Camp FAQ

Campers rotate throughout the day to the different activities relative to their camp session. As long as the weather co-operates, all campers swim and ride horses daily with the exception of some of our specialty camps. All overnight campers participate in a large camp game after supper and finish the day with a fun and meaningful campfire.

Junior Camp ranchers stay at the “Hotel” while all other ranchers sleep in cabin style, Conestoga covered wagons. The wagons and hotel rooms have bunk beds with mattresses. Campers attending in August are encouraged to bring extra blankets due to cooler weather.

Circle Square Ranch has an experienced team of cooks who prepare delicious and nutritious meals during camp with a variety of healthy snack options at Canteen times. Campers with particular dietary requirements are encouraged to consult with camp prior to their arrival.

Yes. To help reduce lost and found items we ask that all possessions brought to camp be labelled. We attempt to help care for the camper’s clothing, but often considerable amounts get left behind. Clothes will be accessible at sign-out at the end of each camp session.

We will retain lost and found for one month following camp. If not claimed by then, we will donate appropriate items to a local charity. Medication will be disposed of within two weeks following the camper’s week of attendance. Calls to the camp regarding lost and found will be handled as time permits. We can only look for labelled items. Any found items will be sent C.O.D. (at your expense).

Campers are encouraged not to bring valuable clothing or possessions. Circle Square Ranch is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items.

Circle Square Ranch is a nondenominational, Christian camp that promotes the teachings of Jesus Christ. We welcome children and youth of any faith and race, encouraging young lives to grow spiritually, mentally, socially and physically.

Your child will have a devotional time during the day (approximately ½ hour) plus an evening campfire (approximately 1 hour) that will focus on predetermined topics as laid out in the Circle Square Ranch general program. These are times of introduction to Christian values and beliefs presented through small and large group discussions, skits, songs and Bible study.

Circle Square is owned and operated by InterVarsity who has been operating summer camps and year-round outdoor educational programs since 1929. We operate nine summer camps across Canada under the names of Pioneer Camp and Circle Square Ranch.

As part of InterVarsity, we believe that summer camp offers a tremendous opportunity for children and teens to grow and mature emotionally, socially and spiritually. At Circle Square Ranch, campers are respected as individuals, challenged and encouraged in all aspects of life, and given the opportunity to experience and develop authentic relationships with peers and leaders. Skill development, social development, personal and spiritual growth are all intentionally fostered by staff and have been hallmarks of the InterVarsity Camp experience since 1929. Finally, and equally importantly, we want every child’s experience to be tremendously fun.

The overall camper to staff ratio is four to one. In each camp, campers are divided into activity groups with at least one staff member assigned to lead and give instruction along with travel group leaders.

Overnight there is a minimum of one counselor to 7 campers. For daily activities the ratio is 2 leaders plus an instructor for 15-20 campers. Trained leaders supervise all activities.

The camp directors have more than 30 years of experience in youth, student and camp ministries.

Our summer leadership team consists of individuals with previous camping experience as well as specific skills and training in their area of responsibility.

The following items are not permitted at Circle Square Ranch and, if brought, will be held in the office for the duration of the camper’s session:

• electronic games, players, entertainment and communication devices (cell phones)
• jack knives, hunting knives, matches or lighters
• nuts and/or peanut products
• chewing gum
• inappropriate reading materials
• alcoholic beverages, narcotics or tobacco products

Do not bring anything valuable to camp as occasionally things do get lost or broken.

We reserve the right to send home any camper who fails to cooperate. Circle Square Ranch is a NON-SMOKING facility. Please discuss this with your child prior to camp should you consider this to be a concern.

Yes, we have a Canteen that is open to the public on Friday, Saturday following the Rodeo, Sunday during registration hours and registration days. Campers are not encouraged to keep cash in their personal belongings though, so canteen money is submitted to the camp office during registration where it is carefully recorded and safely kept. Campers make orders from their account and receive canteen purchases daily as ordered. Purchases are deducted from their canteen account with the balance of any remaining money returned when they are signed out at the end of their camp session.

We suggest a weekly amount of $20-$30.

*Please note: Regular camp fees do not include canteen purchases, clothing and souvenirs.

Registration is between 4-6 pm only.

Remember to bring any important forms, as well as canteen and picture money. A parent, guardian or a responsible adult must accompany ALL campers. ALL medications and canteen money are to be handed in at registration. If you have any questions, please contact us.

There is a closing program for each camp and we encourage you to come and watch your child as they participate. Please check the email correspondence that you would have received with your confirmation as it would give you specific details on your child’s camp. Sign-out will follow immediately. Because many of you travel quite a distance, we offer a BBQ following the rodeo, with hamburgers and hot dogs for sale.

