Canada's Best Magic Camp

Dear Parents and Campers:

We are really looking forward to camp this year. Tuesday, August 28th through Sunday, September 2nd, 2012 is going to be very exciting and filled with magical activities. We have a wonderful line up of guests. The campgrounds, cabins and food are all excellent at Camp White Pine.

A lot of parents have been asking for information on resorts near the grounds.

It would be a good idea for you and your child to look over our our web site to learn as much as you can about Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp.

Given the relatively short duration of our camp, there will be no visitors day or mail. However, should a parent need to contact a camper in the event of an emergency, Camp White Pine’s phone number is (705) 457-2131 (most likely you will have to leave a message that CWP staff will get to us sometime that day). During the day of departure or on the day of return you can also reach us on our cell phones: Magic Mike (416) 319-1442 or Jen Segal (416) 844-5363. We will also be checking our Toronto office line (416) 322-1442 occasionally for messages on and off during the week. The campers are discouraged from using the pay phones once they are up at camp. We also ask that campers leave their cell phones at home.

Travel arrangements and flight information

For all families that are making air travel arrangements to and from Toronto, we would appreciate having all the travel details sent to us ASAP. It is important that the flights arrive at Pearson Airport (YYZ) on August 28th before 9:30 a.m. The bus will be picking everyone up around 10:15 to take him or her to Camp White Pine. It takes a great deal of coordination on our part to make sure all planes are met on time by our staff. Please make sure that you speak with me ahead of time so I can go over the details regarding the person meeting and dropping off your children at the airport. Departure from Pearson Airport on September 2nd should not be before 5:00 p.m.

Campers being dropped off and/or picked up at camp

All families that will be dropping and picking their children up directly at the camp (not taking the bus) need to notify us of this immediately. We only have a limited amount of seats on the bus, so unfortunately we will not be able to facilitate last minute changes to take the bus. Click here to find a map with directions for your convenience.

We ask that the campers be dropped off no earlier than 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday August 28th. There will be staff waiting to greet you. You can leave your children and their bags with our staff and we will take care of everything from there. Cars will not be allowed on the grounds after 1:00 p.m. to allow for the bus arrival. Your campers will have lunch on site with everyone else on that day, but it won’t be until 2:00ish, so please make sure they don’t arrive hungry, as that is a bit of a wait.

In order for us to stay on schedule during the last day of camp, pick-up time is 11:00 a.m. on Sunday September 2nd. Your children will be waiting at the same spot where you dropped them off. It is imperative that you are on time for the pick up. The camp staff must vacate immediately after the campers all leave, as Camp White Pine has another group coming in right after us. The campers will not be fed lunch on this day.

Campers taking bus to and/or from camp

The bus is scheduled for camper pick up at Toronto French School, 306 Lawrence Avenue East, Bayview & Lawrence (NW Corner) Tuesday August 28th to take the campers to Camp White Pine. Please make sure you are there by 10:00 a.m. in order for our staff to do a proper head count. The bus will leave at 10:30 a.m. sharp. It is a long bus trip so we encourage you to pack a snack for the bus drive up north. Sandwiches, cookies, drinking boxes, etc… (Nothing with peanuts due to some severe food allergies, please). Lunch will be provided for your campers shortly after arrival at Camp White Pine. The bus will return to Toronto French School, 306 Lawrence Avenue East, Bayview & Lawrence (NW Corner) to drop off the campers at approximately 3:30pm on Sunday September 2nd. Please keep in mind that 3:30 is not a definite time as traffic can really slow us down. Click here for a map to the bus drop-off and pick-up.

Food and candy policy

Campers are not allowed to bring food, candy or drinks to camp. This policy will be strictly enforced, to help ensure the safety and well being of others. We have quite a few campers with severe food allergies. They cannot be in the same room as the food that they are allergic to. Please make sure that you do not send food at all. August 28th to September 2nd, 2012 is going to be very exciting. We have been looked forward to this week all year. If you have questions that haven’t been covered here, please feel free to contact us anytime.

