Camp Bonaventure Information:
Registration begins March 4, 2010!!!
WHAT IS CAMP BONAVENTURE?
CAMP BONAVENTURE is the only summer day camp within the city limits that provides a fun, challenge-oriented, summer day camp where participants with or without disabilities make new friends while enjoying unique outdoor experiences. Camp Bonaventure focuses on FUN, CHALLENGE, ADVENTURE, and FRIENDSHIP. At Camp Bonaventure, participants gain new life experiences and develop self-confidence by challenging their own limits. While at Camp Bonaventure, campers strive to reach their potential while enjoying the summer warmth “between friends”.
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WHO CAN PARTICIPATE AT CAMP BONAVENTURE?
Camp Bonaventure is designed for children and teens, up to 17 years old, with and without disabilities. We offer an inclusive setting for people of all ability levels. Participants are broken down into groups by age to help encourage interaction between peers.
- Minnows: 4 to 6 years old
- Chipmunks: 7 to 8 years old
- Otters: 9 to 10 years old
- Badgers: 11 to 12 years old
- Wolverines: 13 to 14 years old
- Coyotes: 14 to 15 years old
- Grizzlies: 16 to 17 years old
**Please note that age groups are subject to change based on registration levels.**
WHEN IS CAMP BONAVENTURE?
Minnows’ participants have the opportunity to choose from 8 different one week sessions that run from Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There are 4 spaces available as part of an extended care from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for an extra cost.
- Week 1: July 5 to July 9, 2010
- Week 2: July 12 to July 16, 2010
- Week 3: July 19 to July 23, 2010
- Week 4: July 26 to July 30, 2010
- Week 5: August 3 to August 6, 2010 (no camp August 2, 2010)
- Week 6: August 9 to August 13, 2010
- Week 7: August 16 to August 20, 2010
- Week 8: August 23 to August 27, 2010
Chipmunks’ participants have the opportunity to attend 4 different two week sessions that run from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is an option of adding before and after care services to these sessions.
Otters, Badgers, Wolverines, Coyotes and Grizzlies’ participants have the opportunity to attend 4 different two week session that run from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the exception of an overnight (either the first or second Thursday of a session). There is an option of adding before and after care services to these sessions.
- Session I: July 5 to July 16, 2010
- Session II: July 19 to July 30, 2010
- Session III: August 3 to August 13, 2010
- (No camp on August 2, 2010)
- Session IV: August 16 to August 27, 2010
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BEFORE AND AFTER CARE AT CAMP BONAVENTURE
Before and After Care is also available for campers who require it. Before Care is available from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. and After Care is available from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. The cost is $60.00 for Before Care and $60.00 for After Care for a two week session. If your camper requires 1:1 support for Camp Bonaventure, arrangements must be made to have the same support for Before Care and After Care. There are only 10 spots per session so remember to sign up early!
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WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF CAMP BONAVENTURE
The actual cost of Camp Bonaventure to Between Friends Club is $830.00 per camper, per two week session. The cost to families is only $535.00 per camper, per two week session (session I, II & IV) and $485.00 per camper, per two week session (session III). We are able to heavily subsidize Camp Bonaventure through fundraising efforts, specifically our annual “Skate, Walk or Wheel-a-Kid-to-Camp” event held in March. Please see the “Related Fee Payment Information” for payment options.
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WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE OFFERED AT CAMP BONAVENTURE?
At Camp Bonaventure we like to focus on the challenge of the great outdoors! We offer a wide variety of activities that help to increase self-esteem and to develop a sense of independence and accomplishment for all our campers. Activities are designed to be age appropriate and therefore differ within each age group. Please remember that since the majority of our activities do take place outdoors that we may be faced with inclement weather and activities may be cancelled at the last minute. Please always send your participant to camp with proper clothing based on the forecast as well as a rain coat.
Activities may include:
- Miniature pony Rides or Horseback Riding
- Canoeing
- Sailing
- Wall Climbing
- Golf
- Swimming
- Arts and Crafts
And much, much more!
