Camp policies
Find Camp Kahuna policies on safety, medical needs, diet and behaviour.
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Health and safety
Camp Kahuna follows the health and safety policies set by the province, and adds its own on top.
Every member of staff holds standard first aid and CPR. A certified lifeguard is on duty whenever campers are swimming.
Staff-to-camper ratio
Day camps run at 9 campers to each staff member. Overnight camp runs at 10 to 1.
Every staff member holds Standard First Aid and CPR and has a police vulnerable sector check. Swimming is supervised by certified lifeguards.
Swimming
Swimming happens in camp groups, each with a scheduled time in the pool, the creek and the water mushroom. Certified lifeguards are present throughout. Every camper takes a swim test, and campers aged six and under are always in a lifejacket or a puddle jumper.
Washrooms
The washrooms are porta-potties with handwashing sinks, soap and sanitiser. Camp staff clean them daily and they are professionally cleaned twice a week. There are four at Sidrabene and three at Mt. Nemo.
Outbreak policy
At Camp Kahuna, the health and safety of our campers, staff, and broader community are our top priority. In light of ongoing concerns around measles and in alignment with Ontario public health guidance, we have developed the following policy:
1. Health Awareness and Responsibility. We strongly encourage all families to follow Ontario’s recommended immunization schedule, including the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, to help protect their children and others in our camp community. We ask that parents and guardians remain vigilant and do not send children to camp if they are unwell or showing symptoms of illness.
2. Daily Health Monitoring. We rely on families to play an active role in keeping our camp community healthy. Parents and guardians are expected to monitor their child’s health each morning before camp. If a camper is feeling unwell, has a fever, rash, cough, or other signs of illness, they must be kept at home.
3. Symptom Monitoring and Reporting. Campers or staff exhibiting potential measles symptoms, including fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, or rash, must remain at home and notify camp administration immediately. If symptoms develop during camp hours: the individual will be isolated promptly in our designated medical area; parents/guardians will be contacted for immediate pickup; public health officials will be informed, and Camp Kahuna will follow their guidance on next steps.
4. Response to Exposure or Outbreak. If a suspected or confirmed case of measles occurs at Camp Kahuna: all parents/guardians will be notified; individuals deemed at risk may be excluded from camp temporarily, following direction from local public health authorities; enhanced health and safety measures, including sanitization, monitoring, and possible group restructuring, will be put into place.
Incidents
We tell you about a significant injury or incident, such as a physical incident with another camper or bullying, and staff record the details. We do not report cuts, scrapes and minor falls.
Special needs
Camp Kahuna works to accommodate campers with special needs, and reviews each case on its own rather than against a fixed policy, because what we can do safely depends on the number of campers and staff on site that week. Get in touch and we will go through it with you. We do not provide one-to-one care, which would need to come from the caregiver.
Behaviour
We want every camper to have a good week. If a camper is finding it difficult, we talk to them and say what we expect. If it continues they miss a few minutes of an activity. After that we phone home and ask for your suggestions, and then the camper speaks to you directly. If it still continues, they go home for a day or for the rest of the week.
We send a camper home for physically hurting another camper, for endangering anyone, or for ongoing defiance. Every decision takes the safety and the week of every camper into account.
Nuts, water and diets
Camp Kahuna is nut-free. All food bought for overnight camp is nut-free, and day camps are nut-free too. Please do not send anything containing nuts, including cashews, peanuts and hazelnuts.
There is drinking water around the site. Send a refillable bottle every day.
At overnight camp we can accommodate gluten-sensitive, dairy-sensitive and nut-free diets. Lactose-free milk is available, and campers who need lactase tablets should bring their own. At overnight camp we cannot accommodate coeliac, kosher, pescatarian, vegan or fully dairy-free diets.
Dietary needs have to be on the registration form. All the food is bought before camp starts, so a need disclosed during the week cannot be covered and you would have to supply the food yourself.
Medication
If you are thinking of changing your child’s medication for the summer, talk to their prescriber before camp. At overnight camp all medication must arrive in its original container, labelled with the name and dosage, and is handed to the camp nurse at check-in and returned at check-out. We cannot give a camper medicine that is not in its original container.
Campers will get dirty and wet
Camp Kahuna is an outdoor camp and we play in the creek, so campers come home wet and muddy. The What to Bring page covers what to send.
Photos
Photo consent is part of registration. If you would rather your child not appear in camp photos, choose the opt-out option when you register.
Photos from the week are posted in the parent photo area, which is for Camp Kahuna families only.
Lost and found
Anything left at camp is kept for one week and then donated. If we find something with a name on it we get it back to the camper during the week. Otherwise, please call us within the week to arrange collection.
Drop off and pick up
At day camp, meet staff in the parking lot and check your child in. Use the drop-off zone and head off promptly so the traffic keeps moving.
Overnight camp check-in is on the Sunday: 12:30pm for families whose surname starts A to K, and 1:15pm for L to Z. Pick up on the Friday is any time between 1:00pm and 3:00pm.
Grievances
If you have a concern about the programme, the staff or another camper, raise it with the lead staff on site. We would rather talk than email. A conversation with the lead staff on site is the quickest way to understand a concern and sort it out.
Liability waiver and parental consent
When families register for Camp Kahuna, they are agreeing to the following:
In consideration of my application being accepted for the above program, I hereby waive, release, and discharge any claims for damages for personal injury and property damages that may hereafter occur to me as a result of participation in said event. This release is intended to discharge in advance Camp Kahuna, St.Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Latvian Church Congregation in Toronto and Sidrabene, its officials, officers, employees, volunteers and agents from liability, even though that liability may arise out of perceived negligence on the part of persons mentioned above. Parents/guardians acknowledge Camp Kahuna is not operated by St.Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Latvian Church Congregation in Toronto/Camp Sidrabene and that St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Latvian Church/Camp Sidrabene does not sponsor, supervise or provide any care concerning Camp Kahuna’s operations. It is understood that some recreational activities involve an element of risk or danger of accidents, and knowing those risks, I hereby assume those risks. It is further understood and agreed that this waiver, release and assumption of risk will be binding on my heirs and assignees.
Parental Consent (Complete if applicant is under 18): I consent to my child participating in the above activities and execute the above liability release on their behalf.
Consent for Treatment: I hereby consent to have the above applicant treated by emergency medical personnel, a physician, or a surgeon in case of sudden illness or injury while participating in the above activity. It is understood that Camp Kahuna will provide no medical insurance for such treatment and that the cost thereof will be at my expense. I have read and understood the foregoing registration liability release and parental consent form and agree to all its terms and conditions.
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Call us before you register if you'd like to talk through a policy. Registration for summer 2027 opens January 2.
Register (opens the registration portal in a new tab) Dates and rates 905-491-6881