Thank you for choosing YMCA Camp Kanannaq for your camp experience this summer! Whether it is your first time at camp, or you are a returning camper, this guide is full of important information to get the most out of your experience. We encourage families to review it with their children.
Talking about camp and preparing together can help make the experience more positive from the very first day. First-time and seasoned campers, parents and caregivers will naturally have questions, so planning ahead is key.
On this page, you will find information about camp activities, packing and preparation, health and safety, behaviour expectations, transportation and more.
Please review the sections relevant to your experience before arriving at Camp Kanannaq. If you cannot find the answer to your question, contact our camp team. Early communication gives us time to address questions or concerns and help make your arrival as smooth as possible.
Daily Packing ListSee our suggestions on what to bring to camp each day.
Explore the activities available during your camp experience.
Help us support a healthy, safe and inclusive camp experience.
Learn about inclusion, behaviour and other policies that help everyone enjoy their time at camp.
Find sign-in, sign-out and other transportation-related information.
Learn more about our financial assistance program and how to apply.
Get your camper involved so they can easily recognize their belongings.
Our outdoor programs continue rain or shine. For your camper’s comfort and well-being, please ensure they are prepared for the weather and arrive each day with the items listed below.
Please ensure all of your child’s belongings are clearly labelled with their first and last name. YMCA Camp Kanannaq is not responsible for any lost or stolen belongings.
Please ensure all of your child’s belongings are clearly labelled with their first and last name. YMCA Camp Kanannaq is not responsible for any lost or stolen belongings.
See Packing List
Your child will be very active at Camp and will need healthy lunches and snacks to fuel their high level of activity.
When you plan your child’s lunch, please keep in mind that there are no microwave ovens or cutlery available at Camp.
Each day, at closing campfire, staff will display all the lost and found items.
If you know of an item your camper is missing, please send a description of it to the camp phone at 250-617-9108 or email campk.admin@bc.ymca.ca and the camp team will have it available at sign-out for that day or leave it at the front desk.
All lost and found items will remain at Camp for the duration of the summer. Then, lost items will be held for one week after the last day of the camp session, after which they will be donated.
Please label your child's belongings as this increases the chance that they will return home with everything.
The YMCA is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen items.
Please ensure all of your child’s belongings are clearly labelled with their first and last name. YMCA Camp Kanannaq is not responsible for any lost or stolen belongings.
See Packing List
Your child will be very active at Camp and will need healthy lunches and snacks to fuel their high level of activity.
When you plan your child’s lunch, please keep in mind that there are no microwave ovens or cutlery available at Camp.
Each day, at closing campfire, staff will display all the lost and found items.
If you know of an item your camper is missing, please send a description of it to the camp phone at 250-617-9108 or email campk.admin@bc.ymca.ca and the camp team will have it available at sign-out for that day or leave it at the front desk.
All lost and found items will remain at Camp for the duration of the summer. Then, lost items will be held for one week after the last day of the camp session, after which they will be donated.
Please label your child's belongings as this increases the chance that they will return home with everything.
The YMCA is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen items.
At YMCA Camp Kanannaq, we believe that our values help provide a foundation for character. They are the basis of who we are, how we live and how we treat others; living with and acting on good values contributes to the development of a healthy self-esteem and overall personal happiness.
Every week at YMCA Camp Kanannaq is thoughtfully planned to help campers feel prepared, included and excited for their time at camp.
From daily routines and camper groups to weekly themes and photo updates, the information below will help families understand how each camp week is organized and what campers can look forward to.
Friend Requests and Teams
We know that many campers come to camp with friends, siblings, cousins or other important people in their lives. When planning camper groups, our team does their best to honour friend requests noted on the registration form, but requests cannot be guaranteed.
To help us create groups that are age-appropriate and supportive for all campers, we strongly recommend limiting friend requests to campers of a similar age.
Camper groups are organized by age:
- Willow: 5 to 6 years
- Fir: 7 to 8 years
- Spruce: 9 to 11 years
- Aspen: 12 to 13 years
Creating camper groups is a careful process, and once groups are set for the week, they can be very difficult to change.
