Final Instructions

• What if I want to take my child off site on Visitor's Day?
• What should I pack and what should I leave at home?
• Packing Checklist
• I haven't signed up for Activities yet!
• When should I have my children at camp and when can I pick them up?
• Road Closures
• How do I communicate with my camper?
• Map to Camp
• How do I get to Camp?
• Health Information
• Cancellation or Dismissal
• Emergency Contact Information
• Laundry, Housekeeping and Lost and Found
• Transportation
• Tuck Shop
• Tripping "What to Bring" List

Click here for a downloadable version of the  Final Instructions 2.57 Mb .

What if I want to take my child off site on Visitor's Day?

Since campers have been entrusted into the care of Pioneer Camp, all campers must be signed out at the camp office. No camper is permitted to leave at any time, including Visitors' Day, with friends or family members other than the appointed parent/guardian, without the duly signed permission of a parent or guardian.

When you return to camp, please sign your child back in at the office so we are aware of their return. Campers should return to their sites by 5:00pm on Visitors' Day.

What should I pack and what should I leave at home?

We strongly recommend that campers bring bug repellent to protect them from insects.

PLEASE LEAVE THE FOLLOWING AT HOME:
All electronic games, players, entertainment and communication devices (cell phones), jack knives, valuable jewelry, or other expensive or potentially harmful items.
PLEASE NOTE:
The use of tobacco, alcholic beverages, or narcotics is prohibited and will be treated as a serious offense. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.
FOOD PARCELS:
No food is allowed in chalets because of the potential problem of attracting animals, so please do not send or bring large food parcels to camp. NO NUTS, OR PEANUT PRODUCTS PLEASE, due to the possibility of allergic reaction in others.

Packing Checklist

• Long Pants and Shorts
• Sweatshirt & Sweater
• Modest Swim Suits
• Sleeping Bag
• Toiletries
• Hat & Sun Screen
• Raincoat & Boots
• Non-aerosol Insect Repellant (less then 10% deet)
• Long Sleeved Shirt and T-shirts
• Jacket
• Pajamas & Underwear
• Towels
• Flashlight
• Bible
• Running Shoes & Socks
• Bug Net

Optional Items

• Camera & Film
• Water Bottle
• Fishing Tackle
• Fitted Sheet
• Life Jacket
• Pen & Paper

I haven't signed up for Activities yet!

Activity selection can be done through the Pioneer website.  Please signup online before you come to camp. Activities are filled on a first come first served basis.  

When should I have my children at camp and when can I pick them up?

Sunday Afternoon Arrival & Registration
Registration begins at 1:30pm. Please DO NOT arrive before this time, as staff will be very busy making sure everything is ready for your arrival. Please make sure to check in at the site office of the camp that your child is attending when you arrive at camp. Our camper program will begin at 3:00pm.

Saturday Morning Departure Times
Campers should be picked up between 9:30am and 11:00am. Please make sure to sign your camper out at their sites' office before you leave with your child. Do not forget to pick up any remaining tuck money and/or medication.

Special Note for Adventure Camp
Departure time is 11:00am. Parents are invited by campers and staff to a special 10:00am program, with complimentary coffee and a snack. If you have campers at other sites, please pick them up first.

Road Closures- What's up with that?

Due to the Muskoka Kids Triathalon in Port Sydney on Saturday July 17th, there will be a road closure between 10am-1pm.
If you are able to pick up your children and leave camp before 10am this will not affect you. Further details will be posted shortly.

How do I communicate with my camper?

There are two ways you can be in touch with your camper while they are at camp.

You can send an email message to them through our Email a Camper form. Only emails sent through the website will be delivered to the campers. Please do not send an email to your camper after the last Thursday of your camper's session. There is no charge for printing and forwarding incoming emails.

You can also send mail through the postal system but please allow for the fact that mail can take 3 to 4 days sometimes to arrive from the Greater Toronto area. Please make sure to include camper's full name and camp program.

