General Summer Camp 2023 information

Intro to Summer Camps
Welcome to summer camp at Dovercourt.
We are dedicated to providing safe, memorable, fun camp experiences to children and youth from
across the region. Check out our selection of camp programs online and see why Dovercourt is
THE place to be in the summer.
Each year, about 80-90% of our summer camp staff return and many are former campers
themselves. We are well-known for our high standards when it comes to camp counselors and they
are all carefully chosen for their caring attitudes toward children. Camp Counselors can be spotted
in bright blue shirts and receive training on group facilitation, activity animation, and leadership.
Team members in purple shirts are part of our Inclusion & Integration system, and work hard to
break down barriers to ensure every single child can participate with success. Camp Directors
can be found in navy blue shirts and are responsible for the overall supervision and safety of
each camper in their group and receive additional training on supervision, risk management, and
emergency procedures. Team members in light “baby blue” shirts are Counselors-In-Training and
are volunteering to further develop their skills.
Five great reasons to choose Dovercourt this summer
Our Team:
Best counselors
in town
Variety:
So many to
choose from
Convenience:
Central location,
inclusion support, etc
Partnerships:
Expert instructors
in all disciplines
7:30-6:00
EXTENDED
CARE
Value added:
Early / late drop
off and pick up
One-Stop Shop
Our central location and range of specialized programming makes it ideal for families
with children of various ages and interests. Although most of our campers will spend
the day out and about enjoying local parks, school gyms, sports fields, or the river and
forests, all of our campers start and finish the day all together at Dovercourt. This offers
parents a convenient one-stop pick up and drop off spot with optional extended care for
those who have an earlier or later workday.
The Jonas Mitchell Award
Jonas was a very enthusiastic camp
leader who brought positive energy to
camp every single day and inspired an
entire generation of campers and staff.
Sadly, in the summer of 2018 he was
killed by a distracted driver while biking
to work. His lasting legacy is honoured
every summer with the recognition of an
extraordinary camp leader who continues
to bring the positive energy to camp that
Jonas was so well known for. His family
has honoured his contribution to our
camp culture through the establishment
of the Jonas Mitchell fund, to support
families in managing the cost of camp.
The 2022 recipient: John Fallenbuchl
Leaders like John make
sure that camp is a
safe, welcoming,and
fun place for all
children, just as
Jonas always did.
Donate online to
the Jonas Mitchell
Fund.
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So Many Camps
THEME CAMPS - BY AGE
Welcome to the wonderful world of Dovercourt. For many
years, theme camps have been a trademark of our camp
programs. Our programming team works hard all year round
to plan innovative and imaginative age-appropriate themes
that will spark curiosity and intrigue in every camper. Weekly
themes are enhanced with games, crafts, special events, visits from
guests, and out-trips to exciting locations. In 2023, our theme campers will
be grouped according to school grade for maximum friendship building.
Check out our 2023 Themes:
July 3-7 Airborne Adventures (Grade 1-5), Into the Clouds (JK/SK)
July 10-14 Legend of Longbeard (Grade 1-5), Pirate’s Playground (JK/SK)
July 17-21 Jungle Expedition (Grade 1-5), Animal Safari (JK/SK)
July 24-28 Candyland Quest (Grade 1-5), Candyland Craze (JK/SK)
July 31-Aug 4 Extraterrestrial Takeover (Grade 1-5), Alien Adventures (JK/SK)
Aug 8-11 Jurassic Journey (Grade 1-5), Dinosaur Galore (JK/SK)
Aug 14-18 The Colour Scientist (Grade 1-5), Splash of Colour (JK/SK)
Aug 21-25 Magician’s Paradise (Grade 1-5), Magic Mania (JK/SK)
Aug 28-Sept 1 Superhero Academy (Grade 1-5), The Super Squad (JK/SK)
Campers who have outgrown the imagination and
excitement of the theme weeks are ready for Youth
Zone. Youth Zone camps are geared toward
kids entering grade 6 and 7 and offer a full
week of a wide variety of activities especially
for them. Each week include some exciting
out-trips, for example zip-lining, trampolining,
or rock climbing as well as more ‘chill’
activities like enjoying ice cream at the
beach, or a photography lesson.
