping experience as well as specific skills and training in their area of responsibility.
Health and Safety
- Swim 2 widths of the pool continuously. Head must submerge at least one time, and breath must be taken after each submersion.
- Tread water for 1 minute. Ears must be out of the water and swimmer must stay in one spot.
Please have medication and forms in a clear plastic bag to be handed to the nurse during drop-off. The nurse will look at the medications and instructions and ask for clarification if needed.
Medications that are to be given daily must be accompanied by the “Routine Medication MAR” form, and should be in a blister pack (many pharmacies will create these free of charge) or a clearly labelled pill box organizer. If you bring a pill box organizer, please also bring the original medication containers for check in. Original containers can be taken home with the parent after checking medications in with the nurse.
Medications that are to be given as needed (PRN) must be accompanied by the “PRN Medication MAR” form. Please be sure to follow the instructions on these forms so that we can provide excellent health care for your child. These forms can be found here.
Details regarding medical/behavioral concerns are to be communicated in writing. Please call to discuss any concerns/special needs by phone.
InterVarsity Circle Square Ranch will make every effort to accommodate allergies; however, we cannot guarantee that there will be no trace of an allergen in food served. We strive to be a nut free facility and do not knowingly serve foods containing nuts. We sell only nut free products in our store.
Day Campers will not have a lice check, but will wear a polypropylene bouffant hairnet during each helmeted activity to reduce potential transmission.
Registration & Camper Fees
For day camps, camp fees include all activities relative to the selected camp session.
For day camps, camp fees do not include transportation to and from the ranch, lunch, canteen purchases, or camp t-shirts. Many of these can be purchased as an add-on to your camp session. You are welcome to add them to your cart or contact the office for fees and details.
1. If the camp is required to reduce enrolment in registration for any reason, priority will be determined by date of registration; those who have registered first will retain their session of preference
2. In the event a camp session is cancelled for any reason, the camp will issue a refund for the value of the fees of the unexpired term
Day Camp Cancellation Policy: If you cancel more than four weeks prior to the start of camp, you will receive a full refund less a $30/week administration fee
Overnight Camp Cancellation Policy: If you cancel more than four weeks prior to the start of camp, you will receive a full refund less a $75/week administration fee.
All Camps: If a cancellation occurs after the cut-off dates, NO REFUND will be given except for medical reasons with a note from a doctor. In that case, you will get a full refund less the administration fee. No refund will be made for dismissals due to disciplinary action, late arrivals, or early departures. If a child/participant is unwell while at camp and it is determined that withdrawal from camp is required, the camp will credit the family the value of fees for the unexpired term. Depending on availability, the family can use their credit to rebook the child in an alternate session when they are back to full health.
Deposit amounts are as follows:
- Day Camps: $75
- Discovery Camps: $200
- Horse Lovers Camps: $250
- Equestrian Camps: $300
- LIT: $100
Waitlists
If there are any openings for a session, we will contact families in order of the date they were added to the waitlist. We will notify you how long you have to decide if you would like the spot before we offer it to the next person on the waiting list (approx. 48 hours, unless it is very close to session start date).
If an opening occurs in your waitlisted session, we will notify you and give you the opportunity to; switch to the newly opened session, keep your original session and add the second session, or pass on the newly opened session to the next person on the waiting list.
Waitlist openings are dependent on either:
- An already registered family cancelling their child(ren)’s spot
- Our ability to increase our capacity.
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- Capacity is dependent on a few factors such as staffing, program availability (i.e. horse availability, pool capacity, etc.), capacity limits (i.e. covid related), and other factors.
Generally, the higher up on the waitlist your child is, the more likely they are to get a spot at camp. Occasionally people further up on the waiting list are no longer interested by the time we receive cancellations or are able to increase our capacity, so just because your child’s name is lower on the waiting list doesn’t mean that you won’t be contacted.
If we do have any openings, we will let you know right away and you can decide at that time if you would like to proceed with a booking.