Example: Mary Smith (Girls Camp)
c/o Ontario Pioneer Camp
942 Clearwater Lake Rd RR2
Port Sydney, ON
P0B 1L0

How do I get to Camp?

Beware of using your GPS map system. It will take you over Hughes road which can be quite rough during the summer!
To get to Ontario Pioneer Camp, from Highway 401, exit North on Highway 400. After Barrie, continue in the left lane on Highway 11. After Bracebridge turns right on South Mary Lake Road. Continue to the stop sign and turn right crossing the bridge. Turn right immediately past the bridge on to Deer Lake Road. Go a short distance and turn left on to Clearwater Lake Road. This road will lead to a large "Ontario Pioneer Camp" sign.

SUMMER ONLY: Turn left at the sign to get to Boys' Camp and Girls' Camp or continue along the road to get to the Clearwater/Main Office site, Pioneer Lodge/Adventure Camp or Cedarwood. Clearwater/Main Office is first along this road., followed by Pioneer Lodge/Adventure Camp which is indicated by a large sign that says, "Pioneer Lodge Welcome". Cedarwood is a bit further down the road. For an onsite map click here.

Guideline's for Visitors' Day

Two week sessions always have Visitors' Day on the middle Sunday of the session (this year, that's July 18 July 25, and August 8). We would love for you to come up in the morning, join us for chapel, and then spend the day with us-it would be our privilege to host you!
Chapel
Please join us for chapel on visitors day at 11:00am. We would love to have you take part in the chapel service along with your child.
-Adventure Camp Chapel is always at the Crow's Nest at Adventure Camp. Please park behind the dining hall at Adventure Camp.
-Boys' Camp and Girls' Camp join together at Chapel Point (weather permitting). Please park at your camper's site, or along the side of the road near Chapel Point. In inclement weather, the camps will each have chapel in their own lodge.
At chapel, parents and guests will have an opportunity to make a contribution in a free will offering. Ontario Pioneer Campis owned and operated by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a registered non-profit charity. Campers also have an opportunity to give from their tuck accounts.
Following chapel, we would be pleased to have you join us for a complimentary lunch. Lunch usually begins at 12:00pm at Adventure Camp, and 12:30pm at Boys' and Girls' Camps.

If you would like to take your child off their site for the afternoon, it is imperative that you sign them out at the site office prior to doing so.
When you return to camp, please sign your child back in at the office so we are aware of their return.
Campers should return to their sites by 5:00pm on Visitors' Day.

Health Information

We would encourage parents to update their children's medical forms through our online registration system. If it is necessary for you to fill out a paper copy we would ask that you download a copy of theCamper_Health_Form.pdf and bring it with you to camp. Please DO NOT mail or fax these forms to camp.

Medical Care
Registered nurses and nursing students are in residence and a doctor is also on duty for our 4 sites. There is no charge for minor medical attention at the camp health centre. In case of accident or illness requiring x-rays, medication, services of a hospital, physician, dentist, ambulance, or related services, the charges will be made to the parent at cost.

Cancellation or Dismissal

Cancellations more than one month prior to the start of camp will result in a full refund less $50.00 administration fee. Cancellations one month to two weeks prior to the start of camp will result in a full refund less $100.00 administration fee. Cancellation less than two weeks prior to the start of camp cannot be refunded.  An exception is made for medical reasons with note from a doctor.  In this case their will be the $100 administration fee. No refund will be made for dismissals due to disciplinary action, late arrivals, or early departures. In the case of withdrawal during camp on physician's order we will refunded one half of the fees for the remaining days of the session.

DISCIPLINE
It is our intent to promote a good camp community. For the best interests of all concerned, any campers exhibiting exceedingly disruptive or unruly behavior, as evaluated by the Camp Director, will be sent home.