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CAMP BONAVENTURE OVERNIGHTS
Unfortunately at this time, Minnows and Chipmunks do not participate in overnights. All other age groups will participate in one overnight within their two week session.Otters, Badgers and Wolverines will have their overnights on the second Thursday of each session. Coyotes and Grizzlies will have their overnights on the first Thursday of each session.Your participant will arrive at Camp Bonaventure on Thursday morning at the usual start time, with all of their sleepover gear. Participants will then take part in their regularly scheduled daily activities returning to Camp Bonaventure in time for end of day pick up. Those participants’ wishing to go home are welcome to depart at this time, while those wishing to stay for the evening activities will continue with some on-site programming. The participants’ will then be served a BBQ style dinner by our wonderful Corporate Groups, and take part in an evening campfire. All participants and their parent/guardians are invited to attend the campfire, even if the participant will not be spending the night under the stars. After campfire, parent/guardians are welcome to settle their participants before saying goodnight. All participants are to depart on Friday at 10:00 a.m. - please ensure appropriate transportation has been arranged. There will be no camp on the Friday for those who did stay the night.
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WHAT ARE THE STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AT CAMP BONAVENTURE?
All of the Camp Bonaventure staff are trained in safety, risk management, behaviour management, leadership, program planning, camp activities, disability awareness, medication administration, communication skills, lifts and transfers and much more.All of the Camp staff are 18 years of age, or have been approved by the C.E.O based on their experience and maturity level. All the Camp staff posses standard first aid and CPR certification, and have been personally interviewed, screened through a minimum of two reference checks, cleared by the Calgary Police background check as well as Child Welfare check with the Alberta Government. A large majority of the staff have a prior experience working with children both with and without disabilities.In the event that a Camp staff will be driving a Handi-Bus, they will posses a Class 4 driver’s license and have provided a driving abstract to our insurance company to be reviewed. They will also have received in-bus training provided by an outside source.
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CAMP BONAVENTURE ORIENTATION NIGHTS
There will be two opportunities during the summer months for families and/or caregivers to come to Camp Bonaventure, meet the wonderful staff and see the facilities where your participant will enjoy their summer. Participants are welcome to attend, however childcare will not be provided. We strongly encourage private support workers to attend these information nights as well.Participants registered in Session I and II, we welcome you on Monday June 28th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Camp Bonaventure. Participants registered in Session III and IV, we welcome you on Monday July 26th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Camp Bonaventure
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WHAT ARE THE SUPPORT RATIOS AT CAMP BONAVENTURE?
Camp Bonaventure can accommodate participants with a 1:2 to 1:6 staff to participant ratio, with most age groups organized into a 1:4 staff to participant ratio. Our coordinators use the information collected about the participant from the information forms provided at time of membership. We use this information to assist us in structuring ratios within our age groups and in providing additional volunteers support as required.If your participant requires a 1:1 support ratio, they are welcome to attend Camp Bonaventure with their own support worker. If you are unsure if your child needs a 1:1 support ratio, please feel free to contact Shannon.When registering for Camp Bonaventure, please inform Between Friends Club of the name and phone number of the support worker who will be accompanying your participant to the program. If you do not have someone at the time of registration, please contact Shannon with that information when it becomes available to you.If you feel your camper requires 1:1 support but you do not have a support worker to send with your participant, and in the view of Between Friends Club the participant requires a 1:1 support worker to attend camp, Shannon will work together with you in finding a suitable support worker. The cost of providing the 1:1 support worker must be covered directly by the family.We are encouraging all of the support workers to attend a separate support worker orientation at Camp Bonaventure prior to the Parent Orientation on Monday June 28th at 6:00 p.m. at Camp Bonaventure for the participant’s registered in session I and II. For the participant’s registered in session III and IV, we welcome the support workers on Monday July 26th at 6:00 p.m. at Camp Bonaventure.If you have any questions or concerns around your participant and a support worker please contact Shannon at 403-508-0117 or ssmid@betweenfriends.ab.ca
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ACCESS CALGARY
If your participant will be using Access Calgary to get to and from Camp Bonaventure and they are not a current Access Calgary client, or they have an eligibility condition of “School Trips Only”, you must contact Access Calgary directly at 403-537-7777 to set up an eligibility interview. Please note that there is usually a six-week wait for an eligibility interview.Remember, all transportation bookings are the responsibility of the parent/guardian and must include any special arrangements such as overnights.
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