Child 1 Age 7 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Arts & Crafts, Gaming, Chess
(5) Overall experience
My child has a lot of anxiety around participating in camps and activities, so I was a bit concerned about sending her to a new space for camp. Still, the JunXion was close to our home, and the Chess Camp seemed like a less stressful situation. And I was right!! My kid LOVED going. After the first day, she was more excited to go to camp than she ever had been. She enjoyed getting to play chess, getting to go outside, and the fact that they had excursions. In the past, she would cry and try to miss the excursion for any camp, but this time, she was psyched. I think a huge part of it was Vince and the team who ran the camp. My child immediately felt comfortable. Plus, they did so much each day that there was little time for worrying. She came home at the end with so many creative arts and crafts (all Chess themed) - it was impressive! She actually asked to go back to camp (another first for her).
(5) Reason for choosing the camp
We first learned about the Chess Camp at The JunXion from a local school silent auction. There were a couple of camps up for bidding, and this one had a unique topic (Chess) and was in our neighbourhood. I also appreciated that it offered more than just one activity - arts and crafts, outside play, and field trips were all included. Then I found out after registering that they have before and after care - bonus!
(5) Program quality and activities
There was enough structure in the day to support my high-anxiety kid so she knew what to expect, but also diversity in the activities so she didn't get bored. The camp had the kids outside every day (which I appreciated) and made the most of local parks and playgrounds, and used the TTC to go on field trips. The camp also balanced teaching/playing chess with more active time, which was a concern I had had at first.
(5) Social dynamics and experience
My child made friends across ages on the first day and looked forward to seeing them. The only downside came on Friday, which was the last day of camp and she was sad to see them go. But by then, we had already signed her up for another JunXion camp, so there was a chance for her to see them again. The entire camp was inclusive, responsive to the specific needs of individual kids and their families, and also catered to where the kids were at in terms of their chess abilities. Our kid was a bit more experienced, and Vince had her learning more and more challenging chess moves. The groups were small enough for the kids to get to know each other, but large enough so there were different kids to play with.
(5) Skills and growth
Our child not only improved her chess abilities, but she also gained significant self-confidence in going places without parents or family. That was the biggest gain for us. The trust she had in the staff was paramount. The activities were challenging enough to keep her interest, but also open so that kids could take them in the direction of their choosing. An example is one of the crafts they did was a memory book of pictures where the kids could add what they wanted from a bunch of options, really making it their own.
(5) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
Vince was AMAZING. I honestly can't stress enough how approachable he was with our kid and everyone (adults included). He seemed to genuinely want each kid to have a fantastic time and each parent to feel comfortable. He frequently mentioned that what was important to him, as a parent himself, was making it easy for parents to send their kids to camp. And he did!! The other counsellors were kind, outgoing, and friendly.
(5) Advice and tips
I would book early as it's not a huge camp and spots are likely to fill up quickly. We ended up hosting our child's fall birthday party at The JunXion as a result of how much she loved the camp (so beware, the kids may want to go back sooner than next summer!). The site also has kid dance parties and other events that can help introduce your child to the site if they are nervous.
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