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YMCA of Greater Vancouver
Off to Residential Camp
Dear Campers and Families,
Welcome to the 2015 summer season at YMCA Camp Elphinstone. Thanks for choosing the YMCA for your
child’s camp experience—we’re looking forward to a great summer! Our staff are preparing for a positive
and successful season. Whether it’s your child’s first time coming to camp or if they’ve been coming for
years, please read through this guide carefully. This guide contains vital information regarding your child’s
upcoming trip and some new information for this year.
Talking to your child about their upcoming adventure is an important step in ensuring a positive experience
for everyone. We believe that a rewarding camp experience starts with communication and preparation. We
expect all campers to abide by the YMCA core values of; do the right thing, put people first, keep our
promises and lead by example throughout their time at camp.
We hope to answer many of your questions in this guide, but should you have any further questions about
your family’s upcoming camp experience, please contact us. Early communication allows us to address
questions and concerns before your child arrives at camp, ensuring an easy transition on the first day.
We look forward to meeting your child and creating some lasting memories.
Sincerely,
Pam Chater
Manager, YMCA Camp Elphinstone
Adim Hébert
Supervisor, Outdoor Education &
Summer Programs
Steve Ryan
Supervisor, Outdoor Education &
Summer Programs
1760 YMCA Road
Gibsons, BC V0N 1V6
T: 604.886.2025
F: 604.886.2363
E: camp.elphinstone@gv.ymca.ca
vanymca.org/camps
YMCA Camp Registration Office
100 - 5055 Joyce Street
Vancouver BC V5R 6B2
T: 604.939.9622
F: 604.939.9621
E: camps@gv.ymca.ca
YMCA Healthy Kids Day
Healthy Kids Day will take place at YMCA Camp Elphinstone on June 7th, 2015. This event is a great way to
find out more about the YMCA, visit our facilities and enjoy a free lunch. It is a perfect opportunity for new
campers to become comfortable in the camp environment, for parents to become familiar with the
environment and for everyone to meet staff and learn about our programs. Event details:
Location:
Date:
Time:
YMCA Camp Elphinstone (1760 YMCA Road, Gibsons)
Sunday June 7th, 2015
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
We provide a complimentary shuttle service to meet the 9:40 a.m. ferry from Horseshoe Bay. Please
note—ferry times are subject to BC Ferry’s summer sailing schedule and may change.
We hope to see you there! For more information, please contact 604-939-9622.
Camp Activities
YMCA Camp Elphinstone has many exciting activities to offer. All activities are age-appropriate and participation is
based on the size, skill and safety of the campers. Your camper will have an opportunity to participate in a variety of
activities such as:
Waterfront – sailing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, voyageur canoes.
Land Sports and Challenges – low & high ropes courses, basketball, soccer, volleyball, archery, tennis, tetherball,
ultimate Frisbee, rock climbing on our new climbing wall.
Creative and Environmental – art, drama, music, campfires, nature walks to “Big Tree” and global adventures.
Outdoor Living Skills – canoe trips, hiking trips, outdoor cooking, shelter building, map and compass, low-impact
camping.
Out Trips
All two-week campers participate in an overnight out trip camp experience, which involves canoeing, hiking or a
combination of both. Groups travel to areas such as Gambier Island, Sechelt Inlet or one of our many on-site
locations on our 144 acres.
One-week campers do not have an overnight out-trip planned in their schedule, however groups have the option
of planning a single night out-trip together if they so choose (usually to one of our on-site locations).
Campers stay in tents or under tarps on out trips and pack both food and equipment with the help of the YMCA staff.
Trip lengths and destinations vary and are based upon the ages and abilities of cabin groups.
Recommended Packing Lists
When preparing for camp, be sure to consider the length of stay, time of year and the activities that your child may
participate in. Our programs continue despite the occasional rainy day. For your child’s comfort and well-being, please
come prepared for the weather.
The luggage you transport your belongings in does not need to be expensive—backpacks are ideal, hockey bags,
duffels, old suitcases and big laundry bags are fine too. We kindly ask that you do not pack items in garbage bags as
they rip easily and can be mistaken for garbage. Below are recommended packing lists for equipment, clothing and
toiletries.
Equipment
 Sleeping bag (warm, preferably synthetic fill)
 Pillow & pillow case
 Flashlight (with fresh and extra batteries)
 Water bottle
 Sheet for mattress (optional)
 Extra blanket (optional)
Clothing
 Socks & underwear
 Shorts, t-shirts, pants & sweaters
 Rain gear (camp activities happen rain or shine!)
