Day Camp Expectations

What does a day camp schedule look like?

You can find a sample schedule on our day camps page, here. Please note that bus pick-ups and drop-offs are earlier and later than these times.

What happens on a rainy day?

Camp still runs on a rainy day! Our staff have programs, games and activities that can all be done indoors. We have more than enough indoor space to keep our campers distanced while still enjoying the activities each day. Campers may need to travel from building to building on days like this, so we encourage parents to keep an eye on the weather report and pack appropriate clothing for the expected weather.

Where will my camper(s) eat?

During the day, our kitchen staff will provide a morning and afternoon snack directly to each age group. These "on-the-go" snacks will make sure that everyone is happy while participating in our programs.

Meals are usually served in our Dining Hall. Sometimes meals may be served outdoors, like hot dogs at the beach around a campfire.

Where will my camper store their things?

Each age group of campers will be assigned a cabin where they can store their things on their bunk, including backpacks and extra clothing. We plan to send everything home with campers every day.

Can my camper bring a cell phone to camp?

The short answer is no. While we love technology, camp is a special place that allows campers to reconnect with each other in the time-tested method of "face to face communication". Cell phones can cause distraction for campers, which we want to avoid. Youth in our culture need a space where they can unplug from the constant barrage of social media notifications and instant communication in order to take a break. (Cell phones/tablets are also very expensive. Any damage or loss will not be covered by Beacon.)

We take lots of photos every day, and do our best to post them on social media accounts (if you've given us permission), so you'll be able to see what your child is doing at camp. If a cell phone/device is discovered at camp during a session, it will be held in the camp office until the end of the session. Active disregard for this rule may result in a phone call home to parents. If you have concerns about this policy, please contact the camp office.

Family Camp Expectations

What does a family camp schedule look like?

Beacon's camp day is pretty full - we only get one week to have fun with everyone, so we pack everything in! During any given week, our family camp schedules may vary, but generally we focus the teaching components of our days to the mornings, and spend the afternoons at the lake and around camp, enjoying time with each other in God's beautiful creation!

Where will we sleep?

All families will stay in their own individual sleeping accommodations - either in cabins or in lodge rooms. Most of Beacon's cabins contain 10 bunks (4 bunkbeds and 2 single cots). They are fully contained buildings with walls, doors, screened windows and mattresses. The bathrooms are a short walk away from our cabins. Our lodge rooms usually sleep four people in two bunkbeds, and have bathrooms in house.

During the summer, we ask that all families respect the privacy between themselves and members of other households. We recognize that each situation is different (some families may have a grandparent living with them already and who wants to attend camp with them), but will ensure that privacy is maintained between all family groups to promote healthy family life.

What is the food like?

Beacon provides balanced, nutritious meals with homemade flair. Breakfast, whether hot or cold, creates a good start to the day, with cereal always available in addition. Lunch is served hot and is usually the biggest meal of the day; many unique Beacon classics occur at this time. Dinner is lighter and highlights many youth meal favourites, such as burgers and pizza. Beacon's desserts, which follow dinner, are often homemade. Snacks are served every evening before the nighttime routine begins. The final dinner of the camp session is a special banquet.

Can we do laundry?

Unfortunately, we don't have the ability to offer laundry for our campers. Most of our sessions are only one week long, so this usually isn't an issue. Of course, if there is an accident or surprising issue in the middle of a camp session, we won't leave your camper in the lurch. We'll figure that out no problem.

Does Beacon have rules about camp life?

Beacon has a Code of Conduct which all campers and staff are expected to follow. We also have guidelines and policies regarding important topics like bullying prevention, sun safety and healthcare (among other things). Guidelines that campers are expected to follow are clearly explained before camp begins or early on in the camp session.

Activities

What is Beacon like?

Beacon is set on almost 400 acres of Muskoka wilderness. Over the years, we've worked hard to maintain the wooded nature of our camp - guests will notice right away that it feels like your camp session is taking place in a forest! Our cabins are closely centred around our Dining Hall and chapel space (called the Lighthouse). We also have a cleared sports field a short walk from the main camp buildings, and various trails and paths in the more forested area, which are all clearly marked. One of the most beautiful parts of our property is our waterfront: we are the only private owners on our part of Echo Lake, meaning that for most of the summer, we have the whole thing to ourselves.

