F.A.Q.

There are a variety of ways to be in touch with your camper while she/he is at camp - you can write a letter, fax a note or take advantage of our email service. Campers are not permitted to use the telephone and our phone line at camp exists for camp business and emergency purposes. All families of first time campers will receive a call from your child's Section Director within the first four days of camp to let you know how it is going. If you wish to speak with your child's Section Director, you may call and, if necessary, leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

We suggest open discussions with your child about what they can expect at camp and to reassure them that it is okay to feel nervous or apprehensive before their first stay at camp. View the photos on our website with your child to help familiarize him/her with the site and activities. Our parent handbook also outlines some ways to guide this preparation process. We also suggest that you visit camp with your child at our Open House being held on Saturday, June 2nd from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

All accomodations are single-sex. Junior campers reside in wooden cabins; Senior campers in canvas walled tents on platforms. Sleeping accommodations for both groups are in comfortable bunk beds. Cabins and tents do not have electricity, however they do have solar powered lights for nightime safety and convenience.

Our campers are offered three nutritious meals per day as well as snacks, juice and water which are available throughout the day in the Dining Hall. Our Chef prepares a carefully planned menu of simple, well balanced meals which are verified and approved by a certified dietician as per our accreditation standards with the Quebec Camping Association. Vegetarian choices are offered at each meal as are a variety of seasonal fruits. Our camp has adopted an allergy management plan to carefully prepare for identified food allergies prior to each session. Information you provide on your child's specific allergy is passed on to the chef, your child's counselor(s) and the Section Director. Special portions can be prepared in this case.

As part of the comprehensive YMCA camping network, our camp follows recommended and required policies and guidelines as outlined in the YMCA's Camping Quality Recommended Practices (CQRP) as well as the accreditation standards set out by the Quebec Camping Association of which we were a founding member. Our tripping programs follow strict guidelines to ensure the maximum safety and security of all campers. Our tripping staff are experienced and well trained, have Wilderness First Responder training and follow established and safe canoe routes. For more information on our accreditation standards, please consult the Quebec Camping Association's website at the link that follows.

Junior cabin groups consist of a maximum of eight campers with two staff members. Senior tent groups consist of eight campers with one staff member.

English is the prominent language used as most of our campers are English speaking. However, our policy is to hire staff who are bilingual.

We do not have a visiting day, however for campers staying during changeover periods, families can visit on Sunday (of the changeover). Please call the camp office prior to your visit to confirm (especially if you plan to leave site with your child) and please ~ no pets !

Our staff take part in a mandatory 10 day pre-camp prior to the arrival of the campers. Sessions address camper supervision and care, program animation, safety procedures and camp policy to name a few. This training period covers a very strict set of required elements as part of our accreditation with the Quebec Camping Association.

Yes. YMCA Child Development Policies and our accreditation standing with the Quebec Camping Association require that all our staff , full time and seasonal , are required to have an approved police verification as a condition of employment.

Yes. In addition to our camp health staff, there is a fully staffed medical clinic in St-Sauveur (within 10 minutes of camp) as well as nearby hospital centers in St-Jerome and Ste Agathe des Monts in case of emergencies. Ambulance services that service the region are also close by.

Yes! Packages can be sent by Canada Post, Purolator and UPS. We ask that you please refrain from sending food in your package - campers have the opportunity to order a special snack through their tuck account. Snacks in the cabins and tents can result in visits from our Kanawana critter friends!

YMCA Kanawana is located on 455 acres of pristine wilderness just outside St-Sauveur des Monts, only one hour north of Montreal in the beautiful Laurentian mountains region.

We have a capacity of 228 campers per session. The Junior and Senior sections welcome about 96 campers per age group and our Voyageur, Rangers and Trailblazers round out our camper population each session.

Rangers take part in an on-site duo, a 24-hour camping experience in which the Rangers are paired up and given the chance to practice their skills independently of staff. Duos are done on Lac Kanawana and Lac Wilson, and though the experience itself takes place without the immediate presence of the Rangers staff, safety and security are ensured through walkie-talkie communication, safety whistles, and regular on-the-hour check ins. A duo is a short though intensive experience aimed at developing both independence and interdependence, but also serves as a vehicle for personal growth as it provides an opportunity for Rangers to spend time alone in nature and to reflect on their relationship with the world around them.

We have had both very experienced outdoors people as well as people with no outdoor experience participate in the ranger program. But you do need to be motivated to participate fully.