Parents: What you should know

Camp Ooch lets kids be kids. But we never forget that these are special kids who require special treatment. They’re in the best of hands, always.
Parents

“It’s the only place where my child says she can really be herself” – Ooch Parent

Medical Treatment

While your child learns to thrive and grow in a natural setting, you can rest assured that they’ll also have access to the best possible medical care.

A volunteer pediatric oncologist and three oncology nurses from the Hospital for Sick Children are onsite and available 24 hours a day to administer expert medical treatment. All medications are secured in the “Med Shed” and oncology staff is in place to administer expert medical treatment.

We remain the only camp facility in Ontario to offer IV chemotherapy and blood and platelet transfusions onsite. Children who might otherwise be left out of the camp experience can receive treatment. Daily protective precautions are taken as well – waterproof sunscreen and insect repellent are available at all times and are a mandatory part of the day’s routine.

Accommodations

All campers and staff live in residence-style buildings that have electricity, washrooms and showers. Each room houses 4-6 campers of the same age group, and the shared space makes learning how to live, share and co-operate with others part of the day-to-day experience. Counsellors occupy every second room, ensuring constant supervision of all campers.

Meals & more

Campers need lots of energy for all the fun each day holds! A professional catering company provides three nutritionally balanced “camper-approved” meals a day. Campers eat in the dining hall ― though judging by all the other fun activities that take place there, the dining hall should also be called the “singing, storytelling and fun hall”. Fruit snacks are available all day and plenty of stops at the camp water stations are encouraged.

Campers

At camp, children are organized into cabin groups of 4-6 campers of a similar age: Junior, Intermediate and Senior. The cabin groups experience all aspects of camp together. Outside their cabin, campers also have lots of opportunity to interact with other campers in their section and the entire camp. The close friendships the campers build at camp are cherished relationships later in life.

Most campers attend for a two-week session, but a one-week option is also available. Shorter or more flexible stays are always available so that campers on treatment get their chance to be at camp.

Counsellors

We select our counsellors based on their experience of working with children in a camping environment. They’re personally screened and interviewed by our Camp Director and undergo a Canada-wide police check. All Camp Ooch counsellors go through an extensive annual training program, both before camp and onsite, and have either First Aid/CPR or life guarding certification. Activity leaders are also trained and/or certified in activity-specific skills and bring with them a vast array of expertise in their program areas. The minimum age requirement for Camp Ooch counsellors is 19 years old and volunteers range in age from 19-70.

There is one counsellor per camper, to make sure the individual needs of each camper are fully met.

What to pack

Here’s what you should pack for your child’s camp experience: