Summer Camp FAQs

Not only can you, we ENCOURAGE you too! Everybody loves receiving mail through the Kintail Post. Family and friends are welcome to leave letters, postcards, or packages with the Kintail Post on opening day. Everyday throughout the week we do Mail Call where campers receive their mail (after singing a fun song with other staff and friends!). If there is a specific day you would like your camper to receive mail just write it on the envelope and our talented team will sort it accordingly!

Definitely not! In no way do we require campers to any age to be Presbyterian. Children will participate in daily Chapel and FLASH (Faith Learning and SHaring). These Bible studies are based round the philosophies of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Each camper is free to hold their own opinions during this time; it is up to each individual to explore their own faith at their own pace.

During our staff training all staff are taught that being home sick is not a sickness, but is a normal natural thing to miss your family and home when being away at camp. Our staff work towards creating a great experience for all so they get to know all their campers and their interests, making each day fun, exciting and comfortable!

You can help by beginning to talk about camp early and what it looks like. It is also important to remind them that no matter where they are, they are loved and part of the family!

At the Camp Kintail waterfront safety is always a priority. The Waterfront Directors have current National Lifesaving Society (NLS) certifications and current Standard First-Aid/CPR-C certifications. They ensure that our beach meets all of the OPHEA Guidelines and Lifesaving Society’s regulations for a safe swim zone. Waterfront Directors provide training for our guard staff specific to the Kintail beach. The Watercraft Directors are in charge of our canoeing and kayaking program, and are qualified by the Ontario Recreational Canoeing and Kayaking Association.

Campers wear properly fitted lifejackets during watercraft sessions with canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards. Each boat is equipped with a rescue kit in case of emergency. Our swimming area is both sandy and shallow, no one will be swimming in an area they cannot touch the ground.

Swimming happens every day in the afternoon (as weather permits!) so there is lots of time to swim, soak up the sun, and build a huge sandcastle!

We are a nut aware facility. We do our best to keep nuts and products that may contain nuts off of our site but we cannot guarantee that our site is 100% nut free, as sometimes students or guests bring nut products. When this happens, our staff will ask that the item be put back into their bag or into the garbage. If it was opened, the person will be asked to wash their hands. We never prepare anything with nuts.

Camp Kintail is accessible to all visitors. All buildings, cabins, and activities are wheelchair accessible and all of our staff have received accessibility training. We also have adaptive equipment to allow most participants to use the high ropes course and rock wall. If you have questions or would like to discuss the accessibility needs of your camper(s), please call us at 519 529 7317.

We take special care to ensure that all visitors with food allergies or dietary restrictions are well fed. Our kitchen staff work hard to provide quality alternatives for these campers. If your camper has a very specific or difficult to manage dietary concern, please contact us prior to their stay. If parents would prefer to send their camper with their own alternatives the kitchen staff are happy to prepare it for them at meal times.

Not every meal is for everyone, and at Camp Kintail we understand that! Fruit, bread, jam and soy- butter, a tasty peanut butter alternative, are offered as an alternative at every meal that is catered by Camp Kintail. A Camp Kintail staff member is seated at every table and they will ensure that your camper is satisfied with their meals!

Camp Kintail is proud to have, in our opinion, some of the best camp staff around. The vast majority of our staff were Kintail campers themselves and completed our month-long Leading-in-Training program. All staff go through an extensive interview process complete with reference and criminal reference checks. Additionally, all staff take part in a 9-day training program that includes safety training, teamwork facilitation training, leadership training, and how to support campers to have a positive experience. All Camp Kintail staff are trained in Standard First Aid and CPR.

Waterfront staff hold National Lifeguarding Society certifications, and are supported by Bronze Cross certified staff. All staff are trained to belay at the High Ropes/Rock Wall course, and Zip Line staff receive special, specific training yearly. All training courses are taught by professionals with instructional certifications in each area.

The ages printed online and in our brochure are the ages we expect campers will be at the end of the year. If your camper is turning eight in the summer, then they should definitely come to a camp for eight-year-olds! However, if you think they would do better with seven-year-olds, do not hesitate to send them to a camp with that age! If your camper is twelve, but you feel they are better suited for a camp with eleven-year-olds then that it probably the right camp for them! At Kintail we trust your instincts as parent about which camp is most appropriate for your camper.

Our cabins are sorted by age, so they will be with other campers who are in a similar age range to them. If you are considering sending your camper to camp that is above or below the age range they fall into, please give us a call at 519 529 7317 and we can help you navigate these choices on the online registration system.

Our spacious Cabins sleep 8-12 guests in full sized single/single bunk beds. There are 20 cabins with electricity and heat that are insulated and are fully accessible. All cabins have front and back doors with decks, a picnic table, vinyl covered mattresses, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. Campers staying in cabins use the shared washroom facilities at the Cabin Hill Washrooms, MacDonald Lodge, The Nest or Harmony House.

Yurts are a unique overnight accommodation offered at Camp Kintail. There are 4 Yurts in total, one on Cabin Hill and three placed in the woods in the Glen. All yurts are insulated, have electricity, 5 full sized single/single bunk beds, 4 windows and a rustic skylight that opens with a vent. Campers staying in yurts use the shared washroom facilities at the Cabin Hill Washrooms, MacDonald Lodge, The Nest or Harmony House.