Camp rules, safety and preparation
Information for parents and guardians
Every learner who attends a summer camp deserves a safe, rewarding experience. If your child is registered for an upcoming camp, please review the information below and contact us at youthacademy@nic.bc.ca if you have any questions.
Preparing for the first day of camp
Please complete and bring the following forms with you when you check your child in for the first day of camp:
- Permission to publish (optional)
- Emergency contact and informed consent (mandatory)
We recommend that your child has the following items ready on their first day:
- Personal hand sanitizer
- Weather appropriate clothing that can get wet or dirty
- Peanut/nut-free lunch and snacks
- Refillable water bottle
- Sunscreen, hat and closed toe running shoes
Dropping off and picking up your child from camp
Youth Academy camps start at 9 am and ends at 3 pm. Please drop off your child no earlier than 8:45 am and pick them up no later than 3 pm.
Parents/guardians must arrive at sign-in with their child each day of camp. If your child is arriving alone via bus or on foot or with friends or a trusted adult, please indicate this information on your completed emergency contact and informed consent form.
As parent/guardian, it’s your responsibility to ensure your child is signed in and out each day of camp. If you're unavailable to sign your child out, you must make alternate plans and inform us in advance.
Lateness and absence
If, for any reason, your child will be late for drop-off, absent from camp or required to leave early, please communicate the circumstances to camp staff or email Youth Academy immediately. If a child is not accounted for at camp check-in and there is no communicated reason for their absence, then their parents/guardians will be notified and will be responsible for following up on the child’s whereabouts.
Drop-off and pick-up locations
Specific drop-off and pick-up instructions will be emailed to you in your camp information package approximately four weeks prior to the camp start date. Please refer to this information and future email updates going forward.
During pick up/drop off, please park in designated parking zones and avoid parking and idling in fire lanes, staff parking and bus areas.
Supervision and student safety
NIC is a closed campus for Youth Academy participants, meaning campers are not allowed
to leave campus alone.
If your child becomes unwell or is injured at camp and cannot fully take part in the
group’s activities, the camp leader may determine that a child needs to be picked
up. If medical care is required, camp staff will call first aid place a call to you
or an alternate emergency contact.
Personal conduct
We take our commitment to providing a safe environment for youth seriously. All Youth Academy participants and staff are expected to treat individuals, equipment and the spaces where camp activities are hosted with the upmost respect. Participants are always required to follow safety rules and guidelines. Parents will be notified if campers’ behaviour is unsafe or inappropriate. The parent/guardian will be responsible for picking up the child if necessary.
Youth Academy has a zero-tolerance policy toward bullying, harassment, discrimination, racism, and physical violence of any kind. This policy extends to illegal activities during camp hours. Violation of this policy will result in removal from the camp with no refund.
Use of personal electronics/devices during camp hours
The use of cellphones, earbuds and other personal electronic devices are not allowed during camp hours, except during breaks for the sole purpose of allowing the child to contact a parent/guardian or a trusted adult. Use of personal electronics requires the permission/supervision of a camp leader and may be stored in participants’ backpacks when not in use. If a child’s use of their device(s), their parent/guardian or emergency contact will be called to visit the site and confiscate the item. If the issue persists, the student may be removed from the camp without a refund.