Preparing Both You and Your Child for Camp at the Sorcerers Safari

Prior To Camp

• Explain some of the important events in your child’s history to the administrators. We will pass these notes to camp staff so that all of us can be more sensitive and aware of your child’s needs. At the same time, we will ensure that these notes will remain confidential amongst these key people.
• Prepare your child to make his/her own bed and carry out simple housekeeping tasks. An important part of the camp experience is clean up. With the help of every child, this can be a very painless and expedient activity.
• We encourage you to talk positively about camp at all times so that your child will anticipate a positive camp experience.
• Please do not discuss the prospect of homesickness as this can often increase your child’s level of anxiety. If homesickness do occur during your child’s stay at camp, we have well-trained staff who have had experience in dealing with this transitory aspect of a child’s reaction to being away from home.
• Prepare your child for taking care of him/herself. For example, remind him/her that bathing suits do not substitute for underwear. Raincoats should be worn in the rain and sun hats should be worn in the sun. Although their councilors will serve as constant reminders of good hygiene and health, we cannot stress enough the importance of preventative health care.
• The Staff at the Sorcerers Safari will enforce the table manners and personal grooming habits that we assume have been taught at home.
• Talk to your children about such topics as darkness, space, noise etc. in the country as compared to the more familiar city environment.
• It is important for your child to recognize his/her own clothes. In order to do that please label all items clearly. It is imperative that all items brought to the camp have a label. Lost article can easily be returned if the camper’s name is clearly visible. Iron-on labels are discouraged since they tend to fall off. Although sewn-on labels or laundry markers are much more tedious methods of identification, they are also more reliable. At the same time, it would be useful for your child to pack his/her duffel bag with you so that he/she will know where everything is at the time of unpacking.
• Parting day farewells often show the feeling that parents have toward their children and vice versa. Although this can be a difficult and emotional time, remember that your child needs to concentrate on what he/she has to look forward to rather than what he/she has left behind.

  Post Camp

  1. After camp, you should recognize your child’s achievements, such as new tricks that were learned or new friends that were made. Encourage your child to talk about camp and help develop the apparent improvement in his/her behaviors and attitudes. Remember that a little praise and encouragement goes a long way.

  2. Upon your child’s return, there may be a short period of adjustment. He/she no longer has 9 other cabin mates to talk to nor does he/she have a scheduled day to follow. Recognize these changes and, at the same time, reassure your child of his/her place in the family again.

  By following the above guidelines, you will have actively participated in your child’s experience at the camp. Both you and your child will be better prepared for a rewarding and enriching experience at Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp.

  Baggage

  Given that the camp is only a few days in duration, we encourage you to pack only the items your child might need. Do not pack food. Be sure to pack fragile items such as props, very carefully. The staff has been instructed to refuse any items, which are not deemed essential. We
  recommend using duffel bags, as they require no locking device, are lighter and easier to handle and store. Please ensure that all of your child’s bags are clearly marked and tagged.

  Confidential Medical/Personal Information Form

  This form must be completed by a PARENT or LEGAL GUARDIAN. A physician need not be contacted for this information since they will charge for this service. Please forward the completed form to the Camp Administrator at your earliest convenience but no later than August 15, 2012. Please ensure that the immunization dates are accurate. The Camp will cover all normal medical expenses, which are carried out on our site. Any camper requiring hospital services (i.e., x-rays, blood tests, etc.) that are not covered by O.H.I.P. will be at the expense of the Parent.

  Campers on regular medication should bring a sufficient supply for their camp stay. Out-of-province campers may want to carry some sort of private health insurance. This form provides important information – take your time filling it out and please take it seriously.

  Accurate and honest information will allow us to place your child in activities that are suitable to his/her skill level. This will prevent him/her from being bored or bewildered in any given activity. Our goal is to provide your child with the best possible camp experience. Finally, please be certain that your child’s Health Card number is correctly recorded, including the
  VERSION CODE.

  Special Medication

  If your child uses medication, allergy injections, pills or special equipment, which you are sending with him/her to camp, be sure they are labeled with your child’s name and the necessary instructions. Please bring these Items to the camp bus parked in the Bus Loading Area, and give them directly to one of our camp staff.

  Stealing, Smoking, Alcohol & Drugs: Policies & Procedures

  Although all of our staff are aware of the regulations which govern cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, stealing or the use of hallucinogenics, we feel it is important for the campers and the parents to be aware of them as well. No campers are allowed to smoke. If caught, the camper will immediately be asked to leave camp. No refund will be issued and the parents must arrange their own transportation. The Camp Administrator will notify the parents by telephone. For obvious reasons, stealing, alcohol and drugs are forbidden and will result in dismissal and possible legal action. Please make sure that your child is aware of these policies and that they understand them completely.

  Meals & Menus

  Every effort possible is made to provide our campers with the best food and most creative menus. Obviously, it is impossible to please every camper but we try. Campers who are allergic to certain food items can be accommodated if we know in advance. Those who require
  vegetarian or kosher meats will be offered an alternative main course, but the variety will not be the same as those on regular diet.
  Please keep in mind that we MUST receive either a parental or medical acknowledgement in writing that a camper is vegetarian or has a food allergy in order for us to provide the proper meal. Only the above two situations will entitle a camper to a food substitute.

  Magically,

  Mike and Jen Segal

  Sorcerers Safari Camp (416) 322-1442

  ps. Are you looking for driving directions to Camp White Pine? Click here.