We've just finished our fifteenth fantastic summer at Centauri, with the usual terrific Centauri adventures.  Festivals and friendships. Spirit suppers and sports. Banquets and beading. Day trips and dances. Stargazing and stories. Hugs, cheers and dorm chants. 40 different presentations for parents. 296 arts electives. 38 evening programs. 30 pajamaramas. 500 campers. 2 day trips, 2 fringe festivals, 4 sessions and a total of 51 dream days.
If your child wasn't able to share this with us, don't despair! Now that everyone's Fall is underway, our attention turns to summer 2010! In this email newsletter, you will find information about our session and registration dates for 2010, as well as details of upcoming camp events, such as an Open House where new campers and their families can find out more about our camp.

Five Great Reasons to Choose
Centauri Summer Arts Camp for your child

1. We pride ourselves on being a warm, nurturing community that feels like a second family to each and every child. More than all else, this is what young people need and want. A place to be safe. A place where they are valued for their individual talents and skills, and where positivism and encouragement makes personal growth a certainty.

2. Our exceptional staff of counsellors and program directors return year after year. Our counsellors are older than at most camps - dorm counsellors are aged 19 and over. They are fun-loving, and terrific role models. Most hope to be teachers and arts practitioners in the future. They work with our campers because they want to make a difference in their lives. Our Program Directors are talented and experienced teachers with professional arts backgrounds.

3. We offer more arts choice than most other Canadian camps. Ten arts programs each session, forty in total over the summer. Campers can specialise, and still try their hand at dozens of different things. They can come back year after year, trying different performance, writing or art programs, and never repeat the experience.

4. We do the camp thing, too... with a creative flair! Campers get not only arts training - but all the benefits of overnight camp. The festivals, banquets, campfires, evening programs and other activities that making summer camps unique. But we put a creative spin on everything we do!

5. We have campers from more than 20 different countries, meaning that young people can make international friends. If your child is attending from overseas, we offer secure airport pick-up, support for your child as they settle in to camp, and regular contact with home.

And now, for parents of younger campers, there is one more reason to choose Centauri:

The Meece Club!
Campers aged 9-11 attending Centauri for the first time, are automatic members of this free Centauri Club. It's designed to ensure younger campers and their parents have a successful - and worry-free - transition to our camp. Here are some of the benefits:
A free camp hat for all campers
A responsible 'staff mentor' whose job it is to support younger children as they settle into camp.
Contact from camp after 3-4 days, to inform you of your child's progress.
A gift, after camp, of a 9-12 photograph of your child and their dorm, to commemorate their successful camp experience

Registration for Summer 2010: Important Dates for your Records!

Sunday 1 November 2009
Our website will go live with all program details for summer 2010! After this time, browse the website and choose the programs that best suit your child.

Tuesday 3 November, 7-9.30pm:
Performance by Alan Bissett, and camper social event!
Join us at Swansea Town Hall in Toronto's West End (www.swanseatownhall.ca) as Alan Bissett reads from his entertaining and funny novel: 'The Incredible Life of Adam Spark'. Alan is a Scottish writer who worked with our campers on this summer's international writing trip to Scotland - and he's in town to read at the International Festival of Authors! This is a free event, sponsored by the camp. After the reading, there will be a chance to socialise with campers and staff, and to meet the directors. Potential campers, their friends and family members are all welcome to attend, but please RSVP with exact numbers by Friday 30th October.

Booking Opens for all New Campers: Friday 20th 14th November, 10am.
Call us on this date, or soon after, to get the best chance of securing space on your first choice programs!

Session Dates for 2010 !

Session One: Sunday 4 July-Saturday 17 July (14 days)

Session Two: Sunday 18 July - Saturday 31 July (14 days)

Session Three: Sunday 1 August - Thursday 12 August (12 Days)

Session Four: Friday 13 August - Monday 23 August (11 Days)

INTERNATIONAL TOUR - Friday 27 August-Sunday 5 September (Labour Day Weekend)