Emergency Contact Information

If you are planning to be away from home during your child's stay at Pioneer Camp, please make sure our office has clear information about how to contact you or your child's guardian. In the event of an emergency situation, or to relay an urgent message to your camper, please call the Pioneer Main Office at 1.800.361.2267.

Laundry, Housekeeping and Lost & Found

BED WETTING
For children prone to bed wetting, please be sure to send 2 sets of sheets and blankets rather than a sleeping bag. A laundry fee will be charged to the camper's tuck account each time that bedding is sent for laundering. Please make sure that sufficient money is left on deposit in the camper's tuck account. We would strongly urge you to consider supplying "Pull-Ups", if you have a child prone to bed-wetting. Parents find this to be a very good solution as they can be used discretely, are cost efficient, and are much easier to deal with than wet clothes and sheets.

LOST AND FOUND
Campers must take good care of their things, as neither Pioneer Camp nor it's staff can be responsible for the breakage, theft, or loss of any items. Items that do end up in Lost & Found will be set aside to be picked up on the final day of camp.

ITEMS NOT CLAIMED IN THE TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THEIR CAMP SESSION WILL BE DONATED TO CHARITY
After camp if you are claiming lost items, your credit card will be charged $10 for shipping and handling. You may recover lost items by using the online Lost and Found form to send a message to the individual camp offices. Please do not phone the camp office, instead you will find the website system more effective.

Transportation

Ontario Pioneer Camp provides airport transportation for campers flying in and out of Pearson International Airport.

Our van will be available to be at the Toronto airport for mid-day each Saturday as needed. Flights should be booked to depart and arrive on this day. This means that because camp begins on Sundays that we will provide a program for campers arriving from the airport on Saturdays. One way transportation is $80 and both ways$160 plus tax.

You can book online as you register or if already registered by logging in with your username and password and clicking on Transportation. You are also welcome to contact our Registration Department at 1.800.361.2267 to book airport transportation.

We are also running a bus fromToronto to Camp and return on the following days:

 Time: Approximately 11am to 12 noon for the bus to Camp. Bus leaves at noon-SHARP!
Approximately 12:30pm for the return bus to Toronto

Transportation fee: $45 one way- $90 both ways

The pick up point is Yorkdale Mall in front of the Indigo Book Store. Please call our office 1.800.362.CAMP (2267) to book. Bus transportation must be booked in advance.

Tuck Shop

We suggest that you place a deposit of $40.00 for one week sessions or $25.00 per week if your camper is coming for two or more weeks, into your camper's tuck account. This is to cover tuck shop purchases and small expenses such as senior swimming awards and other special items listed below. If tuck money has not been sent you can deposit funds on arrival.

TUCK SHOPS
The tuck shops carry a good selection of Pioneer clothing, books, candy, snacks, beverages, as well as a variety of items like stationary, toiletries, and CD's. Reasonable limits are placed on the amount of candy a camper can buy.

PIONEER CLOTHING
Pioneer Camp clothing is of very good quality and is reasonable priced. T-shirts start at under $15.00 and quality sweatshirts begin at under $30.00. Please make sure to pick-up unused tuck balances on departure.

Tripping "What to Bring" List

If your camper is going on an additional trip please make sure to pack with them the following items:

• 20-30L drybag (MEC sells great ones or they can be purchased at camp)
• Sleeping bag (must fit in drybag with clothes)
• 1 Sweatshirt (fleece is best as cotton sweatshirts take a long time to dry)
• 1 Pair closed toed shoes
• 1 Extra pair or shoes or sandals (not flip flops)
• 1 Long sleeved shirt, 2 0r 3 t-shirts
• 1 Long pants (fleece or quick-dry best)
• 1-2 Swimsuits
• Socks and underwear
• 1 Small or quick-dry towel
• Toothbrush
• Rain Jacket
• Toque, mittens, long johns (optional)
• Hat with brim
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Camera (waterproof optional)
• Water bottle
• Small flashlight