Every day is a new adventure…

Welcome to Timeless Journey® Day Camp Adventures 2019!

At Timeless Journey, we get that responsible childcare can hard to find these days. Institutions want expensive long-term contracts or they never seem to have the days/hours you need available. Some parents end up paying for way more than they really need, just to have adequate baby-sitting coverage.

Children can tell the difference between “just passing time” and having an amazing summer. They can distinguish between frivolous recreation and outdoor learning activities that alter your perspective for life. Wouldn’t you rather that your day care money went towards a program that offered lasting value?

When we thought of the hundreds of children in our area spending their summers indoors gaming on the internet and surfing unsupervised, it made us want to take action. Parents, like us, need to have alternatives. So, we created a program that doesn’t perpetuate the plastic toy jungle. At Timeless Journey Day Camp Adventures 2019, children get to play outdoors in the fresh air, experience nature, learn about the world around them and practice skills that will serve them for their whole life.

Description:

In 2019, Timeless Journey is offering two programs for young people: Timeless Journey® Day Camp Adventures (Ages 5-12) and the Timeless Journey® Youth Courses (Ages 11-16). Both programs take place on our campus at the Vallican Whole Community Centre.

In the Timeless Journey® Day Camp Adventures program, we offer one-day outdoor adventures Monday- Thursday throughout the month of July and August. Designed to meet the specific needs of this age group, Day Camp Adventures 2019 not only administers an innovative, outdoor learning curriculum, we also provide a summer home- away-from-home for many children in the Slocan River Valley. 

Our location, the Vallican Whole Community Centre, has a wonderful history of community education, a beautiful cedar building adapted for young people and 10- acre nature park for outdoor exploration. If you are unfamiliar with the site, you can check out one of our Adult-Friendly Open House Guest Events where you get to meet our instructors, tour the facility and get help with sign-up!

In our outdoor learning program, children have the chance to discover nature, create spontaneously, experiment with new ideas and engage in activities that promote self-reliance, self-confidence, creativity, teamwork and leadership.  We focus on discovering the natural world through experimentation and play. Our program brings together learning from a variety of disciplines such as wilderness living skills, essential survival skills, wildlife conservation, stewardship, botany and ethnobotany, animal tracking, bushcraft, navigation, sustainable living and wildcrafting.

“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” -Winnie The Pooh

Our Commitment to Care:

Every staff member at Timeless Journey® Day Camp Adventures agrees to provide responsible and nurturing care for each child in the program and is prepared to discuss with parent/guardian(s) any suggestions or concerns with regard to the Timeless Journey® Day Camp Adventures Program on an ongoing basis.

Our interdisciplinary staff hold valid First Aid Certificates and have all been screened with a Criminal Record Check (Protected Sector). Our Camp Counselors participate in an on-going training program with courses and in services. They have many opportunities to upgrade their skills through participation in professional development opportunities, such as workshops, conferences and seminars.

Because we operate outdoors, we have chosen to operate with one of the highest ratio of caregivers to children in the West Kootenany Region, 1:6 so that we can be sure that we are doing everything possible to keep participants safe and supervised.

Please consult our Guidance Policy which covers our values regarding positive discipline which helps children develop respect, self-control, self-discipline and sensitivity in their interactions with others.

Flexible Drop Off and Pick-Up Options:

Some of us have children too and we understand the precious gift that a little bit of flexibility can offer a parent- especially in the morning!

That’s why we offer a flexible morning sign-in! You can show up with your children anytime between 8:30-9:00am without any additional costs. Or, if you need an early drop-off for work- we have an early arrival option which gives you even more flexbility.

With early drop-off, you can literally join the group anytime between 7:30-9:00am each day. Just sign-in when you arrive with your children, indicating the adult custodian who will be picking them up. The sign-in sheet allows us to make sure we have adequate supervision ratios during staff breaks and it is used in case of emergency evacuation.

At the end of the day, we always come back to the Outdoor Workshop area. During the last 30 minutes of the Full-Day program, between 4:00-4:30pm, the kids can be easily found there working on their projects. Parents can pick them up anytime during Outdoor Workshop time.

Being late for pick-up can cause children to have anxiety. If you will be later than a few minutes, please give us a call so we can be prepared to help your child with the wait. Late fees will be charged for anyone arriving more than 5 minutes past closing time (4:30pm). Late fees will be as follows:

  • $10 for the first fifteen minutes or portion thereof
  • $20 for the next 15 minutes or portion thereof and so forth…

If you are concerned about being able to make the evening pick-up, you might want to consider the late pick-up option which allows you to pick up your child anytime between 4:30-6:00pm Monday to Thursday. The evening activities are generally fine arts programming with singing, music, drama and art projects.

Any attendance before 8:30am or after 4:30pm must be pre-arranged to ensure proper staffing.

Schemma 1: Summary of Flexible Drop Off and Pick-Up Options

Schemma 2: Summary of Francophone (french-speaking) Program Options Available on Monday and Wednesday mornings

Drop Off Baby-Sitting For Registered Participants:

Don’t have 72 hours to enroll your child in a few extra days of Day Camp Adventures? That’s okay, we offer last minute baby-sitting for children already registered in our program. Call the Head Office between 9:00-5:00pm Monday-Thursday to make arrangements for your child to meet up with the group.

