Here are some questions regularly asked by our parents!

Q: Are there laundry facilities?
A: Yes! Clothing and bedding is washed for the campers at least once per session. Please label all clothes! Bedding is provided.

Q: Are boys and girls allowed in each other's dorms?
A: We have a rule against this for both campers and staff, to ensure privacy and security for everyone.

Q: Can my child do their chosen activity all of the time? Can they try other things?
A: All specialists run approx 9am to 2pm, then we offer electives. This means a camper can take further activities in their main interest, or diversify. Typical electives include: photography, mime, puppetry, Egyptian dance, basketball, sculpture, poetry, clowning. If campers don't get their first choice on one day, we try to give it them the next day.

Q: How often can my child call home?
A: We have a time set aside for telephone calls each evening. Campers can call approximately once per week. Phone calls are limited to 5 minutes as many campers wish to call home.  We ask parents not to ask their child to call home the first evening, or during the day, because this can unsettle campers and prevent them from getting the most from camp. Please don't send a cell phone to camp for the same reasons! If parents wish to check on their child's progress, they are welcome to call us in the office at any time. The camp office phone cannot be used for camper calls, except in an emergency.

Q: My child has a life threatening allergy. What precautions will the camp take?
A: Centauri has a complete peanut/ nut ban at camp, epipens located around camp and an extensive policy to ensure your child's safety. Ask for details.

Q: Can my child be in a dorm with a friend?
A: We'll do our best to make sure they are with at least 1 friend, if they are in  the same grade or close in age. Children are grouped by age to ensure activities match abilities and interests.

Q: My child wants a main role in the theatre production. Is this possible?
A: We choose productions which emphasize ensemble-playing, and present challenging opportunities to all campers. More emphasis is placed upon the training than upon the final productions.

Q: Can campers fax out? Email?
A: Unfortunately, campers will not be able to send out faxes or emails due to overwhelming traffic in the office! Parents can e-mail campers up to ONCE PER WEEK . Please note that 1 line emails cannot be given out and "web cards" cannot be accessed. Unfortunately, due to limited availability of computers campers cannot email back.. However, faxes and e mail letters will be passed out to campers along with regular mail.

Q: What happens if there's an accident?
A: We are very safety conscious at camp. However, should illness or accident occur, the hospital is 12 minutes away, all staff receive first aid training and we have a qualified nurse on-site.

Q: My child has no arts experience/extensive arts experience. Will they fit in?
A: We have all levels, and a high ratio of experienced staff to ensure everyone is challenged. The only thing all campers have in common is enthusiasm!

Q: What is the food like?
A: We offer three wholesome meals per day.  A fruit/salad bar is always available and there are drinks/fruit available throughout the day. Vegetarian and 'no pork' options are also available. Allergies can be catered to, with advance notification.

Q: What are the qualifications of your counsellors?
A: All counsellors are aged 18 plus, have extensive arts experience and most are registered in university arts programs. All have teaching/childcare experience. Counsellors sleep in the dorm with younger children, and next door to older ones.

Q: Can my child arrive late/leave early/leave camp for a day?
A: We discourage this, as it is best for a child to be there for the entire experience! If it's unavoidable, we do our best to accommodate needs. If your child is staying more than one session, you may wish to take your child out after the final presentations of each session, for a meal or a movie!

Q: What are your tuck shop arrangements?
A: Each child has an opportunity to attend the tuck shop every second day. There is a limit of  'two wet and two dry" per child for pop and chocolate, but no limit on essential toiletries! We suggest an appropriate amount per child per session for tuck spending, and urge parents to encourage campers to spread this amount over the whole session.

Q: Can I send packages?
A: Please read our parent manual for what you can send to campers. Parents are welcome to send letters and "flat" care packages to campers. Please note that mail does take some time to Wellandport, so please send them in good time. NO PEANUT PRODUCTS OR GUM PLEASE.

If you are sending a package from outside Canada, you must send them PRE-PAID AND CUSTOMS PAID.  Any packages with outstanding customs payments will not be accepted.

 

"I HAVE QUESTIONS!!!"

Here are some questions regularly asked by our CAMPERS!!

 

Q: I'm coming to camp alone. Will I be the only one?
A: Most definitely not! Almost all our campers come alone. By the end of the first day you'll have many new friends! Feeling apprehensive, if this is your first time at Centauri, is normal. You'll feel great within a few short hours!

Q: I'm coming to camp with friends. Can we bunk together?
A: We'll do our best, provided you're close in age. If you're coming with several friends, we may put you in two dorms, because it's not much fun for a new camper to be with people who all know each other. You also make more friends that way!

Q: Do I get to be with my own age/can I be with older campers?
A: All campers are placed in dorms with others their own age and one fun loving, exciting counsellor! Programs are groups in 'Alpha' (8-14), 'Omega' (14-19) and 'Delta' (11-15)

Q: What's the food like at camp?
A: We have lots of choice at breakfast, and a main meal at lunch and dinner, with a salad and fruit bar with lots of choice. We have BBQs, desserts most days, juices and fruit available all the time and daily snacks. We also have vegetarian food!

Q: I have no experience/lots of experience. Will I be the only one?
A: We have all levels, and lots of terrific staff to make sure everyone is challenged. The only thing you need is enthusiasm!

Q: What do we do in the evenings?
A: So specialist programs are over? The fun doesn't stop there! In the evenings we have parties, campfires, movies, talent shows, themed banquets and much, much more! It's tons of fun! During the day/evening you'll also have free time.

Q: What time do I have to go to bed/wake up?
A: Camp is a busy, exciting place, but since you get to choose what you do, you will love that! We wake up pretty early - around 7am, then the fun starts!
Bed times vary between 9.45pm (youngest campers) and 10.30pm (oldest). When we have special events such as parties, medieval banquets and other celebrations, bed time is later. Sometimes we have 'pajameramas' - quiet nights when everyone meets up in their pajamas to sing, drink hot chocolate and tell stories!

Q: Can I call home? Do I get mail? Can I e mail?
A: Yes! Telephones are available approximately once a week.  Mail comes every day. You can also receive an email letters (not postcards or quick notes please!) which we hand out with the mail. Unfortunately, we don't have enough computers for all campers to email their friends.

Q: Are boys and girls allowed in each other's dorms?
A: No! Everyone wants their privacy - so we don't allow this.

Q: Are there bugs? Are the washrooms inside?
A: Our living conditions are pretty good! Dormitories are bright and friendly, washrooms are inside... you're not really 'roughing it'!!

Q: Can I bring candy? Is there a tuck shop?
A: If you have a favourite food, you can bring it with you (but nothing with nuts or peanuts). You get to visit our tuck shop every two days, and we have healthy snacks there as well as candy and pop.

Q: I like sports too! Can I play sports?
A: Yes! As part of the elective period each day, we also offer sports. You can try: basketball, baseball, fitness to music, soccer, volleyball, jogging, team games and much more! Swimming and sports are both optional.

Q: I like all of the arts-what do I choose!
A: You need to choose one main activity. You will be able to try other things during the elective period. Remember - at Centauri, you choose what you want to do!

Q: Do I have to do clean up?
A: All campers help keep their dorm tidy. Your dorm will also have one clean up duty - such as wiping tables after lunch. You don't do dishes or laundry.

Q: I'm a smoker. Do you have a smoking area?
A: Absolutely not. Camp is about excitement, fun, friends and feeling great! Smoking is a health risk, a fire hazard and makes non-smokers feel like outsiders to an exclusive 'club'. If you smoke, you must abstain at camp. No exceptions.

 

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