If there are any concerns about your child’s group, please contact the camp team at campk.admin@bc.ymca.ca as soon as possible so we can do our best to find a solution.
Weekly Themes
Each week at camp has a special theme which is incorporated into each week’s art projects and activities. Staff and campers are encouraged to dress each Friday for our Funky Fridays. We encourage you and your camper to be creative and use materials you already have. The theme for your session can be found below and will be in your newsletter, which you will receive by email, the week before your session begins.
Week 1: Space
Week 2: Western
Week 3: Mythical & Magical
Week 4: The High Seas
Week 5: Superhero
Week 6: Mad Scientist
Week 7: Carnival
Typical Day at Camp
FOR DAY CAMP, TAMARACK TEEN CAMP & JUNIPER YOUTH CAMP PROGRAMS:
8:15 AM - Sign in at drop-off location
9:00 AM - Arrive at Camp and opening campfire
9:30 AM - Team activities/Waterfront
11:45 AM - Lunch/Wide Game
12:30 PM - Wide Game/Lunch
1:15 PM - Waterfront/Team Activities
3:30 PM - Closing campfire and load buses
4:00 PM - Leave Camp
4:45 PM - Camper sign-out
Campers will split their day between our waterfront and land activities, with a daily rotation, and adjusted to be developmentally appropriate.
For instance, if they begin their day at the waterfront on day one, the following day they will experience the waterfront in the afternoon.
Campers in the Willow and Fir groups will be at the waterfront together, while those in the Spruce and Aspen groups share their waterfront programming.
Juniper Youth campers may be given more opportunities for independence and leadership at camp, but are still expected to follow the camp rules and regulations as our younger campers.
Session Photographs
Each week we share photo highlights of your child’s experience with families using a password protected dropbox.
Photos from the week are posted at the end of the session. You will receive a link to the photos and access password in the end-of-session email.
Campers participate in a wide range of developmentally appropriate activities. The activities introduce new outdoor and survival skills, build independence, promote team building, and teach campers about the environment.
We operate with a challenge by choice philosophy. Please note that some activities are weather dependent. Each session includes the following activities:
From archery, obstacle course and Gaga Ball to team games, arts and crafts, Funky Friday/Olympics and soap making, campers take part in activities that support creativity, teamwork and personal accomplishment.
Build confidence on the water, practise new skills and enjoy time at Nadsilnich Lake!
NOTE: Before being allowed to participate in swimming, all campers must participate in a swim test. Learn more about our Swim Test policy under the Camp Policies section.
Campers build practical outdoor skills through activities like fire building, fort building, orienteering, knot tying, wilderness activities and nature skills.
An enjoyable experience begins with a healthy participant. The health and well-being of every camper and family member—physical, social and emotional—is vital to us.
Our programs emphasize careful planning to ensure high safety standards are in place and followed.
See below for our detailed Health & Safety Guidelines.
Our camp staff are trained to reduce risks and respond to emergencies.
All staff hold current CPR and First Aid certifications. Depending on their roles at camp, many staff members hold additional qualifications.
YMCA Camp Kanannaq is accredited by the British Columbia Camps Association, and many YMCA practices exceed BCCA standards. We comply with various health and safety regulations and industry standards to ensure a safe environment.
Communicable Diseases
Should a camper contract a communicable disease (including lice, pinworms, hand-foot-mouth disease, and Norovirus) during their camp session, a notice will be sent home to all parent/guardians of that session’s campers.
The child will not be allowed to return to camp until appropriate medical clearance is obtained. Camp will follow disinfectant and containment procedures as per Northern Health guidelines.
Should a COVID-19 exposure occur, contact tracing and notification will occur as per guidance from BC Public Health.
Illness at Camp
If children become sick at camp (including developing COVID-19 symptoms), it is advisable for the child to be sent home. Parents/guardians will be phoned and are expected to arrange for their child to be picked up promptly.
Parents are asked to keep children home from camp until they are fully recovered from their illness (24-48 hours after last incidence of fever, vomiting, or diarrhea). This prevents the spread of viruses and other communicable diseases.
Campers should return when they are prepared and able to actively participate in all camp activities.
