INTRODUCTION
Welcome! We are so glad you are interested in joining Camp Tamarack. This package is an overview of who we are, what we do, what you could do, camp life, and other little bits of information about Camp Tamarack. Part of creating a positive and engaging camp experience is understanding the organization that you may be working for. This package should help you make an informed decision about where you are looking at spending your summer. We feel that answering as many of your questions (even the strange ones… we have heard them all) is an important part of building a positive camp experience. So, while you are reading, please make notes in the white space, and write down any questions you might have, and we can discuss them during your interview.
BASICS OF CAMP TAMARACK
Camp T was a project of the Grande Prairie Shrine Club beginning in 1979 set with the task to develop a wilderness day camp for people living with disabilities in northern Alberta and northwestern B.C. In 1985, Camp Tamarack saw its first campers and programs, after the Shrine Club turned over to the Camp Tamarack Association, a public volunteer board, that set out to operate the camp. The original day programs were offered primarily to people living with physical and cognitive disabilities and senior citizens.
Today we offer traditional overnight and day programs for individuals of all abilities, ages, and regions. Our unique program allows us to open our doors to everyone, and thus allowing them to have an experience they may never have had the opportunity to have had before. With the development of our Adventure Course, our program offerings continue to grow with passion and care for those we serve. We create a safe and encouraging environment that allows our campers to try something new, and discover their true self, friends, and a home away from home.
THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
With this package, you have received an interview request from one of our Leadership team. This initial interview allows us to get to know you and for you to learn more about the camp. Following the initial interview, short-listed candidates will be contacted by our Director, Fivah, for a second interview. During the first interview, please be prepared to share with us what you learned from the information package and why you would like to work at Tamarack.
Enjoy reading and we look forward to hearing from you!
Yours in Camping, Fivah (Lynnell Ible), Director
CAMP VALUES
- Inclusion – Every person is welcome to participate in a variety of impactful programs.
- Community – Campers, participants and staff alike develop the most meaningful relationships–ones that last a lifetime. You learn the true meaning of community while at camp. You feel connected with others and gain respect for each person.
- Empowerment – participants can express themselves to excel in their interests and be the best version of themselves.
- Belonging – all participants have the ability and opportunity to be a member of a group, connect with peers and demonstrate leadership.
- Adventure – the opportunity to get outside your comfort zone through many different challenges and activities while being in a natural environment
A DAY AT CAMP T
7:00 am – Staff are responsible for getting themselves up and ready for the day, this includes taking medication, showering, etc. prior to going to the cabin to wake the campers.
7:35 am – Morning meeting – All Staff not on Cabin duty meet in Ainsworth for a quick morning meeting
7:45 am – Camper Wake Up: All Camp Leaders ensure your campers are ready for the morning, brush teeth, shower, get medications from the Camp Nurse. Cabin Leaders on night duty will be off at this time.
8:15 am – Morning Circle: An opportunity for quick announcements, schedule changes and other essential information to be passed along. As well as a quick song, cheer or riddle of the day led by a camper and staff group!
8:30 am – BREAKFAST – Sit with your group at your assigned table. This is a wonderful time to get to know your campers and for them to get to know you. Discuss what they are looking forward to and what worries they may have.
9 am – 9:30 am – Cabin Clean Up – All Campers and Staff head back to the cabins to tidy them up and ensure everyone has their personal belongings in one area, or ideally in their bag. Program Leaders that are leading a morning activity this is a suitable time to get it set up!
9:25 – Last chance for sunscreen, bug spray, water bottles, hat checks and bathroom break and you and your group are on your way to your first activity.
9:30 am – 11:30 am – Morning Activities – These will either be pre-scheduled based upon the camp they signed up for with a FIFO (Fluids In, Fluids Out) breaks, in between each session.
11:30 – 12:05 pm – Fun & Fitness – This time is for campers to have the opportunity to have some unstructured self-led time outside prior to lunch, it is expected that staff participate with what their campers are choosing to do and assist them. Staff will be scheduled for wellness time during this block.
12:15 pm – LUNCH – as per breakfast
1:00 – 2:00 pm – R & R: Rest and rejuvenate is cabin time, that is a quiet calm time where campers are encouraged to rest and relax, in or just outside the cabins. If you are not on duty, you will get a wellness break.
2:15 – 4:30 pm – Afternoon Activities – as per morning activities
4:30 – 5:25 pm – ACE (All Camp Experience): a fun program for all campers that may include a game, campfire and more!
5:30 pm – DINNER: as per breakfast
6:15 – 6:50 pm – Options: 3 – 4 planned structured activities are prepared by the staff, for campers to choose which one they would like to partake in prior to Shower Hour
7:00 – 8:15 pm – – Shower Hour and Journals – Campers have time to clean up from the day and/or get ready for the evening. If you are on cabin duty you will have this time off.
8:15 pm – EVENING SNACK
8:30 – 9:00 pm – Cabin Chat: An opportunity to reflect on the day with your campers.
9:00 pm – Bed Time: assist the campers in getting ready for bed, pajamas, brush teeth and a bedtime story from you!
9:30/10:00 pm – Lights Out
FOOD
Meals at Camp Tamarack are served buffet style. To ensure this process goes smoothly, the Program Coordinators will run the meal, so the line is not too long, every group will get a chance to go first and last over the week.
While you are waiting be sure to engage your group in conversation or a small prop less activity. Counselors and Program Leaders will be assigned to meals to assist with serving, it is important to remember when you are on, and to be prompt and ready to assist.
When it is your group’s turn to eat, you all walk up to the service table together and line up, you will be served, and it is okay to say ‘no’ to something you don’t like. Each person will get a full standard serving, and seconds will be offered after everyone has had the opportunity to get a plate, and a chance to eat it.
Our Head Cook and Camp Director work together to create the meals for each week, we do our best to ensure that there is something for everyone. Breakfast will always have a fruit platter, and most days a hot breakfast option, and on occasion the cereal bar will be put out as well. Lunch will always have raw veggies and a salad available with the lunch option. Dinner will always have a salad and veggies (usually cooked/steamed). We do our best to offer you nutritious options for your meals.
ACTIVITIES
At Camp Tamarack, we like to offer campers the opportunity to select most of their activities, although some activities are pre-scheduled to ensure they get a well rounded
experience.
What activities are there at Camp T?
We have a range of activities that we to offer to our campers including but not
limited to: Giant Swing, Climbing Tower, Rappelling Archery, Group Games, Team Building, Survival Skills, Orienteering, Arts and Crafts/Makerspace, Dance, Theatre, or anything you can dream of or have a passion for, and we are able to assist you in facilitating it.
We also work with 3rd parties to offer Mountain Biking, Kayaking, and Swimming.
Check out our website for more details.
What activities could I be leading?
The program leaders’ position was created with this in mind. Program leaders are trained in most activities. This does not mean that you will never lead activities unless a specific certification is required. We will be sure to only ask you to lead an activity you will be comfortable and confident with. These will be discussed during your interview.
GOOD TO KNOWS
How many staff do you hire? Where do they come from?
We hire approximately 15 – 18 staff, in a variety of positions from across Canada and around the globe, to fill our spring, summer and fall staff team.
Salaries at Tamarack?
We will set aside some time in the interview to talk about salary.
What’s the difference between a Leadership Team Member, Program Leader, Camp Leader… and a Jr. Leader?
The Leadership Team consists of the Director, Assistant Director, and Program Coordinators, the main support for the Program leaders, Camp leaders and Jr. Leaders throughout the summer.
Program Leaders start at the beginning of May and will be responsible for specific programs at camp and are the go-to people to assist with special programs (Wilderness Skills, Climbing Tower, Giant Swing, Low Ropes, Archery…). They will have additional training and/or knowledge in the programs. A few of our program leaders will stay on for the fall.