SPECIALTY CAMPS
- BY INTEREST
Dovercourt offers a wide range (more
than 40!) of specialized week-long
programs catered to a specific area
of interest/skill, from Fishing to Band,
or White Water Rafting to Pastry Arts
and everything in between. Some specialty
camps are developed and delivered by talented
Dovercourt team members and others are offered
in partnership with other local experts, instructors, or
organizations. Campers in these programs can expect to
spend at least half the day on focused instruction and the
rest of the day is balanced with other activities.
SPORTS CAMPS
These camps include Active Start
for our younger campers focused
on coordination and physical
literacy, and Sport Mix for
school-age kids focused
on fundamental sport
skills, tactical awareness,
and teamwork in a noncompetitive
environment.
Specialized Sport
Camps include high level
instruction in a specific
sport, featuring talented
coaches and instructors.
These include Paddle Sport,
Parkour, Tennis, Basketball,
Rugby, Ultimate, Road Hockey,
Soccer, and many more. Keep an eye on
this category online as we add more camps in
the spring.
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CULINARY ARTS
Culinary Camp is a favourite among kids who like to
get creative in the kitchen. Most of the week is spent in
the kitchen creating fresh recipes and visiting local food
venders, and the rest of the time is balanced with outdoor
activities and swimming. For campers with a sweet tooth,
be sure to check out Cake Decorating.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
STEM camps are meant to spark
imagination through handson
education with a focus on
guided discovery and practical
experimentations. Ottawa
Robotics Academy offers robotics
and coding, and OrangeSTEM
Education is Ottawa’s leader in
Lego education developed and
delivered by Ian Dudley, mechanical
engineering technologist. Check
out Lego Powered Up and
Lego Robotics and Coding. For
less technical programs, check out
Science Camp, and Eco-Zoo for a fun
educational experience.
VISUAL ARTS
Programs like Art Start and Art Mix for our younger
campers offer instruction in a wide range of media
including paint, pencil crayon, papier mache, clay,
fabric, and more. Specialized Art Camps for
older artists offer more focused instruction in a
particular area like Fashion & Jewelry, Pottery,
and Photography.
PERFORMING ARTS
For campers who enjoy
being in the spotlight, a
variety of performing arts
camps offer the perfect
place to showcase hiddenor
not-so-hidden talents. In
these programs, campers will
work with talented teachers
throughout the week, then take
to the stage for a Friday Talent
Showcase. These programs include
Dance, Singing, Magic, Musical Theatre,
and Band Camp.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
The summer is short and should be spent outdoors making the most of
the longer, warmer days. Our popular Adventure Academy program is
jam-packed with activity, offering campers a full week in the outdoors
with swimming, rafting, paddling, hiking, climbing, and so much more.
For campers who love to explore roads and trails by bike, Biking Camp
offers a full week of riding, with workshops on bike maintenance and
road safety. For those who love a more focused activity near the water,
we’re excited to offer Fishing Camp for a third year in partnership with
Ottawa Musky Factory. Finally, we couldn’t make the most of summer
near the Ottawa River without White Water
Rafting camp. Check online for dates
and details.
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Leadership &
Employment
at Dovercourt
Online registration
in our system is easy!
Filter for type of camp, date range and
age to find camps for all your kids.
The 2023 Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program
is newly renovated and re-structured. This
program is geared toward young leaders who
are ready to join the Dovercourt Camp team.
CITs this summer will receive job-specific
training in program design and delivery,
behaviour management, child development,
and certification in Standard First Aid and
CPR. CITs will work directly with campers and
counselors to practice their skills during incamp
placements with close supervision and
ongoing feedback. CIT graduates can sign up
to volunteer for full weeks of summer camp
and will be invited to apply for counselor
positions during the school year and for the
following summer.
CIT will run Monday-Friday July 10-28 with the option of additional weeks July 31-August 25
and is open to any young leader who is at least 14 yrs old (or turning 14 by the end of the year).
Finished CIT or ready to work?
• Become a junior counselor senior counselor camp director camp programmer
• Become a camp buddy inclusion support inclusion lead
• Become an assistant swim instructor swim instructor/ lifeguard head guard
Reach out to leadership@dovercourt.org
Theme
Sports
Youth Zone
STEM
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