Medication
If your child requires prescription (including antibiotics, inhalers, and Epi-pens) or non-prescription (Benadryl, ibuprofen, acetaminophen etc.) medication at camp, please complete and submit YMCA Camp Kanannaq’s Medication Information Section in the registration form. If you need to update this information, please email campk.admin@ymcabc.ca.
Prescription medications need to be in the original container with your child’s name and the date of the prescription on the container.
Non-prescription medications need to be in the original container and labeled with the child’s name. Please ensure all medications are still current, as camp staff will not administer expired medication.
If your child is bringing medication for emergency use, (i.e. inhaler or EpiPen), please note that your child’s counselor will carry it in their emergency pack - or if your child self-administers their medication, they can carry it in a fanny pack.
Medication Vacation
If your child is on a medication vacation during camp, it is the parent’s responsibility to let staff know. Letting us know allows us to work with your child more effectively.
Hot Weather
Camp staff will modify camp activities to accommodate for hot weather in order to promote the health and safety of all campers.
Please apply sunscreen to your camper each morning before camp and send additional sunscreen for re-application. Hats are highly recommended.
Staff will take the following hot weather precautions:
- frequent water breaks
- sunscreen reapplication reminders
- more water-based activities
- less vigorous activities
- use of cooler, shaded areas.
Please ensure you send your camper with weather appropriate clothing and/or a change of clothes in case they are too warm.
Rainy Day
Camp operates rain or shine! Please send your child with a raincoat and suitable footwear if there is rain in the forecast, as they will still be spending most of the day outside.
Staff will modify activities to ensure that the safety of campers remains a priority.
In the event of a thunderstorm, or severe rainfall, campers will rotate through a variety of indoor activities until the storm passes.
Smoky Skies & Poor Air Quality
Camp programming will continue to take place at our location on Nadsilnich (West) Lake, regardless of air quality. We have several buildings on-site, which allow all campers to be indoors when required.
At camp we have three categories of programming:
- regular operations
- modified programming
- indoor programming
During periods of poor air quality, we implement modified programming. Outdoor activities are modified to be less vigorous (such as Wide Game, Funky Friday and Obstacle Course).
Staff will not facilitate running games such as Tag or Gaga Ball. Programming such as Knot Tying, Orienteering and Archery may proceed as usual. Staff pay extra special attention to ensure their campers are drink lots of water and generally feel well.
During periods of very poor air quality or serious inclement weather, we implement indoor programming. When it is safe to do so, programming moves outside.
Campers may participate in a variety of different activities, such as a Talent Show, Science Experiments, extra Arts and Crafts or Outdoor Skills (like plant and animal track identification).
The camp team will use PurpleAir and the PurpleAir AQI to help guide their decisions when choosing to modify programming.
Supervision of Waterfront Activities
To help keep everyone safe at the waterfront, all campers must complete a swim test before participating in swimming, as required by BC Camps Association policies.
The swim test takes place at the beginning of the first swimming block. Campers will have one opportunity on the first day of camp to complete the swim test. If a camper misses the swim test, they will be required to wear a lifejacket during all swimming blocks.
Campers must complete a swim test each session, even if they have already completed one in a previous session, as lifeguards may change from week to week.
Campers will first complete the swim test with a personal flotation device, and may then be asked to complete it without one at the discretion of the lifeguards.
After the swim test, campers will receive a wristband that shows their swimming ability. Please ensure your camper wears their wristband to camp every day so our team can support a safe waterfront experience.
Lifejackets are available at camp for all waterfront participants, so families do not need to send a one with their camper.
A positive camp experience begins with clear expectations and the right support. Review the information below to learn more about our Inclusion policy, behaviour guidelines and technology policy before your camp session.
Camp Inclusion Policy
At YMCA Camp Kanannaq, we are committed to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB). This includes creating inclusive spaces and programming for everyone who comes to camp, where we celebrate and value all backgrounds and identities.
Camp Kanannaq aims to be an inclusive environment for all children and youth, regardless of gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, Indigenous status, socio-economic background and ability. We firmly believe that all children have the right to attend camp.
If you have questions about accessibility and inclusivity at camp or program adaptations, please contact the camp team.