 Rubber boots
 Shoes (one pair with laces and rubber soles and one pair that can get wet)
 Pajamas
 Swimsuit
 Towels (one large, one small)
 Hat (for sun and rain)
Toiletries
 Biodegradable* soap & shampoo
 Toothpaste and toothbrush
 Brush or comb
 Insect repellent (non-aerosol)
 Sunscreen (minimum SPF 30)
*Biodegradable Soap – all soap products (shampoo, soap and conditioners) used at YMCA Camp Elphinstone must be
biodegradable, as our water is treated and returned directly to the ocean. We need your help to protect the
environment. Our water system works best and operates cleanly when all soap products used are biodegradable.
Please do not bring any of the following items: matches, firearms, knives, hatchets, tobacco, alcohol, video games,
portable radios, iPods, laptops, expensive watches or jewelry. Food, candy and gum should also be left at home as
they attract animals.
Lost and Found
Lost items will be held until October 1, 2015 after which they will be donated. You are welcome to contact the
camp office regarding your child’s lost item, it is best to email us at camp.elphinstone@gv.ymca.ca with a detailed
description of the item as well as your child’s name and session, but please be patient as we are all very busy and
may not be able to locate lost items right away. Please label your child’s belongings as this increases the chance
that he/she will return home with everything.
The YMCA is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items.
Transportation – Getting to Camp
Parents/guardians are required to sign campers in with YMCA staff at each location. Please advise us if the person
picking up your child differs from the person who dropped him/her off. For your child’s safety, every person who may
pick up your child MUST be listed on our sign-in forms and they must be prepared to show photo identification
AND/OR provide a password. If you need to add a name to your authorized pick up person(s) prior to camp, please
email camps@gv.ymca.ca; if you need to add someone while your child is at camp, please email
camp.elphinstone@gv.ymca.ca.
The scheduled arrival and departure times below are very important as they enable our staff to structure important
first and last days of the session, in order to best benefit each camper group. For your child’s safety, if you wish to
change your transportation selection when your child is already at camp, we require written notification of the
change—please email the camp office at camp.elphinstone@gv.ymca.ca . Please give the camp 24 hours’ notice when
making transportation changes. If it is less than 24 hours we will do our best to accommodate, but as luggage is sorted
and sent in the hours prior to campers leaving, this may not always be possible. If you are unable to make the
scheduled time on pick up day, please contact the camp office at 604-886-2025.
Please note that bus and ferry times are subject to BC Ferry’s summer sailing schedule and may change. We will
provide you with notification should this occur.
Drop Off at YMCA Camp Elphinstone, Gibsons, BC
If you are dropping your child off directly at YMCA Camp Elphinstone:
Drop Off: 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday (Tuesday for McNabb Campers)
Pick Up:
2:30 and 3:30 p.m. on Friday.
*Directions and map located at the end of this document.
Drop off at Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal
If you are dropping your child off at Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal:
Drop Off: 10:45 a.m. on Sunday (Tuesday for McNabb Campers)
Pick Up: 4:15 p.m. on Friday
When you arrive at the ferry terminal, please look for YMCA staff and signage which will direct you the appropriate
area—we will direct campers and families to the grassy knoll by the water directly behind the ferry terminal. Sign in
will take a little bit of time and parents are required to stay with their child until they have been through the sign in
process. Please do not purchase a ferry ticket as this is included in your registration fees.
Travelling by YMCA Shuttle Bus
Campers must be registered for bus transportation in advance. YMCA staff monitor each bus and begin a camp
orientation onboard the bus. Your child must be signed in upon boarding and signed out upon leaving with YMCA staff
onboard the van/bus. YMCA staff will only release your child to the person(s) listed on the registration form.
Please ensure you arrive at the bus stop at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled bus times noted in the table below,
and allow up to 15 minutes for delays. Please note that bus drop off times may vary depending on traffic (we will do
our best to keep you informed if this happens).
In the event that you miss your bus, please arrange for transportation to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal and
take the next convenient sailing. YMCA staff will meet your child at the appropriate time at the Langdale ferry
terminal and transport him/her to YMCA Camp Elphinstone from there. Should this occur, please call our camp
office at 604-886-2025.
Location
BUS 1
Tong Louie Family YMCA
14988 57th Avenue, Surrey
Port Moody Recreation Centre
300 Ioco Road, Port Moody
BUS 2
Burnaby Central Secondary School
4939 Canada Way, Burnaby
Langara Family YMCA
282 West 49th Avenue, Vancouver
Departure To Camp (Sunday)
Return From Camp (Friday)
9:30 a.m.
(bus departs at 9:45 a.m. sharp)
10:05 a.m.
