YMCA OutdooR CENTRE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Thank you for your interest in booking with the YMCA Outdoor Centre. Below you will find the answers to some frequently asked questions, that may assist you before booking your group.

Deposit

A deposit of $100.00 is due upon booking your group.  In the event we do not receive your deposit, we will be unable to guarantee holding your booking. The deposit is non-refundable.

Menu

Each group is given the option of picking their own menu. Your menu will be sent to you before your visit, this menu is due 1 month in advance of your booking. If we do not receive the menu, we will choose the meal options for your group. If your grouped is booked on site with another group, each group will receive 2 of their menu choices.

Dining Hall Procedures

Food is served family style or buffet style in the dining hall depending on the needs and requests of the group (school groups are generally served family style).

Food Allergies

It is no problem for our kitchen staff to accommodate food allergies. Please let us know at least 3-weeks prior to your stay with us if you have participants with any dietary concerns. Vegetarian options are always available, but we need to know ahead of time.

Junk Food

We provide plenty of food at meals and snacks. The decision to bring or not to bring junk food is left up to the group leader. (Please tell your participants not to bring any food that contains nuts). Food in cabins will also attract animals so we recommend it to be stored only in the kitchen. There is no gum chewing allowed on site.

Participant numbers

When you book you are asked for the predicted number of participants, your actual group numbers must be received 1 month before your booking. In the event we do not receive this information, your group will be charged for the number of participants you originally booked.

Program

Your actual program schedule will be completed prior to your visit with us. You will receive via email your tentative schedule. If you would like to make changes, you are welcome to contact us and discuss the details of the program you are participating in.

Program Instructors

Our ratio of program instructors to participants is 1 to 15

Parent Volunteers

Depending on the size of your group, you may be using parent volunteers.  One adult volunteer and one teacher per group of 15 participate in our programs free of charge.  Additional volunteer helpers or teachers are charged half of the visit price.

 

Facility

Due to the size of the facility we do book multiple groups on site at the same time. The programs are separate, but on occasion your group maybe sharing some of the common areas; dining hall, tarmac area, waterfront, ropes course and climbing wall.

Inclement weather

Our programs operate rain or shine, please take this into consideration and make sure your participants are dressed appropriately for the weather conditions.

Rebooking

Residential school groups will have their spot reserved for them for the following year automatically. A confirmation form will be mailed to you in advance of the booking. In the event you do not want the booking, please call us upon receiving the confirmation form to let us know, so that we can make the booking available. In the event we do not receive the confirmation form we will assume you no longer want the booking, but will contact you to verify this before opening up your spot.

Transportation Assistance

We know that sometimes the additional cost of transportation to the site may deter you from booking. We do have our own bus to assist with transportation to and from the site. Please call us for more information if you are interested in using our bus. The bus can accommodate 24 passengers.

Adult Visitor Resource Lounge

In the lounge you will find - tea, coffee, a refrigerator, tv with satellite, computer with internet access, washroom with bath and shower. Teachers and volunteers are welcome to use the resource room anytime during your visit.

First aid

Our staff are all qualified in basic first aid, but the actual administering of first aid and medication is the responsibility of the group leaders or teachers. We do stock basic first aid supplies on the site, but recommend that you bring your own first aid supplies and have a school staff member assigned to administer and record first aid with access to student med forms.

Emergency Vehicles & Communication In event of an emergency

All groups should have at least one vehicle at their disposal while on site during their stay. We also recommend a cell phone as the cabins do not have phones in the event of an emergency. Rogers cell service provides intermittent coverage on the site. Bell Mobility service provides excellent reception on the site. There is a land line available 24 hours a day for outgoing calls in the Teachers Lounge. After 5:00 pm there is an answering machine to receive incoming calls, but they are not checked until the following day.

Smoking or consumption of alcohol is not allowed onsite.

 

For general inquiries, booking or program information call 519-699-4096

Booking and Program Inquiries by email:  outdoor centre