If you would ever like to come see Beacon for yourself, give us a call! We love giving tours of our beautiful environment.

What type of activities do you do at camp?

Beacon is a "traditional" summer camp. That means that we focus heavily on time-tested camp activities like archery, canoeing and wide games. We also have a full-sized gym for rainy days and a beach volleyball court for when the sun is shining. The costs for all of our activities are included in your camp fees.

Can I bring my fishing rod / hockey stick / etc.?

Yes! If you have a fishing rod, we support catch-and-release fishing in our lake. We do require that all fishers comply with government regulations about fishing licenses. For other sports equipment, you can contact the camp office to find out if we already have what you're looking for at camp. We don't want items to get damaged or lost at camp, so we'll be honest with you about whether we already have your desired equipment at camp.

Does my camper / family need to take a swim test?

All campers and staff are required to perform a swim test when they arrive at camp. This is not just to help them decide where to swim safely, but also to provide our lifeguarding staff with a general idea of how many campers will be using which parts of our waterfront facilities.

Any camper can use any part of our waterfront as long as they are wearing a lifejacket/PFD. Those who pass our swim test (swim 50 metres unassisted and tread water for 3-5 minutes) are able to swim in the deep end of our waterfront area without a lifejacket. Any time there are campers at the waterfront, Beacon has qualified and trained lifeguards present to make sure that they are safe.

First Day/Last Day

How do I get my camper to Beacon?

Families generally drive themselves to camp for our family camp sessions (you can find directions on our Contact Us page).

During day camps, parents will meet our camp bus at their assigned bus stops. You can learn more about those stops on our Transportation page.

Who is allowed to pick up campers?

In order to make sure that campers under the age of 18 are safely picked up by the right people, Beacon has a Safe Arrival policy. During the registration process, you'll be asked to provide the name of up to 3 people who are allowed to pick up your camper (You can call or email the camp office to change these names if needed).

When you pick up your camper (at the bus stop), Beacon's staff will compare the name of the person picking up the camper to the names on the list. We ask for photo identification during the process. If your name is not on the list, they will need to call the camp office to confirm that you are allowed to take custody of the camper in question.

(In case you're wondering: we don't need to know who drops off your camper for camp. We assume that if they're dropping them off at camp or the bus stop, they're doing it because you told them so.)

What does the first day of camp look like?

Family Camps: On the first day of camp, we start welcoming campers at Beacon at 3:00pm. When you arrive, we'll be waiting for you at the registration tent next to the camp office. There, we'll make sure that everything is A-OK with your registration information (medical, payments, etc.). We also do a thorough check for head lice and offer the opportunity to talk with our camp medical staff if you need to.

Day Camps: Every day at day camp starts with a large group session, operated in a safe and friendly way. This is where we welcome campers, make sure they are ready for the day and outline what's coming up for the next few hours.

What happens on the last day of camp?

Family Camps: Beacon's programming ends after breakfast on the last day of camp. We will ask all parents to be packed and out of their cabins in good time so that our staff can begin the cleaning process well before the next camp starts. While we love hosting families for as long as possible, we cannot accommodate extended stays on the last day of camp, as we need to prepare for the next camp session.

Day Camps: On the last day of camp, our campers will head home at the regular time. We will do our best to make sure that all lost and found has been clearly shown to campers, and they may bring home a few extra things, like their crafts or any awards that were given out.

Financial Information

How do I pay for my camp fees?

In order to reserve your spot at camp, Beacon requires a deposit for each camp session. During the registration process, you can choose to pay the full amount of your camp fees, or only the deposit. For summer sessions, the full amount of your camp fees are due by June 1. For fall/winter sessions, full payment is due on the first day of the session. Incidental fees (family camp t-shirts, Tuck Shop deposits, etc.) are due the day that you register.

When registering online, Beacon accepts Visa and Mastercard. You may also pay by cheque, payable to Beacon Bible Camp. As soon as you are finished the registration process, please send the cheque to us by mail (4488 Southwood Rd, Torrance, ON P0C 1M0). We prefer that you do not pay with cash.

How does Camper Sponsorship work?