(bus departs at 10:15 a.m. sharp)
6:00 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
(bus departs at 9:45 a.m. sharp)
10:15 a.m.
(bus departs at 10:30 a.m. sharp)
5:45 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
Travelling by Airplane
Campers must be registered for our airport shuttle in advance, there is an additional fee of $100. Campers arriving by
airplane must arrive in Vancouver between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, the first day of camp. Campers leaving by
airplane must depart from Vancouver between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. (additional fees will be incurred for flights
arriving/departing outside the time restrictions noted above). If this is not possible, please contact us. As we are
trying to accommodate several campers in one trip, your camper may have to wait at the airport for a longer period of
time (we do our best to prevent this). Your camper will be met by an identified YMCA staff member at the arrivals gate
and transported to camp. For your camper’s return trip, we will also require your written permission for your camper
to go through security early.
McNabb Campers
McNabb sessions run from Tuesday to Friday. The program will be tailored to the ages and developmental levels of
the campers that sign up. These campers will go to bed a little earlier than other campers but they will still get to
enjoy all aspects of being away at summer camp, such as campfires, flagpole, group activities, cabin games, etc.
Tuck Shop
Our camp tuck shop provides a great opportunity for campers to take home camp gear or souvenirs of their camp
experience. All campers have an opportunity to visit our tuck shop with their cabin group at least once a week.
Items you might find in the Tuck Shop include t-shirts, hoodies, hats, water bottles, magnets, and so forth. Prices of
items range from $1 to $45. Please note that prices and stock are subject to change. In addition to swag and
souvenirs, campers will also find healthy food and drink options such as popcorn, pretzels, and juice.
In order to help eliminate the need for campers to have money on hand at camp, our Tuck Shop uses a
computerized account system. Credit can be added in $10 increments to your camper’s account by including an
amount on your registration form or through our registration office (please call 604-939-9622 for more
information). . Any campers who have a remaining credit of more than $10.00 will receive a reimbursement at
the end of the 2015 summer session. Credits on camper’s accounts $10 and under will be donated to our Strong
Kids Campaign to help send a kid to camp. The YMCA Strong Kids Annual Campaign funding is used to provide
financial assistance to families and individuals who otherwise can’t afford to participate.
Contacting Your Camper at Camp
Office Phone – Emergencies Only!
For emergencies that require you to contact your child, please call 604-886-2025 and we will be happy to assist you.
We may have to have the child call you back as we are a large property and it can take time for the child to come to
the phone. If it is not an emergency, you are welcome to leave a message for the child and we will pass along that
message through our camper mail, but we do not recommend calling your child unless absolutely necessary!!! Please
don’t sacrifice your child’s enjoyment and inclusion in programming for anything but an emergency.
Bunk Notes - Email
To help you stay in touch with your camper, we use a secure web service called Bunk Notes. This web service allows us
to manage the volume of emails we receive for campers and ensure the delivery system is efficient. It also protects us
from computer viruses and ensures we receive all emails and none are lost in filters. Your child will not be permitted
to email back, this is a one-way system.
Each morning, the Bunk Notes system bundles and sorts the messages for us to print and distribute to campers – do
not worry if you do not have your child’s cabin number, our office staff will ensure your note goes to the correct cabin.
Bunk Note credits cost $1 each and are purchased in packs of various sizes—your first Bunk Note is free!
If you are new to Bunk Notes, please follow these instructions:
To set up a new account and visit our Online Community:
1. Go to www.bunk1.com
2. Click the “Need an account or have an invitation code?” (top of page)
3. Enter your Invitation Code: 15YCE9802
4. Fill out all the required information, accept terms of use and create an account.
5. Purchase Bunk Note credits (you will need a credit card)
6. Send an email to your camper!
If you have used Bunk Notes in the past, you should be able to go to www.bunk1.com and sign in using your email
address and password.
By Mail
Everyone enjoys receiving mail, so please write! Mail is picked up every day and delivered to your camper by cabin
group. Send letters prior to or during the first few days of camp to ensure delivery to one-week campers. Letters
arriving after your child has gone home will be sent ‘return to sender’, so please make sure you use a return address!
Letters should be addressed:
Camper’s Name and Session
c/o YMCA Camp Elphinstone
1760 YMCA Road
Gibsons, BC V0N 1V6
Pay Phone
YMCA Camp Elphinstone has pay phones to use for outgoing calls. Campers have the opportunity to sign up during the
week to use the phones to call home if they choose (usually between 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. for older campers and between
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. for younger campers). Please do not give your child directions to call at a specific time as this is not
always possible due to fluctuating schedules. Instead, please give several numbers (work, home, and cell) where your
child can reach you.