Camp Leaders are the go-to people who love to be around kids and spend time with them. Although this is true for all our staff, the counselors will ensure campers are where they are supposed to be and assist with leading activities.
Cabin Leaders: live in the cabins with the campers, they supervise rest hour and night duty, They also work with the Head Camp Leader to run All Camp Experiences, Mayhems, Camp fires and other fun activities.
note: must be 17 by the start of camp for this role.
The Jr. Leaders are teens who went through our Teen Leadership program in the Spring and volunteer their time at camp to gain experience. They are often eager to learn and help wherever they can. How does this relate to you? You will role model great camp counseling behaviour and assist them in helping you create fun and safe experiences for your campers. The Leadership Team can assist you in creating a great learning environment for them. Just ask! (Junior Leaders are campers even when volunteering)
What duties could I have in a typical week at camp?
There are duties that need to be fulfilled each day and week at camp. Daily duties include meal service, R&R duty, and Night Duty.
If you are on R&R duty (a team of 1 staff member per cabin and washroom per day, with a leadership team member available as support you are the designated person to stay in the cabin, or just outside, with the campers, as their primary supervision and care.
Night duty is our overnight care, meaning you are sleeping in the cabin with the campers that night. You do get to sleep during night duty, but campers may wake you up for assistance or to let you know they are going to the washroom, in which case they should take a buddy, or you should watch them walk to bathroom and return to the cabin. Every night a member of the leadership team is on call should you require assistance.
All staff are also responsible for ensuring the camp is clean prior to time off beginning on Friday. This means it is up to all of us to ensure that the camp is ready for the next group of campers.
Where do I live during the spring, summer, fall? and more…
Our staff have semi-private accommodation. We have two heated PTI trailers that hold 9 rooms that staff will share. Each room has two single beds, two closets and a desk/side table. Rooms are assigned upon your arrival at camp, we do our best to match you with a likeminded team member. Tamarack’s washrooms are in the center of camp and are only a short walk from the staff accommodation area. Tamarack staff have access to wireless internet; local phone; staff kitchen with fridge/freezer, stove, dishes, and laundry. As well as the use of our seminar cabin, which has a projector, most staff tend to hang out here until they are ready for bed.
Are you Scent Free?
Yes, we are. Scent-free, allergy friendly laundry detergent is provided for staff, an have dryer balls (new this year) to be used instead of fabric softener or dryer sheets. Body sprays, perfume, heavily scented lotions, aerosol deodorant are not to be used at camp.
Food?
We are a nut free facility, that means we do not have any items with nuts as a main ingredient onsite. May contain items are fine. If you are not sure, please ask.
If you have food allergies and/or dietary restrictions, we can accommodate you. The kitchen is used to adapting as the director and her family have gluten, dairy, and soy allergies.
In the spring during training and overnight programs, meals will be provided, in the summer during training and when camp is in session.
TIME OFF
Knowing how to best utilize and schedule your time off is a great skill to have during your summer. Staff get time off every day and every week we have a large amount of time off in between each weekly program.
Before camper wake up: You are on your own time until camper wake up each day, the time you choose to get up is set by yourself.
Wellness Time: We will ensure you get at least 1 hour off each day. Most of the time that will be doing rest hour. Some staff may use this time to nap, call home, or have a good chat. Be considerate of others during this time and ensure that everyone has the opportunity do what they would like during.
Evenings: After your campers are settled for the night, you are off, unless you are on Night Duty. It is asked that you remain on-site during this time, as if there is an emergency, we require all hands-on deck.
Weekends: Begins after all campers have departed, site is clean, and a debrief meeting has completed. For Day Camps, typically no later than 6 pm on Fridays, for overnight camps, typically no later than 2 pm, Friday.
Following that, you are off until Sunday a few hours before camper arrival, (typically 12:30 for overnight camps, 7:30 pm for Day Camps) when we regroup to discuss and prep for camper arrival.
Remember, with a start time of 7:30 am and going as late as 9:30pm (sometimes later), the days are long. Although nothing is that long, when you are having fun, it is so important to be sure Tamarack is a good match for you.
