What To Expect?
Questions often asked!
This online guidelines and policies is designed as an aid to assist in orienting families to camp policies and procedures. Please take a few minutes to read through this booklet to help prepare for the summer.
Contents
Contained in this online guidelines and policies are the following sections:
Conditions of Enrolment
Illegal substances, Smoking, Boy’s and Girl’s Sections
Camp Procedures
Laundry, Telephone, Required Clothing, Visitors, Transportation, Sunday Routine, Arrival and Departure Times, Wilderness Travel, Travel with Friends, Daily Schedule, Mail, Session Themes, Parcels, Location
Camp Memorabilia
Otterdale clothing orders etc.
Conditions of Enrolment
The following rules reflect the responsibilities that a camper assumes when he or she agrees to become part of the camp community. The rules apply to all boys and girls during the time they are under the jurisdiction of the camp, and when they are out on a trip.
Alcohol & Drugs
The camp has a zero tolerance with regard to alcohol and drugs. No camper may possess or consume any alcoholic beverage on camp property or while in the camp’s charge. No camper may possess or use drugs, or possess the apparatus for drug use on camp property or while in the camp’s charge. Any camper found in violation of these rules will have their parents notified and will be dismissed from camp with no refund or camp fees.
Smoking
Campers are not permitted to smoke or have cigarettes in their possession. Any camper found smoking will have their parents notified and may, at the discretion of the Director, be dismissed from camp.
Boy’s and Girl’s Sections
One of the objectives of Otterdale is to provide a co-ed environment in which boys and girls can participate together in the many activities at camp. To protect the privacy of all campers, boys and girls are not permitted in or around each others’ cabins. Under no circumstances are campers to leave their cabins at night to rendezvous with each other on or off camp property. To do so puts the entire campership at risk. We maintain the right to send a camper home without a refund of fees should an instance of this nature occur.
Camp Procedures
Laundry
Laundry is done once in a two-week session. To avoid the disappointment of returning home without a favourite (and costly) shirt or pair of jeans, we strongly recommend that clothes are identified by some sort of tag or marking with a full name. A laundry bag with name tag is also recommended. Camp Otterdale does not assume responsibility for loss to camper’s clothing.
Required Clothing
A clothing list is included in the camp joining package. The list outlines required optional clothing/equipment. We recommend old clothes that are suitable to the camp environment that can withstand commercial laundering. Campers should not bring electrical equipment such as hair dryers or radios, since power is not available for their use in the cabins. We strongly discourage electronics such as game boys, CD/DVD players and will take and hold cell phones in the office until the end of the session should they be brought to camp.
Transportation
We recommend that parents utilize available camp transportation. It is often less traumatic for campers to say good-bye to parents outside the camp. The bus ride also provides the opportunity for friendships to start en route to camp. Escorted transportation is available from Ottawa. Ottawa area families may utilize the “camp bus” which departs from Pinecrest Mall, outside the IKEA. Specific travel schedules and charges are included on the Application for Enrolment.
Arrival and Departure Times
Every residential camp session starts at 11:00 am on the first day of camp. The one, two and four week sessions wrap up at 11:00 am on the last day of the session, except for the one week kinder camp that ends at 2 pm on the last day. Parents who must arrive outside of the recommended times are asked to advise the camp well in advance.
Authorization for Travel with Friends
Written authorization is required from parents who are arranging to travel for their child with another family. Please indicate your travel plans on the Application for Enrolment.
Mail / Email (Bunk1)
Campers do appreciate mail! You are invited to leave mail with us for distribution throughout the camp session. We also encourage campers to send mail home. We recommend that campers arrive with stamped, addressed envelopes. Please note that the camp fax number and email address is for business correspondence only. Mail is collected and distributed daily.
BUNK 1 one-way email is available to parents/grandparents/siblings and friends to email as often as every day.
Parcels
We have found that food items (candy/cookies) have spoiled meals and caused “tummy aches”. Despite the emphasis on sharing, someone may get left out which can cause ill feelings between campers. Our regular “TUC-RUN” (twice per week) should satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth. Please send a book or magazine instead of a food parcel! Any “registered” or oversized parcel which is sent to the Smiths Falls Post Office or Bus Depot may be subject to a $10 pick-up charge. Otterdale has a small rural mailbox only, and large parcels are not delivered to camp, thus a trip into town is required.
Telephone
The Directors can be reached through the camp number (613 284-2700) at any time during a camp session. If possible, we ask that you call during regular working hours. You may reach the answering service if the phone is in use, please leave a message or call again. We check messages frequently.
Please be aware that campers do not have direct access to a telephone. We ask that all messages be passed through the camp office. If it is essential that you speak with your child (for a non-emergency), the best time for you to call is during the supper meal between 6:00 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Visitors
Experience has shown that the arrival and departure of visitors can be very disruptive to the camp program. There are two specific “visitor days” when the camp is open for the parents’ of one-month campers. These days are traditionally the departure day of the JUL A, and AUG A campers (mid July and mid August). The scheduled date insures that campers are in camp and allows the remainder of the camp session to be flexible for planning canoe trips hikes and other excursions.
Session Themes
Each two week session at camp has an associated theme such as “Space”, “Scottish Highland Games” or “Spies and Private Eyes” to create a fun atmosphere. These change each year so that no theme will be repeated unless by popular demand! We ask that each camper try to put together a simple costume related to their session theme(s) and bring it with them to camp.
Location
Camp Otterdale is located 87 km south of Ottawa and 84 km north of Kingston, near the Village of Lombardy, Ontario, Canada. To reach Otterdale, travel on highway 15 from Ottawa or Kingston and look for the large highway sign at Frayn Road, which is 4 km south of Lombardy. Turn onto Frayn Road, travel 0.5 km to the camp entrance located on the left side of the road.
Sunday Routine
Otterdale is a non-denominational camp encompassing campers and staff of many religions and races. On Sunday we take time to “catch our breath” by enjoying an extra hour of sleep and do a super clean-up. During “reflections”, we share a quiet time and look back on our experiences through music and talks about friendship, tolerance and co-operation.
Wilderness Travel
The wilderness travel experience is designed to give all campers the opportunity to apply the “camp skills” learned in camp. The group travel experience physically challenges the cabin group, exposes them to natural beauty of the region and helps to cement friendships. The cabin is intimately involved in the planning, preparation, implementation and clean-up.
Daily Schedule
8:00 Wakey Wakey, (morning swim!)
8:30 Breakfast
9:30 1st activity period
10:45 2nd activity period
11:45 3rd activity period
12:30 Noon meal followed by rest hour
2:30 4th activity period
3:45 5th activity period
4:45 6th activity period
5:30 Supper, tag up for next days activities
7:15 Evening program
9:00-9:30 “Junior” lights out
10:00-11:00 “Senior” lights out
Final Note
We hope this information has been helpful. If you have any further inquiries please contact us at your convenience.