At Beacon, we believe that no child should miss out on the life-changing experience of camp because of financial barriers. This commitment to campers is made possible through the generosity of donors who believe the same. For more information about our Camper Sponsorship program, or to apply for support, visit our Camper Sponsorship page.

What is your cancellation/refund policy?

We know that plans change. Sometimes it means that your camper can no longer attend their camp session. In the event of a cancellation, every effort is made to find other campers to take the place of those who have cancelled. The reality is that this is often difficult, especially as the summer approaches.

For all summer camp sessions this year, we require a 25% non-refundable deposit during the registration process. As the summer gets closer, the percentage that is refundable decreases until 7 days before the camp session, when no session fees are refunded.

If you are cancelling for a unforseen emergency or health-related reason, please contact the office and we will proceed to issue you a full refund.

Please consult our Cancellations Policy for specific details.

Do you offer any discounts?

Beacon's staff and board work very hard every year to provide an excellent camping experience while keeping prices affordable. This is very much due to the generosity of Beacon's volunteers, without whom the cost of camp could easily double.

At this time, Beacon offers a 25% discount to campers who have one or more parents in full-time ministry. To access this discount, register your child for camp and then contact the camp office before payment is made so that we can apply the discount for you. It is not an automatic discount, and the office must be contacted for the the discount to be applied. Click here to let us know you'd like the Full-Time Ministry Discount (fill out the form at the bottom of the page).

Staff

What's the ratio of campers to staff?

Each day camp group has a maximum of fifteen campers, meaning that your camper is going to get close attention from our caring staff team. We also have program staff, teachers, directors and medical staff at Beacon, meaning our overall ratio is about 2:1 - we have many committed staff members who love helping out at camp!

Where do Beacon's staff come from?

In a regular year, Beacon's staff is entirely comprised of volunteers. Each year, over 175 people choose to give at least a week of their time to help Beacon run its programs. Our staff come from a variety of walks of life: university students, teachers, firefighters, stay-at-home parents, retirees. They are all people who have committed to following Jesus and want to make sure that campers who come to Beacon have the chance to make the same commitment.

What kind of training do they receive?

Our staff are selected based on applications that they submit to us early in the year, including vulnerable sector checks and reference checks. They each receive training in areas such as our camper care policies (bullying prevention, emergency procedures, etc.) as well as mandatory government training for health and safety. Specific staff will receive training before they teach skill-based learning like canoeing and archery.

How old are your staff?

Every staff person on-site during the summer will be 18 years of age or older.

What types of staff positions are available?

We have all sorts of staff positions availble if you're interested in being at camp this summer. Visit our Camp Crew page for more information.

Registration

How do I register for a Beacon program?

All Beacon program registration takes place through CampBrain, our online registration database. We don't do paper registration. If using the Internet is a problem for you for any reason, give us a call. We'd be happy to help you register over the phone.

What do I pack?

Two weeks before your camp session, we'll send you an email with the final registration details for what you'll need to bring. You can also visit our Packing Lists page for a general idea of what you'll need to have ready.

Why is the medical form so long?

We wish there was an easier way to collect medical information! To make sure that your camper gets the care that they need in case of an emergency, we need to get certain information from you. We've recently introduced pre-filled medical forms, so once you've completed the form the first time, it will get much easier the next time.

How does the Tuck Shop work?

Beacon's Tuck Shop is our on-site camp store that offers sweet treats, Beacon-branded clothing and small souvenirs for our campers and staff. During a camp session, each camper usually visits the Tuck Shop about 3 times. Before you worry about dental bills: we limit the amount of candy and pop purchased by younger campers each time they visit.

On the last day of a camp session, the Tuck Shop may be open during check-out times, but parents will have to be with campers to come for a visit. During these times, we accept credit card payment as well.

Do you have wait lists for full sessions?

Some of Beacon's programs are incredibly popular. This means that we have to operate a wait list system for those who are interested in a camp session that is currently full. To be added to a wait list, use the CampBrain registration system and add your child to the list there. If you have any difficulty, please email the camp office (contact@beaconbiblecamp.com) and let us know your name, email address and phone number as well as the name of your child and the camp session you'd like to be wait listed for. As soon as a spot opens up, we'll contact you.