In addition we have added the special cabin days, once a week and a bunk night, once a week, giving that little extra cabin time to help bond the kids. Also many campers see some or all of their cabin mates at their chosen activities since many campers in the cabin often pick many of the same activities. Some cabin groups even pick all of their activities as a bunk therefore treating those periods as cabin activities, while still ensuring that one or two periods of the day are left for individuals to pursue their favourite program. Of course with clean up, meals, rest hour, open and active, evening activities, night time and canoe trips, campers spend over half of their time with the cabin group. We think this is the perfect mix, giving campers the opportunity to do special crazy and fun things with their cabin group while having the opportunity to pick the activities of their choice during the day.

Also the activity counsellors (who are with older campers) know that their cabin is first priority and if time is required for a cabin issue, a homesick camper or any other issue that counsellor, makes that the number one concern. Therefore he or she is instructed to let their activity director know they will miss their activity to take care of a cabin or camper concern.

YOUR PERSONAL SCHEDULE
After touring the camp and meeting all of our activity heads, campers sit down with their counsellors on the first night of camp to pick the activities they wish to have on their schedule.

Each day has five programming periods and one "open" time at the end of the day that we call "O.A." Campers may choose to take an activity once every other day, once every day or sometimes, even twice daily. This allows campers to participate in up to 10 different activities at a time. For our younger campers, we encourage a broad selection of programs so they may try as many different activities as possible. However our program also allows older campers the ability to focus in on specific activities if they choose.

A small number of our programs including off-site programs like Riding and Golf, or Theatre, may have different time demands to accommodate production schedules or travel times. Campers will be informed during their activity selection time how these choices will influence their other choices.

Throughout the session, counsellors will continue to monitor how each camper's program choices are going. Staff may encourage changes during the season if they feel it will help give the child a more positive experience. Also, our Activity and Program Directors are available to help campers create the right mix of activities on a one on one basis. Schedule changes can be made regularly during the summer by dropping by the Program Office, so that campers may take more or less of an activity or replace a selection altogether. Campers may also request to take activities with cabin mates, siblings or other friends this way.

Doing activities with friends and cabin mates:
At Manitou all campers are placed at activities with campers from their own cabin and age group so that campers from the same cabin or unit can go to activities together if they so choose. In this way campers are always assured of being with other campers of the same age. (That does not mean in the arts that older kids for example may not be with some younger ones but it does mean that all younger kids that have signed up will be in the same period together. In sports we tend to keep older kids separate from younger kids for obvious reasons ). Our computerized scheduling system makes this all possible. Most importantly at Manitou campers can change a schedule at any time to be with a certain bunk mate, friend or sibling and often many campers from the same cabin do choose to do many activities together. At the same time campers have the ability to reach out and be individuals and try activities that other campers may not be interested in.

FRESHKIDS AND SOPHOMORES For our younger campers, our program starts out with a little more structure and supervision to assist campers coming to camp for the first time. For our Freshkids (ages 7 to 9) we schedule half their day as a cabin group. They will spend one period participating in one of the camp activities together and then will have a period of instructional swim each day. They will then choose an additional 6 activities to complete their schedule. For Sophomores (ages 10 and 11), swimming is the only mandatory activity taken as a group, which will be scheduled every other day. Sophomores may then choose up to an additional 9 activities for their schedule. Both Freshkids and Sophomores also have General Counsellors checking in with them throughout the day, ensuring that all of their programs are going smoothly.

CANOE TRIPS AND CABIN ACTIVITIES At times, regular activities give way to special cabin activities or canoe trips. All campers can choose to go on trip, be it an overnight for our first time campers or a 3, 4 or 5 night trip for our older campers, with an emphasis on fun and an appreciation for the environment. Likewise, often times cabin groups may go out on a hike, cook-out or paddle down the river. In-camp projects may include a special cabin plaque, mural or journal. Led by counsellors, such activities help bring campers together into a tighter cabin group. We encourage on site sleepovers at camp, in our teepee or anywhere on the campgrounds and of course combine that with campfires, smores and great singsongs.

O.A. AND OPEN TIMES
At the end of each day is Open & Active or O.A. This is a great time of day for campers to try new things as different activities will be open each day. They may enjoy some time with a friend swimming, or challenge a neighboring cabin to a game or in one of our sports areas.

Cabin Days and Nights are also scheduled once a week for campers to try different activities, or to play against other cabin groups in tournaments or challenges.