Child 1 Age 9 - 11 (Male)
Program(s) focused in Traditional (multi activity) , Computer (multi)
(5) Overall experience
My child was very apprehensive before starting camp. They did a whole introduction with them and met with them beforehand. They were very eager to incorporate any accommodations he needed. After attending camp he was more willing to try new things which was amazing. He had come home with activities they had done that he was so proud of. The counselors are absolutely wonderful and so patient. My child is a handful and they are amazing with him. I will be sending my kid there again and would highly recommend Columbus Center.
(5) Reason for choosing the camp
I originally chose this camp from a friend's recommendation. I then went in to meet the director and he was amazing. He explained the accommodations that they could do and was just really open to providing the support my son needed. The location was really great. The only bummer was that you had to pay for parking during the drop-off and pick-up time. The ticketers are right on top of you. But other than that the hours were great, especially the extended hours and they provided lunch.
(5) Program quality and activities
I wish moving forward they would have more computer and tech camps available which they are currently looking into which is awesome. I had enrolled my son into the more general type cuz I would best suit his interest. He really liked the swimming that they did at the Columbus Center pool. The variety of activities and the flexibility they have were amazing. The overall effort in accommodations and just trying to ensure that all the kids were taken care of and had a great time was exceptional.
(5) Social dynamics and experience
My son has a lot of problems making friends and they can't really help with that. They also paired them up with counselors who had similar interests with him which helped him open up and become more engaged. There were no issues with bullying at all. It is a highly inclusive space and my kid always felt welcomed and that it was a safe space for him to be himself.
(5) Skills and growth
My son's overall skills with flexibility and pushing him out of his comfort zone greatly improved. Each week he just got better and we had fewer behavioral challenges at the camp. He learned to try new activities outside of his comfort zone. [He really enjoyed] the visitors that they had come in from outside: There was an animal visit and my son really enjoyed learning about the animals.
(5) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
Kind of feel like I'm repeating myself. The counselors really went out of their way to make my son included and accommodate his special needs and make him feel welcomed. They paired him up with counselors that had the same nerdy interests as him and he loved it. They are truly very inclusive and very accommodating.
(5) Advice and tips
My advice would be to take advantage of the opportunity to meet the counselor and the director ahead of time. It really helps on the first day that they already have someone that they know and can gravitate to.
Nope, there really wasn't anything I can think of that I needed to know in addition. Of course, I'm always very upfront with what my child needs and had lots of questions at the meet-and-greet so after that, there really weren't any concerns that were not addressed.
This will be our third year sending our kids to summer camp at Columbus Centre, and we couldn’t be happier! There are so many program options to choose from so it’s easy to find something each of ...
