While mid-July sun truly shows camp at its finest, I have come to enjoy the beauty of camp in winter. From the thick blanket of snow across the rolling hills, interrupted only by the press of paw prints, to the gleaming sheet of ice across the creek, Canterbury Hills Camp is a true Winter Wonderland, straight out of a children’s fairytale. It is no doubt then that even now, buried under snow and huddled by space heaters to keep warm, the camp office is hard at work, preparing for the return of campers, staff, and their wide imaginations.
Our camp registration opened on Monday, February 3rd, and quickly revealed that despite their time away, camp has been on everyone’s mind. Within the first three hours of the online portal opening, we had 957 registrations! If that number isn’t staggering enough, our first session to fill was maxed out of camper spots within two minutes! While Day Camp, Overnight Camp, and Bridge Camp continued to be family favourites, we introduced a brand new program this year that certainly caused a buzz. Canterbury Hills Camp will be running an overnight Teen Camp, for campers ages 13 to 15, between August 6th and August 14th.
In this new nine-day, eight-night program, our eldest campers get to experience the fun and creativity of Canterbury Hills programming with the independence and freedom young people need. In cabins of 12 with 2 dedicated cabin leaders, Teen Camp groups will enjoy Canterbury classics (like archery, arts and crafts, and creek walks) combined with specialty crafted programs: Double camp-out anyone? Ever tried rappelling off the climbing tower? How about Teen Camp exclusive after curfew activities?
Unique to Teen Camp, among our program offerings is the inclusion of scheduled “choice chunk” activities, offerings selected and led by senior camp staff that include the mixing and mingling of groups. While specialty activities will allow for personal growth in a variety of skills and hobbies, the community of Teen Camp, and the like-minded peers it brings together, will inspire independence and discovery, as campers live, learn, and bond throughout this extended overnight program.
For those of our campers looking for an adventure beyond the scenery of Canterbury Hills, this year’s registration also included the addition of another Adventure Camp Session! In this travelling, off-site program (now available in three one-week sessions), campers develop outdoor awareness, camping skills, and leadership in the context of a small, supportive unit. It’s a time to explore, take risks, learn, and grow under the guidance of our experienced and passionate Adventure team, all the while camping, canoeing, and hiking along the Grand River. For the ultimate adventure, campers can challenge themselves to complete all three sessions, resulting in their completion of canoeing the entirety of the waterway.
With registration now well underway and available camper spots filling daily, the office is looking ahead once more, towards the interviewing and hiring of our dedicated staff team for summer 2025. Should you know anyone interested in working with children, immersing themselves in nature, sharing their faith, and contributing to a community living environment, you can direct them towards our newly updated website, at canterburyhillscamp.ca for more details about applications and hiring.
As is written in Psalms 74:17, it is God who set all the boundaries of the Earth; God who made both summer and winter. This balance is present across all of God’s creations, another wonder of our maker, without doubt. I don’t know that God specifically intended for summer and winter to balance a perfect blend of running summer camps and preparing for them—I am simply glad that it does.
To learn more about Canterbury Hills camps, visit canterburyhillscamp.ca
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