We’ve included some frequently asked questions below. Have a question and don’t see it here? Feel free to contact us and we may even decide to post it here for future parents!
The following are reasons for which a child will be dismissed from camps:
Counselor Disciplinary Action Steps:
that will not compromise the safety and experience for other campers.
Parents are strongly advised to communicate daily with both the camp participants as well as with the camp counselors on behavior, activities and the over all summer camp experience. Please remember that the staff Reptile Adventure Camp has a goal of making every child’s experience a wild one.
Please note of the drop off and pick up times for all camp days:
Drop off is between 8:15 and 8:30
Pick up is at 2pm (EXCEPT KAYAK CAMP- CUSTOME SCHEDULE)
After care is available till 4:30/5:00pm for $60 a week
The following is a list of items that are needed EVERYDAY at Reptile Camp!
Some items that you’re allowed to bring to camp, but are not mandatory include:
Restricted items while at camp include the following:
Personal Items: All personal items should have the child’s name on it. i.e. backpack, clothing, swimsuits, etc. Toys and games should not be brought to camp. No electronic equipment (video games, cell phones, laptops etc.) is permitted at camp. A camera is recommended. Reptile Camp is not responsible for any lost items.
Times:
Drop Off Time 8:15-8:30 am
Pick Up Time 2:00 pm at camp (EXCEPT KAYAK CAMP- Custom schedule)
Late pick up till 4:30/5:00pm available for extra charge for the week
We tend to have 2 girls to every 3 boys campers on an average week.
With any animal encounters there an inherent risk and for this reason we keep a very low camper to staff ratio to increase supervision and safety. All encounters are with experienced and trained staff and are only open to campers who we feel are prepared and capable to take part in a safe manner. Since the first year of camp in 2006 we have never had an animal related incident or injury occur.
We are more than happy to meet any special needs of any potential campers as we believe everyone has the right to participate in our programs. We have excelled in the past working with many individuals that have physical, mental or behavioral disabilities and have been able to accommodate them into having an amazing camp week. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s needs or specific issues in regards to this camp program please feel free to contact us ahead of time so we can come up with a plan for success.
Yes, all of our programs can be completed and performed in fully wheelchair accessible areas.
Yes, it is a staff requirement that all first aid and CPR accreditations are up to date. All staff have current police clearance forms. All of our staff has High 5 Training, and a Project Wild Certificate. We also have staff with extra accreditations such as degrees, diplomas, certified teaching certificates, and UMAB (Understanding and Managing Aggressive Behaviors). On all trips our staffs are required to carry a fully packed first aid kit in each group. The safety of our campers is our primary concern.
Yes. Staff is not able to work in our facilities without an up to date police clearance form that has been issued within a couple months prior to start of camp. The safety of our campers is our primary concern.
Our camp has a very busy schedule to provide as many experiences as possible with the 1 week program for each participant. This camp will never (and has never yet) have someone say they are bored! We transition from program to program and topic to topic frequently to keep our campers engaged and the participation level high!
Our Camp property is over 8 acres and we have a wide variety of natural space that we utilize for most of our programs. We are located at 2021 South Shore Rd, Bonfield (Rutherglen), Ontario P0H 1E0. We will also spend some time each week in some Provincial Parks that are very close by including Algonquin Park, Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, and other local areas. As a parent you will always know where your children are and know the days activities and plans.
We have a great camper to staff ratio of 4:1 and we only accept up to 12 campers a week so that we can really concentrate on getting the most out of each camp week. We feel that these low numbers allow us to be more adventurous than some camps while our supervision and quality of care is paramount. We also believe that we have more of a family environment and movement in the camp sector.
We always promote the attempt to get past the fear of any animal based first around learning about the animal and gaining a respect through their knowledge. Campers at any time have the ability to not take part in the handling or work with an animal if they feel the experience is too much for them. Often children that come to camp with a fear of a specific animal leave camp at the end of the week without it, and sometimes that animal actually becomes one of their favorites!
Our staff training is a fairly vigorous, manual-based, structured training program. Our training program totals 5 days, in which we cover and refresh such things as proper animal handling, animal knowledge, Animal care and zoology tasks, policies and procedures, first-aid and CPR, common camp scenarios, managing groups of kids, team building, programming and more.
No, all sessions vary in programming. We keep it new and fresh so returning campers can continue to earn and grow, and have an amazing experience just as much as a camper at our program for the first time!
We have made it our goal to focus on what we can do to better our program and to further the level of education of our campers. Our camp continues to grow and evolve and we look forward to seeing our results every year with happy children who have had an amazing experience.
We can take registration by mail, or email and payment can be made by cash, check, e-transfer or paypal! For more information please look at “Registration” on our www.reptilecamp.ca webpage
Yes of course we are fully insured. Many camps are operating right now without sufficient insurance or even without insurance at all! We carry 5 million dollars liability insurance, the same or more than most camp and some zoological facilities!
Our Camp Director carries a cell phone at all times. This phone number will be given to you on the first day of camp, in case any situations arise. The camp director also has email access during the course of the day, even while we are on field trips! Our “office” is also open daily to take phone calls and can also relay information to our director, our staff and our campers.
Campers will not be in need of any money while at camp.
Your child will not be forced to participate in any activity in which he or she does not feel comfortable participating in or is physically unable to. For safety and proper supervision, it is required that your child be present at all activities. We will always try to involve everyone in every activity and rarely have any issues with campers refusing to participate.
Registration for our 2025 camp season is now open! Register online, by mail, or email.
