Main Site Camps

Though our camps are co-ed, the living units are not. Male leaders stay with the guy cabins and female leaders with the girls. They provide care and supervision for about 8 male and female campers respectively. (In cabins where more campers are placed, for example our larger log cabins, an extra leader is added.) These leaders work hard to help campers have a positive experience away from home. We value the trust relationship that Sagitawa has with parents, since it helps us provide a quality camp experience while keeping lines of communication open.

If you have other questions related to what its like to live in a cabin at camp, please contact the camp office.

At least 1 cabin leader stays in each cabin group with the campers. 

Cabin Leaders teach, lead, supervise and play with campers. Open activities are also under supervision. We desire a competent level of supervision, which at a practical level means that there should never be a stretch longer than 10 minutes where a camper is not seen by a leader. Daily events are scheduled so that a complete attendance of campers is taken 9 or 10 times a day. Campers may not be aware that staff take attendance during during meals, skills, chapel, discovery, etc. If a camper is missing, the procedure is to inform one of the directors, who will begin the appropriate steps.

Our goal is a maximum cabin leader to camper ratio of 1:8. Lower ratios occur on overnight out-trips, during daily activities, and on Adventure Trips.

Camp is an excellent place to build new friendships. Some of our activities are done as cabin groups, while others are done as teams or by camper choice. Campers who do not end up in the same cabin, may end up eating together or taking skills, swimming and playing games together. This type of schedule also fosters the development of new friendships.

During a stay at camp there is just so much to do! And to fit it all into a day, many campers will end up staying up past their normal bedtime. For example in Kids Camps, campers are being woken up at 7:30 AM and heading off to bed by 9:45 PM. So after camp, you may find them a bit off the normal schedule. But camp tends to do this to a person anyway… there are just too many fun things to do.

Generally speaking, activities are 60-90 minutes in length. Regular change helps maintain interest for a healthy experience. Below is a general schedule for a Kids Camp. (Starter and Teen camps differ from this schedule, but not drastically.)

1. Campers Rise
2. Breakfast
3. Clean cabins
4. Skill 1
5. Discovery (in cabin groups)
6. Lunch
7. Camp Game / Activity
8. WACT (Waterfront, Activities, Crafts, Tuck)
9. Skill 2
10. Supper
11. Wide Game
12. Mug Up
13. Chapel Fun
14. Prepare for bed (or get ready for a night game!)
15. Lights out
    
    And then between all of these activities, there is “transition time” where quick games break out, whether in the Tawa ball pit, at the playground, or out in front of the main building. 

Adventure Trip schedules are more flexible than those at Moberly… but definitely more physical exertion. Some camps have to pack up and move to another site each day, while others will return to their base camp each day. Schedules therefore vary from camp to camp. An average day will include:

1. Rise and Shine
2. Breakfast and clean up around the campfire
3. Break camp if on hike or canoe camp
4. General activity: hiking / canoeing / biking / skills
5. Break for Lunch
6. Continue with activities
7. Break for Discovery
8. Continue with activities
9. Set up camp if on hike or canoe camp
10. Supper and clean up around the campfire
11. Evening game
12. Campfire
13. Bedtime
    

We have a Tuck Shop at Moberly Lake. Campers may purchase confectionary items, t-shirts from previous years, Bibles, crafts and a few souvenirs. All items sold in our Tuck Shop are optional. We set a limit on how much junk food may be purchased in one day. If parents wish to set a different limit for their child, please inform the office or the Tuck Shop, and this will be done. It really is a simple procedure. Non-junk food alternatives are normally available.

Camp and crafts have gone hand in hand for many years. At Sagitawa, we try to provide a variety of options. We run both a craft skill during the week as well as having the craft cabin open during WACT time. During WACT there is the option of crafts using donated supplies from the craft cabin or creating a more involved craft through purchase of supplies via the Tuck Shop.

Which of the following would interest you? Paint a plaque or a picture, make something in leatherwork, make a spaceship, design a hemp bracelet or necklace, card embossing, or making a special window hanging. We vary our crafts from time to time and craft prices reflect the cost only.

Space is reserved by registering in advance, and a minimum deposit must accompany the registration form to formally confirm your campers spot. Please choose from one of the options below.

Payment:
We accept cheques, cards, EMT, and cash. Cheques must be mailed or hand delivered. Credit card information may be phoned, faxed or mailed. Do not mail cash. EMT is one of the best options for making payment as we are not charged fees (as with a card) nor do we need to get into town to deposit the payment at the bank (cheques and cash).

You may pay the minimum deposit or the full amount up-front. Having the full amount paid before you arrive on site for drop off will make your drop off experience smoother, with more time to focus on your camper and less on the paperwork. 

Registration Form:
We use a program called CampBrain to process all of our registrations online. Do not be alarmed when you are redirected to our registration portal with them. If you have any problems or difficulties using this system, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at the office. We would be more than happy to help or we can take your registration from you verbally over the phone. 

The on-line form may be accessed by clicking the “Register Now” buttons above. 

Contact the office at 250-788-2361 or office@campsagitawa.ca

We are currently accepting 80 campers per week at Moberly, and about 12-16 on Adventure Trips. Registering and sending your deposit early will boost the probability of there being a space for your camper.

Camp Sagitawa: While there is no register before date, it is wise to remember that some camps fill up by early spring. In Summer 2024 most of our camps were full by the end of May.

Adventure Trip Camps: Registration will be closed 5 days prior to each trip. This is necessary so that we can work out menus and packs, along with contacting the Adventure Trip camper to ensure they are prepared for the trip they will be taking.

Our office policy is to respond to each registration as it comes in. Acceptance is shown by receipt. If a camp is full you will be placed on a waitlist, and should a spot become available for your camper someone will reach out to you as soon as possible. 

Off-season camps do not usually fill up completely. But we encourage you not to delay too long as we need to have a general count on who is coming about 7 days prior to the camp start date. This helps us finalize staffing, set up cabins and purchase food.

This policy may be waived in extenuating circumstances.

• Cancellation 2 weeks or more prior to the start of camp – 50% of the deposit and all other fees are returned.
• Cancellation within 2 weeks of the camp – the whole deposit is kept.
• Cancellation after first day of camp – deposit and the remainder of fees is kept.
• A 5% fee will be charged when transferring fees to other campers.

Our Sponsorship Program is designed to assist those who would otherwise be unable to attend, with payment of registration fees or a portion of them. To apply for sponsorship, please follow these steps.

• Request a sponsorship form from the camp office.
• Fill it out and return it to the camp office.
• The form is kept confidential, and is processed case by case.
• Once processed, the applicant will be notified of the amount of sponsorship available.

Sponsorships have helped many families and individuals to enjoy and benefit from attending weekend retreats, special programs and summer camps. This is made possible only through the generous gifts from individuals and groups who wish to make a difference in someone’s life.

Our goal is to help campers modify their own behaviour. This means that we may need to alter our response to campers in similar situation. Note these examples of two campers who were trying to hurt another camper.

The one camper understood that his behaviour was not helping his situation. He apologized and wished he could erase what he had done. I explained the difference between forgiveness and trust. Since he wanted to earn that trust again, I gave forgiveness, and offered a practical assignment with measurable goals and accountability. I allowed this camper to complete his week of camp.

In the other situation the camper assured me that he would continue to be aggressive. Since he was unyielding, discipline was pointless. It also meant he was a constant danger to the other camper. I put him under 24 hr surveillance until the next morning when he was sent home.

Discipline may include discussions with the one wronged in the presence of appropriate camp staff. It may mean a call home or a trip home. It may involve appropriate apologies or compensations. Our first goals are to help campers succeed at camp and to provide safety for others. We believe that discipline is only effective if consistent in its goal, fair to the individual and understood.

Managing behaviour is a positive approach to discipline with a preventative objective. The idea is to provide good activities and teach positive responses so that campers learn to avoid inappropriate behaviour. Example: learn how talk about what we feel rather than just strike back to get even. Staff are taught to recognize potential problem situations early and to help campers learn how to redirect.