• Rodeo is at 11 am for most camps, but two camps have a rodeo on Fridays at 4:30 pm
• Junior camps have carnival on the last day which is at 4:30 pm Fridays (except All Girls which is also 11 am Saturday)
• Please be ready to assume responsibility for your child at the completion of the closing program. If you are not able to attend, please arrange to have your child picked up.
• All campers must be signed out before leaving. Please notify the office if someone else will be picking up your child at departure as they will be required to sign them out.
• Medications are to be picked up when signing out your camper.

Our friendly atmosphere and understanding staff help campers overcome the natural fears and concerns of being away from home. Getting kids involved in the program and making new friends helps to overcome the fears associated with leaving home and their family. It is our goal to make their stay at Circle Square Ranch as enjoyable as possible. The camp director will spend time with any homesick child and, if necessary call the parent.

With that in mind, we encourage parents and family not to visit during the week. If a child is homesick, a visit by family is usually not helpful. As well, other campers who are feeling homesick and are aware of the visit may request similar privileges and in most cases, this is not possible. We encourage family to spend as much time on arrival as they feel necessary.

Health and Safety are emphasized at all times at Circle Square Ranch. We strive to provide safe and enjoyable activities. We have a qualified medical person on staff, available 24 hours a day. CSR leadership staff are trained in First Aid and CPR. Emergency services are available within minutes of the ranch property.

Drinking water is lab analyzed regularly for quality. Our facilities are inspected on a regular basis and are up to code. Our staff are all trained in emergency procedures and safety protocols should they need to be implemented.

Yes. Because a high level of care for campers is so important to us, the operation of all activities and facilities where campers could potentially experience injury is governed by our risk management manual. This manual clearly details required supervision levels, equipment checks, and operating guidelines to ensure the safe participation of all campers. As well, campers and staff alike are trained to recognize and respond to signals in case of an emergency. This emergency procedure is practised in a drill early in every session.

Medical care is a vital part of our role for your child at the ranch. Please advise us at registration if there are any changes to your child’s medical information. The ranch reserves the right to refuse admission to any camper with a suspected contagious condition (i.e. chickenpox, lice). To ensure your child has an enjoyable week and to protect other campers, please have any condition treated completely before coming to camp. If this is not possible, please call and reschedule to another week, depending on availability.

Due to the structure of our program, Circle Square Ranch requests that medications required throughout the year be sent with your child to camp. All medication brought to camp MUST be kept by ranch staff, including vitamins, puffers and Tylenol. They must be labelled properly with medication name and directions for use. Prescription medication MUST be in the original container with user’s name printed on label. If you want your child to carry their puffer or epipen with them please bring a fanny pack for that purpose. We also request that a second puffer or epipen be checked in with the camp nurse.

Please do not use the week of camp as a break from medication.

All medications left behind after camp will be disposed of after two weeks.

All campers must provide a valid health number and completed medical information on application. Out-of-province campers must have medical insurance.

Details regarding medical/behavioral concerns are to be communicated in writing. Please call to discuss any concerns/special needs by phone.

Should your child have severe food allergies, please contact us at least one week ahead of arrival at the ranch to help us with menu planning. This will allow us to prepare appropriately to ensure your child has an enjoyable stay at camp. If a special diet is required for reasons other than medical needs (i.e. vegetarian), you will be required to provide specialties. Circle Square Ranch will make every effort to accommodate allergies; however, we cannot guarantee that there will be no trace of an allergen in food served. We strive to be a nut free facility and do not knowingly serve foods containing nuts. We sell only nut free products in our store.

Circle Square Ranch cannot guarantee to be a nut/peanut free environment. We do seek to reduce the risk of exposure and therefore do not use or serve peanuts, peanut products or tree nuts on camp property. Nuts or products containing nuts will not be available in our store. However, the food we purchase and serve may contain traces of nut products.

In the interest of protecting your children, please note that all campers will undergo a lice check on the day of registration. Parents are required to stay until this has been done. If any evidence of infestation is found, the child will be sent home for treatment, nit removal & laundering of bedding/pillows before returning. Please inspect your children the day before to ensure they are lice/nit-free.

We provide approved riding helmets, which all campers are required to wear when horseback riding. Campers may bring their own approved riding helmet. No bike helmets please.

Circle Square Ranch is a smoke-free facility. Smoking by campers is prohibited.

Fee includes all meals for camps, housing, use of all recreational equipment and facilities, instruction in activities, and awards.

Fee does not include transportation to and from the ranch or canteen purchases.

There is no staying over for an extra night. Parents must come and pick them up.

Financial assistance is available but is limited and for those who qualify. Assistance is at the discretion of the Director. Contact the office at 306.698.2662 for information and a scholarship application. The deadline for applications is June 1.

Yes, you do have to use a credit card.  If you are paying by cheque or cash, you need to mail in a paper application.

An alternate payment option is only applicable if you are applying for scholarship.