Transcript of our interview with Rob, Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp: Parent Interview with Rob Tyo

How did you know Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp was the right fit?

We had some friends who’d had really good experiences at Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp, and when we heard the excitement that their kids had had in going to overnight camp and volunteering at overnight camp, we thought it would probably be a good fit for our kids.

Initially, we chose it honestly just because of convenience and cost. It was in the area, it was close by, and it was reasonably priced. But over time, we really realized that it was a lot more than that.

Our daughters loved it. They wanted to keep going back. They would give up other camps and other opportunities to go back for more weeks. Every year, they’re so excited to go back year after year. And so it really tells the story itself when you have kids who are excited to go back.

What’s unique about Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp?

I think the community aspect of Pleasant Bay Camp is unique, and it’s probably easy to say that for a lot of different camps and a lot of different places, but it really is true. They form such deep relationships, and yes, it’s between camper and camper, but it’s also with their counselors.

They’ve really done a fantastic job creating an environment where kids feel safe, where they feel encouraged, and where they’re challenged to grow. The counselors are making an investment in my kids, and so it’s more than just a fun week away. I think there are probably a lot of places where you can send your kids to have a good time and where you can find fun. But that time of real connection, that time of intentional growth and investment into their future, I think that’s really what stands out.

You add in the mix of outdoor activities, exciting adventures that they get to be a part of, and the faith-based component. It’s a place where they’re growing in confidence, where they’re learning skills, but also where they’re developing their faith.

Was there any personal growth you saw in your child?

Our daughters have actually begun to take their faith a lot more seriously because of their time at Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp. We’ve seen that they’ve both been baptized, and they’re actively serving in our church in different ways too. They’re choosing intentional ways to be involved in our community.

They’ve built lasting friendships that have already started to continue throughout the years. We’ve seen them become much more independent. We’ve seen them become more willing to try new things and to challenge themselves.

One of my daughters is right at the cutoff for camp. This will be her last year, and she’s already excited to apply to become a counselor. She’s considering the LIT program, and that’s because of how much she’s grown, right? She’s going through the process of becoming a lifeguard because she wants to be the waterfront director one day. She wants to be that kind of leader for other kids because of what she’s experienced.

How can a parent support their child to get the most out of the experience at Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp?

As a parent, when they were young, there was a part of me that was a little scared to send them away. I didn’t grow up going to overnight camp like this. I did other types of camps, and I did a lot of day camps. But as a parent, there’s a little bit of that hesitancy to relinquish control sometimes.

Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp created such a calmness in us that we felt comfortable leaving them there and sending them there for camp. From the communication with parents to being able to come and see the facility when you drop them off, we knew they were in good hands after meeting the staff.

Our daughters themselves had a little bit of homesickness along the way, and the camp just handled it so well. It was just a quick phone call for some reassurance. They let us know that, worst-case scenario, if it really was too much, they could transition to day camp. But they chose to stay in overnight camp, and they enjoyed their whole week.

I’m so glad they did. And they’re so glad they did because they came home with all these stories, all this confidence, and a sense of accomplishment. And so as parents, it was easy when you’ve got a camp that’s partnering with you to help make that successful.

What would you tell other parents about the overall value of Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp?

It’s not just about the fun activities. They’ve got resources like boating and tubing, water skills, arts and crafts, and archery. But it really is about building those lifelong friendships and growing in faith and confidence in a supportive environment.

It goes beyond that week that they’re there. Like I said, we’ve seen that in their daily lives, and I can’t express that enough, right? They’re forming these friendships, and they’re growing in skills that are going to pay dividends for them later.

We see Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp as not just a fun week for them, but as an investment in their future. And so we see what we’re able to offer them and what the camp is able to offer them as an investment in their faith, in their character, and really in just them growing as wonderful human beings.

What does your child say about Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp?

They love it. It’s an adventure to them. Every single time, Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp is always an adventure.

The thing that they always talk about the most is the people. They just can’t wait to see their friends every summer. They can’t wait to trade contact information so they can stay in touch during the off-season, right? It’s so special to them.

They come home with so many stories. The campfires, the sing-alongs, and even just the fun banter that happens around the dinner table—they talk about all of it.

They’ve built these relationships with some of their counselors, and it’s because the counselors don’t see it as a job necessarily, right? They care about these kids whom they’re investing in. And so my kids feel that, and they talk about it. They’re so happy to go back every year.

Any final thoughts on your experience with Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp?

