Outdoor Education: April 22-23-24

Where: YMCA Camp Elphinstone, Gibsons, B.C.

When: April 22-24 (Wed-Fri)

Payment Schedule

The total cost for the outdoor education trip to Camp Elphinstone will be $410. 

Payments 1($150 by December 5) and 2 ($125 by February 2) are past due. Thank you for your payments.

The remaining balance of $135 will be due by April 7 and is now payable on CashOnline.

If you have any questions regarding camp payments, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.

Transportation

We will take a coach bus from Ferris School to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal, leaving at approximately 7:15am on Wednesday, April 22. Students should arrive no later than 7:00am.

We will take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale Terminal.

We will walk a short distance (approximately 10 minutes to the camp property).

We will return to Ferris school at approximately 2:00pm on Friday, April 24.

Administration of Medication at Camp

For safety reasons, students may not pack and keep any type of medication in their personal belongings. 

ALL medications must be kept with school staff. This includes Tylenol, Advil, allergy medication, cough syrup, and all prescription drugs. Students needing medication can plan a schedule or see staff at any time if needed.

Please see the attached form that must be completed for all medications that will come to camp.

Water Activities

Students will have an option of participating in water activities at camp that include Team Canoeing and Kayaking.

For students to qualify for water activities, they must have one of the following:

• A WaterSafe Certificate; or
• Red Cross Swim Kids 5; or
• Swim for Life Swimmer 4

Students must bring their certificate or report card to school by Monday, March 30.

For more information about WaterSafe classes, please see the attached document for available dates/times.

Packing List

Attached in the Parent Camp document is suggested packing information for outdoor education. We will also be going over packing procedure with the students at school. Likely we will ask for all students to have their bags packed and left at school the night before camp.

It is strongly suggested that all belongings are labeled with student name.

All students will need to have a small backpack, large packing bag, sleeping bag and pillow, toiletries, a water bottle, as well as their weather appropriate clothing and footwear.

Please also note that students should NOT bring the following to camp: any food or snacks, technology or personal devices, money and valuables, dangerous items such as knives.

Dietary Needs / Restrictions

The camp kitchen offers a variety of choices for each meal. They are also able to cater to different dietary needs. 

Please ensure to complete the attached form if your child has any food allergies and/or specific dietary needs that should be considered at camp. 

The deadline for this form is April 2, so that we may communicate with camp staff.

Acknowledgement of Risk Form

Parents/Guardians must complete an Acknowledgment of Risk form for ALL students attending Camp Elphinstone. Please see the QR code below or the link in the recent email. You may complete the form starting now. It should be complete well in advance of departing for camp.

Camp Orientation Meeting :  April 13 at 6:00pm

There will be an orientation meeting for all families to review the educational goals, trip itinerary, modes of transportation, inherent risks/mitigation strategies as well as the attached Field Trip Consent Form. We invite all parents/guardians and students to attend this important meeting, and we ask you to bring your questions. This meeting will be held on Monday, April 13 at 6:00pm in the Gym. 

• PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN ALL PINK FORMS TO YOUR CHILDS CLASSROOM TEACHER BY APRIL 7 
• PINK District consent form
• PINK Emergency Medical Information form

• Yellow forms are if necessary
• YELLOW Dietary Needs and/or Restrictions form by April 2 (if necessary).
• YELLOW Administration of Medication form and submit medication by April 17 (if necessary).
   
• White for you to keep for your information
• Complete the online Camp Elphinstone Acknowledgement of Risk form. (required for ALL students) QR CODE
• Make final camp payment of $135 using CashOnline by Tuesday, April 7.
• Submit WaterSafe Certificate or Lessons Report Card by Monday, March 30 (if doing water activities).
• Attend the Camp Orientation Meeting on Monday, April 13 at 6:00pm.

Sincerely,

Mr. A & Mr. Narbett

Ferris Administrative Team