Last minute baby-sitting is charged at an overtime rate of $5 per half-hour/child or portion thereof. Parents must make arrangements in advance (no drop-offs) because we need to check to make sure we have enough staff to cover but we will be happy to help if we can.

Absences and Date Changes:

If you know that your child will be absent, please let the staff know in advance. Cancellations and proposed date changes must be submitted by email at least 72 hours in advance so they can be approved by the Camp Director for refund. Schedule changes not submitted in writing to info@timelessjourney.ca will not be considered and payment will be due.

Please call if your child will be absent due to illness or any other circumstance that cannot be planned for so that we are not expecting them.

Promptly phoning in your absence could allow another parent in the program to get the last minute baby-sitting opportunity they really need.

A Typical Day at Timeless Journey Day Camp Adventures

Our schedule is loosely planned around this Typical Day at Camp Template but we will accommodate for extending and enriching activities as needed. If a child or children becomes fascinated with an activity or if there happens to be a special nature event like a red-tailed hawk flying overhead, an impressive flower, a impressive big sparkly beetle, then other activities will shortened, extended or shifted as needed to facilitate a natural learning outcome.

Outings and Field Trips:

Excursions and outings are an integral part of the program. Parents will be informed of outings and asked to sign a permission slip. Behavioral expectations on outings are high and if a child is not in compliance, parents will be asked to become involved in their child creating and adhering to certain guidelines and expectations. If this is unsuccessful, the child may remain at the Vallican Whole Community Centre with staff supervision.

Gradual Entry:

Day Camp can be a big change for a child and it is important to give them the opportunity to adjust. We recommend a gradual entry program with younger or more sensitive children. Your child will come away with a much more positive experience if you begin with half-days and transition towards full-days in the program.

Age Requirements:

  • Children must be 5- 12 years of age to participate in Day Camp Adventures
  • Youth Ages 11-16 can sign up for Specialty Youth Courses which take place in the afternoons
  • Each place booked is for one person only, so each course attendee must have their own booking.

Hospitality: 

All food will be provided by the parent except on special occasions- where parents will be notified in advance. Please note that we are not a peanut free facility, as other users rent the kitchen facilities on the weekend. We cannot guarantee against cross-contamination.

Please do not allow junk food or juice to be brought into the Day Camp. Children’s lunches should consist of 4 food groups and snacks of 2 food groups as outlined in the Canada Food Guide.

  • Full Day Participants: Parents are expected to provide two wholesome, portable snacks and a portable bag lunch. No hot meals will be provided.
  • Half Day Participants: Parents are expected to provide one wholesome snack.
  • Early Arrival Participants: Parents can provide a healthy breakfast for children arriving between 7:30am-8:00am if they do not have time to eat at home.

If a child is still hungry and all their food is gone or if the parents forget to send food for the day, Timeless Journey® Day Camp Adventures will provide healthy food options following the Canada Food Guide for the children and make a note of it on the food log.

Gear:

You are welcome to make, or buy, your own clothing and gear. Although we would like to encourage you to be as self-reliant as possible, all gear used by children at camp must meet the safety standards of the Camp Quartermaster. In some cases, it may be wise to contact the Camp Quartermaster if you have any questions or doubts about gear for projects you would like to undertake in preparation or if you would like to make substitutions to the items listed on the Timeless Journey® Day Camp Adventures Standard Clothing and Equipment Checklist.

Fee Schedule:

Registration for Timeless Journey Day Camp Adventures:

All paperwork must be completed at least 72 hours before your child’s first day at Timeless Journey ® Day Camp Adventures.

Please note that our friendly staff would be happy to assist you in completing the necessary forms at one of our Adult-Friendly Open House Guest Events. Or, if you would prefer, you can complete the paperwork at home and submit it directly to the Head Office either by email: info@timelessjourney.ca or by mail:

Timeless Journey® Day Camp Adventures
4363 Slocan River Road
Winlaw, British Columbia
V0G 2J0 Canada

Enrollment Checklist:

Children are not considered enrolled until their registration file at the Head Office is completed, a deposit of $100 is received and a Confirmation of Enrollment is issued.

How to Pay The Deposit Online:

To secure your place on this course you must pay $100.00 Canadian (per participant) which represents a deposit. The deposit will used towards the final payment. The deposit will only be refunded in the following circumstances:

  • we are unable to accommodate the dates requested
  • you cancel with due notice (at least 72 hours before services rendered)

You can pay your deposit fee online using the PayPal link below. For your convenience, we also offer a number of other payment methods.

Buy Now Button

Final Payment:

The Final Payment Invoice will be emailed to you based on the dates and services you selected on the Timeless Journey® Day Camp Adventures Registration Form. Full payment is due prior to services rendered and 10 days after the Final Payment Invoice is issued.

The Final Payment Invoice can be paid by etransfer to info@timelessjourney.ca or you can drop off a cheque made out to “Timeless Journey Bushcraft and Survival Adventures Ltd.” with the Camp Director Monday-Thursday from 9:00 am or 4:30pm. The Camp Director or a senior staff member will be able to issue you a receipt for your payment.

Wait List

If space is not available for your child at the time of request, the Camp Director will, at your request, add your child to the wait list. When spaces become available, and we are able to meet your scheduling needs, you will be contacted in order of dated requests.