If you’re on the fence about sending your kid to overnight camp, you really should just dive in and do it. It’s been an enormous blessing to our family. It’s been a place where kids are encouraged to grow. It’s a place where we see that excitement, and they can just be kids, but they can also challenge themselves.

Our world is a changing place, and to find this little sanctuary where they can still be kids but they can also challenge themselves, where they can be mentored but they can also just have fun, where they can build relationships and you can also see the impact when they’re done at the end of the week—that is a unique environment, and that’s something that I think every kid can benefit from.

If you’re thinking about it, if you’re on the fence about it, or if you’re just not sure, jump in and go for it. It’s not just a camp. It’s a place that’s going to shape your kids’ lives for years to come.

Last year, they did a full week of overnight camp, and it was great. Then we had them signed up for horseback riding lessons and some other things in the county there. And they were like, “Can we just come back for another week?” They were just so excited. So it was great.

Transcript of our interview with Amy, Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp: Parent Interview with Amy Dulmage

How did you know Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp was the right fit?

I knew Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp was the right fit for both my kids because they came home raving about it. We tried other day camps in the past, and they weren’t their favourite. They just loved the setting of Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp, and they loved all the activities and the friends that they made there.

Just listening to them talk about it and ask to go again the following summer answered my question, right? That just solidified that they really, really did enjoy it.

What’s unique about Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp?

We really love the setting of Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp. It’s a very humble, grassroots, down-to-earth camp. It’s not flashy. There’s not a ton of overstimulating activities, which I think some camps can have.

There are a lot of outdoor activities. It’s a way for kids to disconnect from technology. The things that we would highlight are that the environment is very calm, it’s very down-to-earth, and it’s a way for kids to disconnect.

Was there any personal growth you saw in your child?

Some personal growth that we saw with both of our children was just the ability to jump into a new situation, make new friends, make new connections, and stick with it and really enjoy it. Both my kids can be a little bit anxious in newer situations, especially with new people and new adults whom they don’t know very well. It gave them a big confidence boost to know that they can do new things that can be a little bit intimidating or scary.

We also saw some self-advocacy. They’re able to speak up for themselves and problem-solve a little bit for themselves or talk to someone other than just Mom and Dad to help with some conflicts or any other issues that they have. So we saw a big confidence boost with both of our kids.

How can a parent support their child to get the most out of Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp?

I think starting them off with day camp is a really good stepping stone. It enables them to experience a lot of the different activities that are provided at the camp in a less intimidating situation.

Overnight camp can be a little bit intimidating for some kids, so day camp is a really good stepping stone. They get to experience pretty much all the same activities, and it’s a good way to just see what they like.

How can parents overcome hesitancy to send their children away overnight?

Each child is different. Just see what your child’s comfort level is. Day camp, again, is a really good stepping stone to see what they enjoy. For my kids specifically, they both enjoyed day camp so much that they begged to go to overnight camp.

Also, get to know the staff and get to know the director. Sometimes there are volunteer opportunities on-site that you can get involved with yourself, and it’s a really great opportunity to get to know the staff who are working with our kids, the directors, the program, and how everything functions. It can alleviate some of the anxiety as a parent too, leaving your child for an overnight camp.

What would you tell other parents about the overall value of sending kids to Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp?

The overall value of Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp, I see, is that it’s a great way to connect with other kids whom they wouldn’t normally get to connect with. There are kids from all over Ontario who come to this camp, and so it’s a great way to make some new friendships and make some new connections that way.

This camp is a great way to disconnect from technology, the internet, and social media and learn some new skills. I think kids are really bombarded with those things now.

I think overall your kids will get a good, well-rounded experience and also some self-advocacy skills too. Just having some time away from home is also really great for kids to learn different skills for themselves and just different ways that they can function outside of home and be able to have the confidence to make those decisions themselves.

What do your children say about Pleasant Bay Adventure Camp?

Both my kids love tubing and they love the rock wall. Those are two of their favourite activities that they have experienced at camp. Both of them have loved day camp and overnight camp, the fun activities they have planned, and campfires at night.

Sometimes there are fun, silly activities like Camper’s Revenge, where the campers get to crack eggs over the counselors’ heads, and it’s either a raw egg or a hard-boiled egg. They love that sort of stuff, and it’s a good chance to just kind of let loose and be silly, but also have a good amount of structure in learning some new skills.

They love coming home and saying, “Oh, I tried archery and I hit the target.” So there are just lots of things for them to do and lots of things for them to try that they come home and just love talking about.