It has been a truly special week in the Kangas unit, filled with laughter, teamwork, and moments that showed just how much this group is growing into a strong, supportive community.
One of the clearest examples of this came during our Rubber Ducky Birthday Challenge. When campers learned that Rubber Ducky was feeling a little sad that he might not get a birthday celebration, the Kangas immediately came together to make it happen. Across the field, they worked as a team to complete challenges, from finding ducky friends hidden around camp, to carefully filling the fruit punch bowls, testing balloon durability, and completing relay-style birthday tasks. What stood out most wasn’t just the excitement of each station, but how naturally the campers supported one another. They cheered each other on through every challenge, and by the end, the entire group came together in a joyful celebration filled with dancing, laughter, and a shared sense of accomplishment. This week really highlighted what it means to belong to a camp community—showing care, encouragement, and pride in each other’s success.
At Archery, campers continued to build confidence and focus as several Kangas found real consistency with hitting the target. What made this activity especially meaningful was the way they celebrated each other’s progress, cheering loudly for friends, whether it was a first hit or a steady improvement over time.
In Martial Arts, campers stepped into their “ultimate ninja” era, learning basic movements and even practicing counting to five in Japanese. There was a strong sense of excitement as they embraced something new and unfamiliar together, supporting one another through the challenges of coordination and timing.
At Arts and Crafts, K1 created a large birthday poster board featuring every camper’s name and birthday. They worked together carefully, colouring and decorating it, turning it into something that now represents the entire group. It became a quiet but meaningful moment of ownership and pride in their shared space.
Our unit program this week centred around the Birthday Party Challenge for Rubber Ducky. Campers moved through a series of themed stations designed to “rebuild” the birthday celebration after supplies were scattered across camp. They completed relay challenges, collecting duckies, carefully balanced balloons between their knees in a waddle race and took part in a spoon relay that tested their coordination and patience.
One of the most memorable moments came during Balloon Waddle, when campers enthusiastically cheered each other on, shouting “BALLOOOON” together while holding balloons overhead in celebration. The energy was playful, supportive, and full of laughter. The entire experience ended with a full-unit birthday dance. The biggest highlight was how deeply invested the campers were in making Rubber Ducky’s birthday feel special, showing real empathy and care throughout the program.
A big congratulations goes to Muyang, who won Big Chair this week. We also had two Silly Banana winners in Kangas – Sophia and Audrey clearly put lots of effort into their costumes and it certainly paid off!
We also celebrated a strong group of campers receiving their 3-year Turtle Tagz, including Sloane, Rohan, Noor, Henry, Melia, and June. These milestones were met with pride and excitement from the whole camp at Schmooze, marking their growing connection to camp traditions and community.
Staff Celebration Moment – Surge!
Surge brings an energy to camp that makes people want to be part of whatever is happening around him. Every Monday, he leads his group on a camp tour with the same enthusiasm, care, and attention as if it was the only time he has done so. Beyond that, Surge is always the first to step up and help wherever he’s needed, whether it’s supporting another counsellor, lending a hand behind the scenes, or making someone’s day a little easier. His camp spirit is truly infectious, and it spreads to campers and staff alike. Surge reminds us that the culture of camp isn’t built through big moments alone—it’s created through consistent kindness, genuine enthusiasm, and a willingness to put others first. We’re so grateful for the positivity and heart he brings to our community every single day.
Caregiver Question of the Week
I need to pick up my camper early. Where do I go?
All late drop offs and early pick ups will take place in the MAIN parking lot. Please note that this is a different spot than where we do regular pick up and drop off.
Please call us 905 9012 4862 and we will come to you!
