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F.A.Q. (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
Does Camp Cadicasu only cater to Catholics?
No. The camp is run in the Catholic tradition, but is not limited to persons of that faith only. We are one big happy family of staff, volunteers and campers where everyone feels at home. We encourgae campers to come together in the spirit of kindness, fun and friendship. In the past 30% to 40% of the camp population comes from a variety of other religious denominations and everyone is welcome. There will be a rich and well thought out menu of spiritual and/or religious components be made available in each of the programs of activity in which the campers are involved . For more information on what the religious components will be each day, please see the question “Will there be religious services provided each day?”
Does the Camp cater more to older than to younger kids?
We pride ourselves on our rustic setting, but offer amenities necessary for a feeling of comfort and security, regardless of age, and give equal exposure to campers of all ages to all activities. Each program of activity is geared to the individual’s age and physical capability. Each “tribe” is made up of campers in age groupings designed to give the campers the same sense of achievement, challenge and fun.
Because younger campers are less experienced, will most of the counselors’ time and camp activity be targeted to the younger campers?
Because the campers are broken into “tribes” by gender and age group, the counselors will tailor their programs and time to meet the needs of each demographic group. There is no compromise being given to any specific group because the age range is spread between children and youth from 8 – 17.
Is Camp Cadicasu an accredited camp?
Camp Cadicasu is an active, participating and accredited member of the Alberta Camping Association.
Can my camper go for more than one week?
Yes, each camper application is submitted and is given a first come first served priority reservation. There is no discount for multiple weeks. If the camper does stay for two consecutive weeks, there is an additional $50 a night charge for the layover day (Saturday) added on to the billing of the two week contract charge.
Do Counselor in training (CIT’s) have to be 15?
Yes. They must be 15 by June 15th of the year they are applying to be CIT’s.
May I visit my child during the week of Camp?
We discourage any visits from parents/friends or relatives during the week the camper is staying with us. If the camper is extending their visit to multiple weeks, a parent/friend or relative may come on the Saturday when the pick up is made of other campers leaving for the week for a short visit with their camper. You can also pick up and bring back the camper the next day with the new group of campers if you wish.
What time is pick up and delivery of the campers?
The Camp week begins with check-in on the Sunday evening between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM only. The Camp week ends Saturday morning at 10:00 AM. Please be on time to pick up your child unless you have made arrangements with the Camp Director well in advance. Strict adherence to this pick up/drop off is important as we have to schedule maintenance and staff schedules accordingly.
What is the food really like? Can we have a special menu or meal?
Our food is healthy fare and is typically well balanced and meets the nutritional standards for children and youth. We are happy to design a custom menu to meet a specific campers needs if there is a health issue. We cannot deal with the “likes and dislikes’ of individual campers, but will try and ensure that each child is well fed and happy at the end of each meal.
Is there ample parking when I drop off and pick up my child?
Yes, we have ample room for the number of cars available to pick up and drop off the campers at the designated times listed above.
Does the camper need to bring any extra money to Camp?
No, all expenses including accommodation, food, and activities are covered in the cost of registration.
If my child wets their bed, or sleep walks, what will be done to ensure their safety and respect their privacy with the other campers?
The counselors will be sleeping in the same area as each of the camp groups and are separated by age and gender groupings. The camper must understand that the person they will turn to for any assistance or personal problem will be their designated counselor. The counselors are trained and are fully prepared to handle any personal situation which may come up with discretion and maturity. Each child will be handled as ‘family’ and provided the love, care and attention you would give them at home. Camp Cadicasu feels the dignity of the child is very important and so will do everything to assure the child is represented accordingly.
Will life jackets be made available to ALL children when in or near any water?
The first and most important rule 100% of the time will be the safety of each child. For this reason, proper attention and care will be made available to the campers, providing any equipment necessary to ensure their safety.
Will there be religious services provided during the stay at the camp?
Yes, there will be a rich and well thought out menu of spiritual and/or religious components be made available in each of the programs of activity in which the campers are involved. For example:
- Theme of the Day: Camp Cadicasu has chosen a specific spiritual life skill that will be stressed and taught for each day of camp and will be practiced and/or implemented through the activities which the campers will participate during the course of that day. These themes are tied into the gospel by which we will encourage the Campers to observe and execute throughout each day of camp and in turn better exercise when they return to their lives back home. The overall concept is to educate and help the campers to understand their place in the world, where they fit in and the obligations and responsibilities of being a good Christian in their community of family and friends.