On the first day, two activities work towards managing behaviour. The first is a clear understanding of camp expectations and behaviour. The second is a Team Development Activity ending in a cabin debriefing that models talking about how our interactions with cabinmates in the activity made us feel.

Homesickness is a feeling of distress caused by separation from family and parents. While mild cases are characterized by a longing for home, severe homesickness often includes an inability to focus on anything else. Homesickness can occur to anyone, but it is more acute for children when they are apart from family.

Prevention

1. Let your children be involved in the decision to go to camp.
2. Educate your children about the normalcy of missing home.
3. Do not tell your children that you will miss them terribly. If they think you cannot cope, then neither will they.
4. Do not plan for failure by telling your children that if they cannot make it at camp, that you will come get them.
5. Do not express any anxieties about camp in front of your children. Share positive research with your children!
6. Encourage your children to make new friends and to seek the support of trusted adults.
7. Consider attending as a volunteer staff the first year, or attend as a family at our Family Retreat.
8. Provide shorter practice times away from home. Give positive feedback.
9. Encourage letter writing as a means of communication. It is tougher on the phone.
10. If encouraging phone calls, talk about good times to call, like in the afternoon during WACT time or before a meal time, not right before bed.
11. Use a calendar to cross out the days, and provide perspective as to how a week is compared to a year.
12. Provide other coping instructions. (good ideas here)

Treatment – Coping Strategies for Children

1. Have fun playing with friends to distract yourself from the feelings.
2. Write a letter or look at a family picture to maintain connections with home.
3. Talk with someone who knows how to help you feel better.
4. Think about all the good things that you would miss if you went home.
5. Remember that your time away is actually pretty short compared to the time you are at home.
6. Try to forget about homesickness.
7. What might your family say to help if they were here.
   (notes from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org. See site for longer list)

Applicants must follow the following selection process prior to becoming staff or volunteers at either Camp Sagitawa or in our Adventure Trips.

Cabin Leaders must have graduated from grade 12 (or age equivalent). Leadership staff are generally 20 or older. Staff are required to relate well to children and youth and should show a desire to be involved in a self-giving ministry. They must demonstrate a high level of responsibility and integrity.

Required Steps within the Application Process:

1. Submission of a completed Camp Sagitawa Application.
2. Submission of at least 2 adult references (prefer 3).
3. Personal interview with the applicant.
4. Prayerful consideration of each application.
5. Proof of having no prior criminal convictions or arrests with respect to children.
6. Acceptance to our June Training Camp.
7. Successful completion of this training.

Each team member comes for training, though depending on their position the amount of time varies. Some training is accomplished through online modules and remote learning, while other training is accomplished on site. Seeds work through a shorter training program.
Being on camp team is demanding and we expect a high level of commitment from our staff, volunteers and SEEDs. We have a strong team training dynamic based on relationship which provides the basis for much of our work with campers and cabin groups.
We desire success for each camper, and provide training in many areas including:

• Caring for Camper Needs
• Behaviour Management
• Appropriate Discipline
• Dealing with Homesickness
• Anger Management
• Dealing with Bullying
• Risk Management
• Communication Techniques
• Challenge by Choice in skills
• Free Choice in matters of Faith

All applicants (Staff, Volunteers, Seed) are required to apply to the RCMP for a Criminal Record Clearance. We are most concerned about convictions or arrests that relate to child abuse. We recognize that these screens do not prove innocence or guilt, and entirely miss individuals who have not yet been arrested. For this reason we also rely on personal references for information in this area.

How does a criminal record check work?

Record searches return either of two results.

• “No record exists!” – conclusive and requires no further search.
• “A record may or may not exist!” – a record has been found for someone of a similar name and birthdate. Proof of identity requires a comparison of fingerprints.

Matching prints would produce a copy of the criminal record. In the case of a young offender, the copy is mailed only to the individual. This applicant may choose to forward it to us. Sagitawa will not accept a staff member who would choose not to forward it. Our concern is that maximum care be provided, and that we give no opportunity for campers to be abused in any way.