If your child would like to use the pay phone, please send a calling card with them, along with instructions on how to
use it or agree to accept collect calls (note that cell phones cannot accept collect calls). Please do not send cell
phones with your camper as they frequently have a negative impact on the camp experience AND will be
confiscated until the camper is returning home.
Please note that while campers have the opportunity to use the pay phones, the may elect not to phone home. Rest
assured that “no news is good news” and your child is busy having fun at camp. If there are any problems, either your
child or YMCA staff will contact you. If you need to reach your child while they are at camp you may call the camp
office, but unless it is emergency children will be directed to call during the scheduled phone time, as we do not want
to remove children from programming throughout the day. Messages to call home will be passed along to your child,
but it is their responsibility to make sure they call when given the opportunity.
Camp Behaviour Policy
Camper Dismissal
If a situation arises where a camper threatens the safety of another camper or if a camper shows a complete disregard
for camp rules, that individual may be dismissed at the discretion of the Camp Manager/Supervisor. The camper’s
family is responsible for any costs associated with that individual’s dismissal and no refund will be given if the dismissal
is due to behavioural reasons or concerns. YMCA staff will see that the child is accompanied to Horseshoe Bay but it is
the parent/guardians responsibility to pick the child up or arrange for pick up upon the dismissal.
Possession of Illicit Substances
Smoking, the consumption of alcohol and/or the use of non-prescription drugs are not permitted on YMCA property.
Any camper who disregards this policy will be automatically removed regardless of circumstance or degree of
participation.
Heat Room
Please read the following information carefully:
Due to the widespread issue of bed bugs in the Lower Mainland, all bags and personal belongings arriving at YMCA
Camp Elphinstone must pass through a heat treatment process, which eliminates the concern of bed bugs spreading to
our facilities or to your home. Our specially constructed heat treatment room heats bags to 125 degrees fahrenheit
(about the temperature of a clothes dryer) which ensures that any bed bugs and/or eggs that may be contained within
participants’ belongings are killed prior to moving into cabins.
Although the heat treatment is safe for most items, a few items should not pass through the heat treatment room as it
may cause damage. The following items should not be heated: plastics (such as toiletries and cosmetics), medicines,
aerosols, cameras, photographs, rubber boots, candles/wax, food (including pop cans) and electronics (which should
be left at home).
All items that should not be heated must be packed in a zip-lock bag and placed at the top of the luggage so it may
be removed prior to treatment. Please ensure zip-lock bags are well labelled with your child’s name and session. We
appreciate your support in this matter.
Head Lice
Upon arrival, your child will be checked for head lice – we STRONGLY recommend that caregivers check their
campers for lice prior to start of camp. If lice or nits are found by our staff, your child will not be permitted to
come to camp until they are nit-free. Ideally, it takes 7-8 days to effectively kill/remove lice and nits, so we suggest
checking your child’s head at least one week prior to arrival and then again the day before you send them to camp.
Please keep in mind that it can be difficult for a child to integrate into their cabin if they miss the first day or two of
camp.
If you don’t know how to check for head lice, please talk to your family doctor or a public health nurse. Although
lice do not carry disease and are not considered ‘dangerous’, they are a nuisance! Please help us keep our camp a
lice-free zone.
Directions to YMCA Camp Elphinstone
YMCA Camp Elphinstone is located on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, just two kilometres north of the Langdale ferry
terminal on the shores of Howe Sound and a 40-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. To get
to Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, take Highway 1 westbound from Vancouver and follow signs for Horseshoe Bay in
West Vancouver. If your child is taking the ferry with camp staff, they will be signed in and out in the walk-on
passenger area (there will be staff and signage to help direct you to the right location).
YMCA Camp Elphinstone is 1.5 km (25 minute walk, 5 minute drive) from the Langdale Ferry terminal. After departing
the terminal, turn right on the first street and follow Port Mellon Highway to YMCA Road (first street on the right).
Follow YMCA Road through the subdivision down to the camp gates. Check in at the upper parking lot/MacKenzie Hall.
Check out the Preparing for Camp page on our website for more information about what to expect for camp. Here
you’ll find everything from packing lists, to coping with homesickness and what sort of food to expect at camp. There
are also hints and tips for ensuring a positive experience. If you still have questions please feel free to give us a call and
we’ll be happy to answer your questions.
YMCA Camp Elphinstone
1760 YMCA Road, Gibsons BC
T: 604.886.2025
F: 604.886.2363
E: camp.elphinstone@gv.ymca.ca
YMCA Camp Registration Office
100 - 5055 Joyce Street, Vancouver BC
T: 604.939.9622
F: 604.939.9621
E: camps@gv.ymca.ca