- Each morning is a spiritual reading and prayers as well as the introduction and explanation of the “spiritual theme for the day”.
- At each meal there is a beginning and closing grace. The opening grace is asking for a blessing of the food God has provided as well as the people who have prepared the meal. The after meal grace is a thank you for God and all His bountiful gifts.
- At evening meal the Rosary is said. The Rosary is a traditional popular Roman Catholic devotion and also an Anglican devotion. The term denotes both a set of prayer beads used in the devotion and the devotional prayer itself, which combines vocal (or silent) prayer and meditation centered around sequences of reciting the Lord's Prayer followed by ten recitations of the "Hail Mary" prayer and a single recitation of "Glory Be to the Father"; each of these sequences is known as a decade. What distinquishes the Rosary from other forms of prayer is that, along with the vocal prayers, it includes a series of meditations. Each decade of the Rosary is said while meditating on one of the "Mysteries" of redemption.
- Monday – Friday: On those days that Mass is not celebrated there are Paraliturgys celebrated.
- The definition of a Para liturgy is: “A time of prayer when we gather to reflect on a spiritual theme and reading; have some dialogue on the readings, some songs and often times a play or skit centered on a spiritual topic. Paraliturgys are a wonderful opportunity to help children make sense of all the adult talk of religion and how it reflects on their experiences and life struggles. How do they make sense of their lives and how do they make it all real and work for them. These Paraliturgys will be age group specific; the campers will be split up into three target groups. Seniors, Intermediate, and Juniors. These sessions are held each evening after supper.
- Personal prayer - Likewise, the great variety of Catholic spirituality enables individual Catholics to pray privately in many different ways. The fourth and last part of the Catechism thus summarized the Catholic's response to the mystery of faith: "This mystery, then, requires that the faithful believe in it, that they celebrate it, and that they live from it in a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God. This relationship is prayer." (CCC 2558). For this reason each camper is given up to two hours ot time each day to pray and reflect on their lives in a very personal and individual way that best suits them.
- Chapel: There is also an outdoor chapel used when weather appropriate. Religious ceremonies are conducted in the dinning centre when the climate does not allow us to use the outdoor chapel.
- The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. A formal Mass is performed to begin each camp session with a formal Mass to close the camp session
- A “Counselor-driven” program is best illustrated by empowering the trained staff to build on the approved program of activity by reacting and developing additional programming that best serves the demographic and spiritual needs of the campers to best illustrate and teach spirituality and infuse a passion and understanding of the principles in the spirit of the Gospel. For example:
- Dramatic workshops would be used to illustrate key points representing the “theme of each day” allowing the creativity and imagination of the campers to take ownership of the principles being taught on that day
- Arts & crafts would employ the natural surroundings and the environment to creatively illustrate and capture the individuals commitment to those lessons being schooled on that day
- Sport would serve as a tool to illustrate inclusion, teamwork, celebrating achievement, both as an individual and as a group, sportsmanship and acceptance in the spirit of God’s love for all of His children
- Hiking and outdoor activities reinforce an understanding and stewardship of nature and how the children should appreciate, understand and care about the wonder of nature’s gifts for future generations as well as what their role and obligations are as Christians
- The closing of each day is finished with a camp fire. The “camp fire” has become a signature program of Camp Cadicasu because at this camp fire there are stories of a spiritual nature with a closing daily prayer, reflections and the Lord’s Prayer. It marks the end of a day well lived reflecting the glory and goodness of God and celebrates the beginning of a new day.
- The Managing Director, Camp Chaplain and Program Director who supervise the program also review the entire program of activity each new camping season and in doing so rely on the advice of the Camp Parish Priest for the spiritual content of the program. The Parish Priest is the proper clergyman in charge of the congregation of the parish entrusted to him: in this case Camp Cadicasu. Father Eric Nelson exercises the pastoral care of the community entrusted to him, whose ministry of Christ he is called to share, so that for this community he may carry out the offices of teaching, sanctifying and ruling with the cooperation of other religious persons and lay members of Christ’s faithful in accordance with the teachings of the Gospel.
Does the camp cater to children with disabilities or special needs?
While most camps can accommodate certain special needs, parents of campers with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional needs are advised to investigate those camps which are designated to serve those particular needs.
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