Friend Requests & Teams
We know that many campers come to camp with friends, siblings, cousins or other important people in their lives. When planning camper groups, our team does their best to honour friend requests noted on the registration form, but requests cannot be guaranteed.
To help us create groups that are age-appropriate and supportive for all campers, we strongly recommend limiting friend requests to campers of a similar age.
Camper groups are organized by age:
- Willow: 5 to 6 years
- Fir: 7 to 8 years
- Spruce: 9 to 11 years
- Aspen: 12 to 13 years
Creating camper groups is a careful process, and once groups are set for the week, they can be very difficult to change. If there are any concerns about your child’s group, please contact the camp team at as soon as possible so we can do our best to find a solution.
Behaviour Guidelines
YMCA Camp Kanannaq is a place where campers learn and thrive in a safe, fun and supportive environment.
Children who attend camp are expected to follow guidelines and interact appropriately with others. Please review these guidelines with your camper:
- We are individually responsible for our own actions; therefore, all campers will respect themselves, others, and our environment
- Campers are responsible for their own attitudes and behaviors; honesty and caring will be the basis of all relationships and interactions
- Campers will care for and respect the environment
- Campers will accept other campers and ensure that everyone receives equal opportunities for involvement
To ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all campers, any intentional participant behaviour that places campers, volunteers, staff members or others at physical or emotional risk may result in immediate dismissal from the camp program. Any expenses incurred as a result of program dismissal are the responsibility of the participant, parent or guardian. No refund will be given to campers leaving camp prior to the end of the session due to non-tolerated behaviour.
Non-tolerated behaviour includes but is not limited to, inappropriate or offensive language, teasing or bullying, vandalism, angry or rude outbursts, ignoring camp rules or boundaries set by camp staff, running away, and hands-on with campers or staff and/or physical fighting.
There are different tolerance thresholds for different non-tolerated behaviours and there is nuance when making the decision to dismiss a camper from camp programming. Dismissal from camp programming is at the discretion of the staff.
Behaviour Management Procedures
Camp staff follow the outlined procedure below when addressing challenging behaviours during camp programming. Depending on the severity of a behaviour, staff may move to a different step without completing the earlier steps.
1. Warning: The camper will be told that their behaviour is unacceptable
2. Self-Directed Time Away: The camper will be asked to take some time away from the group until they are ready to participate according to the behaviour guidelines
3. Leader-Directed Time Away: The camper will be asked to take time away until the leader decides they are ready to participate according to the behaviour guidelines. A senior staff member will contact the camper's family to discuss the behaviour and next steps
4. Camper Sent Home: The camper's family must pick up their camper
Camp management retains the right to dismiss campers from programming at any stage if the severity of the behaviour requires it.
Cancellation & Transfer Policy
Most deposits and full payments are non-refundable. Please read the program information carefully.
Full camp policies can be found on the camp registration forms.
Financial Assistance / Campership Policy:
As a charity, YMCA BC believes that every child deserves the opportunity to attend camp, which is why YMCA provides financial assistance to 1 in 4 campers to attend our summer camp programs.
Don’t let a child you know miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime. Apply for a campership and give them the confidence they need to thrive.
- Funds and spaces are allocated on a first come, first serve basis and funding is limited
- YMCA contribution will not exceed 85% of registration fee; parent/guardian is responsible for remaining balance
- All YMCA Camp Kanannaq programs are eligible: Day Camp for children ages 5-13, Juniper for special needs youth ages of 14-18, Pine Leadership Development 1 and Tamarack for youth ages 13-15, and Pine Leadership Development 2 for youth ages 15-17
- There is a maximum of one campership per child per season.
In order to receive funding for YMCA Camp programs, please submit this form and the team will get back to you with next steps.
Transportation and arrival instructions do not vary by program. Please review the information below and read your pre-arrival email carefully.
Please contact the Camp Elphinstone team. Reaching out before your session gives us time to answer questions, address concerns and help make your arrival as smooth as possible.
Phone: 604-886-2025
Email: camp.elphinstone@ymcabc.ca
Please also review your pre-arrival email carefully for session-specific updates and reminders.
When you join the YMCA you join more than a gym. You join a community.