Over 45 Years of Camping Ministry!

Canterbury Hills Camp provides opportunities for campers to experience a nurturing Christian community, while exploring their relationships with God, creation and each other.

Canterbury Hills Camp is a unique camping experience for children and young people focusing on spirituality, experiential learning and environmental awareness. Campers engage in a variety of activities to capture the imagination, build friendships and develop self-confidence.

Canterbury Hills Camp Is…

• Child-centred – Our program is centred around the campers. Our staff listen to their needs, encourage their ideas, and provide opportunities for adventure and challenge. All aspects of a camper's development - physical, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual – are taken into consideration.
  
• De-centralized – Each camp is a part of a group with 8-10 other campers and at least 2 leaders, called a "Unit" that designs its own program and participates in some activities within the larger camp community.
  
• Unit-based – The Unit will make decisions together and plan its own schedule. The Unit relies on one another as they do all their activities together throughout their time at camp. Staff encourage and facilitate the Unit to make decisions about their daily activities and build on life skills such as co-operation, listening and respect.

Residential Camp
(ages 7-15 years)
A small camp atmosphere and a child-centred approach offer campers a safe environment to try new things and grow as individuals. Residential campers sleep in comfortable log cabins with their group of 8 campers, supervised by at least 2 staff in an adjoining room. Each cabin has its own washroom, shower and common area. Eating, living and participating in daily activities together will encourage campers to learn responsibility for themselves and consideration for others as part of a caring community.

Day Camp
(ages 5-10 years)
Your child's camp experience will be in a beautiful natural environment. Camp is only minutes away from Ancaster, Dundas, and Hamilton, providing convenient access for parents. The small group nature of our program and the personal attention paid to each camper, makes Day Camp an ideal choice for first time campers, and often serves as a stepping stone to Residential Camp. Sessions operate daily from 9am to 5pm and extended care is available from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. A hot lunch is provided, and snacks are available throughout the day. Campers 7-10 years old may participate in a sleepover on the Thursday night of each session. On that day younger day campers may stay until campfire ends, at 9:00 pm.

Camp Program
Fun, laughter, new friends, and new experiences combine to create long-lasting memories, increased self-awareness and independence in campers. Be it a splash in the pool, a lunch in the Tree House, a candle-lit service in the outdoor chapel, or a camp-out in the woods campers are empowered to challenge themselves as they interact with others and the natural environment.

Activities
Swimming • Campouts • Co-operative Games
• Ropes Course • Climbing Wall • Tree House
• Drama • Crafts • Archeology • Photography
• Orienteering • Archery • Hiking
• Environmental Studies • Creek Walks
• Spirituality • Worship
• Evening Programs • Campfires…

Plus the activities that groups create themselves… the possibilities are endless!

Christian Community & Discovery
Our nurturing Christian environment provides the support needed for campers to explore their own spirituality, develop their self-esteem and enrich their faith. Christian values are regularly celebrated in all parts of the program, particularly during camper reflections and daily worship. Each session the entire camp joins together for the Eucharist celebrated in the Anglican tradition.

Safety & Wellness
Our site, activities and social environment are designed to pay particular attention to the physical and emotional safety of all campers. A local physician is on-call and the camp is located close to the city of Hamilton and its emergency services. Well-balanced, nutritious meals are provided, and snacks are available throughout the day.

Children with Special Needs
Canterbury Hills welcomes campers with a variety of special needs. Our partnership with REACH for the Rainbow provides staff support for campers with special needs in order to encourage meaningful participation in the camping program. Please contact Reach for the Rainbow at 416-503-0088 for more information.

Registration Information & Session Dates
To register, print the 2009 Registration Form and mail or fax it to the year-round office. You may also contact the year-round office by phone or email and have a registration package sent to you.

2010 Registration Form PDF (click to download)

Financial Assistance
Canterbury Hills Camp is a non-profit, charitable organization that is proud to have a bursary fund available to assist with camp fees for those families in need. For those wishing to apply for a bursary, please indicate in writing on the Registration Form.

Donations to the Bursary Fund are gratefully accepted and tax receipts are issued for contributions of $10 or more.

Staff Positions
The best job in the world is being a leader at camp. The most important job at camp is working with the campers on a daily basis. The responsibility and trust placed in our camp staff is immense and requires exceptional individuals with the energy, skills and maturity to make the summer full of special memories. We are seeking individuals who are looking to explore their own leadership potential, to learn and to be challenged.

Canterbury Hills Camp is now accepting applications for Residential Cabin Leader, Day Camp Leader, and Leader-In-Training Positions for Summer 2010.  For more information on these positions, please download the job descriptions below. If you would like to apply, please download a 2009 staff application, and send it to our office.

• Staff Application Form
• Leader-In-Training Program
• Unit Leader Positions

Application Deadline: February 12, 2010

Applicants must reserve 9:30am to 3pm on Saturday March 6, 2010 for the Hiring Process.

Canterbury Hills Conference Centre
P.O. Box 81089 Fid. Grn.
Ancaster, Ontario
L9G 4X1

Telephone: (905) 648-2712
Toll Free: 1-800-463-3193
Fax: (905) 648-3268
E-mail: ch@niagara.anglican.ca

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Affiliated with the Anglican Diocese of Niagara and the Anglican Church of Canada