Our Time Off Policy: All staff will receive at least one hour a day off, at a set pre-determined time. Additional Time off is accepted with sufficient notice and must meet with scheduling needs and ratios for that week. If proper notice is not given to the Camp Director, we cannot guarantee that you will receive additional time off from work.
CAMP DETAILS
OUR LOCATION
We are located just south of Grande Prairie, Alberta off Highway 40. It is a quick 5-minute drive to the closest grocery store and pharmacy and 15 minutes to the airport. Grande Prairie is a small city, with the amenities of a large city.
CONTACT DETAILS
Phone: (780) 538-4694
Director cell: 403 850 6043
Email: info@camptamarack.ca Tigger Office Manager
Office@camptamarack.ca Patchy Office Assistant / Program Leader
Director@camptamarack.ca Fivah Executive Director
Asstdirector@camptamarack.ca Zuku Assistant Director
Mail: Box 1333, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4Z1
Webpage: www.camptamarack.ca
Follow us on: Facebook: facebook.com/camp.tamarack.gp
Instagram: #camptamarackgp
Important dates for 2024:
April 28th ~ Leadership Staff Arrival and Orientation
May 1st ~ Program leaders arrive
May 2nd ~ Intro/paperwork and watershed training
May 3 – 7th ~ ACCT Ropes Training (Spring/Fall Facilitators)
(The above dates may change slightly as the training schedule is finalized)
May 12 – 16 Program Training
TBD ~ Family Day Camp
May 8 – Jun 12 School Programs
June 13-20 ~ All Staff – Team Training/Bonding
June 23 ~ First Day of Camp
August 22 ~ Last Campers Depart
August 23 ~ Full Camp Clean and Staff Appreciation
August 24 ~ Last Day of Contract & Staff Departure Day
Sept 3-Oct 31 ~ Fall programming
Oct 11-13 This is Me/Operation M3
THE NEXT STEP: THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
Who Interviews me?
Your Initial Interview will be with either Assistant Director Zuku (Kevin), or the Director Fivah (Lynnell), and the link to schedule an interview is in the email we sent you with the pre-interview package. If you are short-listed, your second interview will be with Lynnell (Director, otherwise known as Fivah around camp.
~ Fivah~
This will be Fivah’s 3rd season at Camp Tamarack and she strives to make camp better every year for staff and campers. Her goal is to create an environment where staff feel confident and prepared for the season, safe owning their mistakes and comfortable seeking support when they need it. Fivah believes in leading by example and will own her mistakes and listen when her team has something to say.
She has worked as a youth programmer on cruise ships, lead counselor for holiday camps in Australia, and was Whistler Kids Snowboard Instructor of the year in 2004. Fivah has held many leadership roles on volunteer boards and with health and wellness organizations. She is excited about being a part of Camp Tamarack and working with the Assistant Director and Program Coordinators to develop the leadership skills of our team and getting to know the campers that join us during the summer.
She is originally from Innisfail, Alberta, attended the University of Calgary as a BFA student in Dance before transferring to Concordia University in Montreal to complete a BSC in Exercise Science and play for the Concordia Stingers Women’s Rugby team. Some of her favorite summer memories were at camp and she is thrilled to be a part of an inclusive barrier free camp. Developing leaders who are also stewards of our environment is something Fivah is passionate about. She looks forward to meeting you.
What do I need to do to be prepared for my interview?
Select a time from the calendar link you received in your email. We typically use Teams or Google for a video call. If your interview is in person, make sure you are on time for the right time, we will be at camp, but are busy with many tasks getting ready for summer and are not always in the office. Be prepared to talk about yourself, who you are, what you like to do, and why you want to work at Camp Tamarack. Please be prepared to teach a simple skill or song to a 6–9-year-old if you are shortlisted for a second interview (you will pretend that your interviewer is the child). Also, please have three questions prepared to ask, even if they seem silly, no question is irrelevant.