What a week it has been for our Kangas! This week was filled with creativity, friendly competition, new challenges, and plenty of opportunities for campers to discover that some of the best camp memories happen when we work together. From the soccer field to the science table, our campers spent the week trying new things, cheering each other on, and showing us just how much they can accomplish as a team.
One of the biggest highlights of the week was our Senior vs. Junior Camp Staff Soccer Game! The competition was exciting, the energy was high, and our Seniors ultimately came away with the win. But while there may have been a winner on the scoreboard, the real takeaway for our Kangas was the importance of teamwork and supporting one another. Campers learned that being a great teammate isn’t just about scoring the winning goal—it is about communicating, encouraging your friends, and making sure everyone feels like they are part of the team. Whether they were playing on the field or cheering from the sidelines, our Kangas showed plenty of spirit and enthusiasm!
Our creativity continued during Arts & Crafts, where campers made their very own pinwheels. From decorating their designs to watching them spin, the activity gave campers a chance to be creative while enjoying a simple reminder that sometimes the smallest creations can bring the biggest smiles. The Kangas were excited to see their finished pinwheels moving and spinning after all their hard work!
Things got a little more scientific during Crazy Science, where campers became engineers for the day by building popsicle stick catapults! Campers experimented with their designs and discovered how a few simple materials could be transformed into a working launcher. Activities like this give our campers the chance to experiment, problem-solve, and learn that sometimes the best way to figure something out is simply to try, adjust, and try again. Of course, there was also plenty of excitement every time a catapult successfully sent something flying!
Our Sports with Jay activity brought even more energy to the week. Campers had a fantastic time getting active, running around, and enjoying some friendly competition. Just like during our soccer game, campers were reminded that sports are about much more than winning. Cheering for teammates, communicating with one another, and encouraging friends to keep trying are all important parts of being a great athlete—and an even better teammate.
Our Nature activity gave our Kangas the opportunity to think beyond the camp grounds as we learned about ocean pollution. Campers explored how pollution can affect our oceans and the animals that depend on them. It was an important reminder that even though we may not live directly beside the ocean, the choices we make on land can have an impact on our waterways and the environment. Our Kangas were encouraged to think about what they can do in their own everyday lives to help take care of our planet. It was a wonderful opportunity to turn curiosity into environmental awareness and remind campers that they can make a difference!
Our Unit Time – now called “SizzlemenTime” for our new Unit Heads – brought a little Summerween magic to the week! Campers got to make their very own DIY pumpkin squishies, combining creativity and a little spooky-season fun in the middle of summer. Each camper had the opportunity to put their own personality into their creation, and we loved seeing all the different pumpkin designs come to life. There is something especially fun about watching a group of campers start with the same materials and end up with completely different creations!
During Schmooze this week, we had plenty to celebrate across the Kangas! Congrats to Azlan, who turned 7Â yesterday, and celebrated his birthday in style with our camp tradition – cupping his counsellor in the face!
We also want to give a huge congratulations to our campers who reached an incredible summer milestone and earned their 3-Year Radtagz!
Three years of camp means three years of friendships, adventures, inside jokes, traditions, and memories. Congrats to Owen (K1), Jackson (K1), Margot (K2) and Poppy (K2)!
And, a big congratulations goes to our Silly Banana winner this week! Margot impressed us all with her awesome robot ensemble.Â
And, of course, we can’t forget our Big Chair winners! Congrats to Charlotte (K1), Azlan (K2) and Anaya (K4)!
We love having these camp traditions as a way to recognize the wonderful personalities, accomplishments, and contributions our campers bring to the Kangas community every week.
This week’s Staff Celebration Moment goes to Berry!Â
Berry brings an incredible amount of enthusiasm, warmth, and care to the Kangas Unit every single day. She is someone who genuinely cares deeply about her campers and works hard to make sure that each child feels safe, supported, encouraged, and ready to have fun.
One of Berry’s greatest strengths is the way she cheers her campers on. She encourages them to try new things, ask questions, and stay curious, while always making sure they know that it is okay to make mistakes and learn along the way. She brings so much positive energy to the group, and her enthusiasm is contagious!
Caregiver Question of the Week
How do you choose Silly Banana winners?
Each week, the Leadership Team meets to determine who will win a Silly Banana. We don’t take this responsibility lightly – we know that campers (and their caregivers) put in lots of work to win! There is often heavy debate and negotiations involved 🙂
Winners are chosen based on creativity of concept, execution, and effort by the camper. We encourage caregivers to reinforce to campers that we make costumes for the fun of making them – not only to win!
