
Here is a list of some frequently asked questions – with answers! If you don’t find the answer you are looking for, please refer to our General Camp Policies or Rules and Guidelines documents! If your question still remains unanswered, don’t hesitate to email or call the camp office!
Email: campoffice@catonsisland.com Phone:(506) 468-6262
Unless otherwise stated,
Registration/Arrival is from 3:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday.
Departure is from 1:00pm to 3:00pm on Friday.
Family Camp arrival is between 6-7pm. Departure details will be sent out through email prior to the camp start date.
Arrival times for Beginners / Discovery Camps is on Wednesday at 9-11am. Departure time for Beginners/Discovery camps is on Saturday from 1:00pm-3:00pm.
Island Day Camp arrival is 8:00am-8:30am and departure is 4:30pm – 5:00pm
Normally, the boat will begin to make runs 15 – 20 min before above stated Arrival and Departure times. We are at the mercy of the weather so all boat runs are conditional on weather and river conditions.
Any other day or time other than arrival and departure days and times, please call ahead to the camp office to make an arranged visit.
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Swim suit (Girls- modest one piece. Boys – modest trunks)
- Beach towel
- Shower towel
- Sun Screen
- Hat
- Toiletries – soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.
- Rain coat
- Extra clothes (shirts, shorts, underwear, long pants, socks)
- Sweater and/or Jacket
- Canteen money (if not prepaid)
- Bible
- Optional: Flashlight, Camera, and extra money for camp t-shirts.
We recommend $20 for the week. $30 is plenty and $15 will get you by.
A camp t-shirt usually costs around $12.
Step 1: Go to https://catonsisland.campbrainregistration.com
Step 2: Sign-in
Step 3: Scroll down and click “View details” under “View My Submitted Registrations”.
Step 4: On the right-hand side of the page under the “Financial” section, click the yellow “New Payment” button. Enter your credit card information and click “Process Payment”.
Yes, you can, but we encourage you to consider driving your camper so that there is diminished boat traffic on the river. We ask that you please call or email the camp office to inform the island staff so that our boat drivers are aware of your boat heading to the island.
This decision is usually made on a case by case basis. Most of the time we allow campers who are a year older or younger to attend; we don’t want a few months to get in the way of your child coming to camp! Feel free to call or email the camp office to discuss how we can best serve your camper!
On registration day canteen money will be collected at the registration tables. Money collected from each camper is placed in a TAB account. The name of the camper, their cabin, as well as the amount of money left will be recorded. This then becomes a debit system where each day campers have the opportunity to place orders and the charges are simply deducted from the money they had initially. This is done entirely on paper. At the end of the session, remainders are tallied and money is refunded from the Canteen. It is the responsibility of the campers and guardians to pick up the remaining canteen money, with kind reminders at the sign-out log and by counsellors.
Parents may visit camp on arrival and departure day. Visitations during camp session are discouraged to help avoid homesickness and disruption of camp routine. If a visit is absolutely necessary, please call the camp office in advance.
The phones are used for business and emergency purposes. We discourage campers calling home and allow this only after all avenues are exhausted. If you call we will take a message and have them return your call if necessary. Please note: Phone calls from home often promote homesickness. If you think your camper may get homesick from a phone call, and you would like to know how they are doing; we can gladly get a cabin counsellor to answer your questions.
Caton’s Island is not specifically designed to handle high level special needs campers. Due to the nature of the island demographics (cabin placement, wooded trails…) Caton’s Island is not wheelchair accessible. We do accept low level special needs after a consultation with the parents/guardians to determine if we can meet the needs of the camper. If the camper require a full-time attendant due to the nature of their disability, Caton’s Island will make attempt to make accommodations for them, again in consultation with the parents/guardians.
Food at camp is specially prepared with nutrition in mind. We also know that a lot of energy is used up at camp playing sports and games, so we make sure there’s always plenty to eat in a variety of food servings that will replenish much needed energy. We are sensitive to the allergies of our campers and are always ready to make accommodations should the need arise. Please consult camp leadership regarding any issues related to meals. If the camper has a special dietary requirement that we may not have at camp (soy milk, special non-wheat products for example) please feel free to bring some to camp and we can distribute it at meals for them. We are a “Nut Aware” camp, meaning that we do not serve any nut products in the kitchen or in the canteen, however we cannot control what campers bring for snacks in their luggage.
Caton’s Island is not responsible for lost or stolen clothing or belongings at camp. Caton’s Island promotes tidiness in the living quarters and encourages campers to take responsibility for their personal belongings. To further reduce the risk of misplaced belongings, please label all belongings with name tags or permanent marker that clearly identifies the owner. Campers should not bring new or expensive clothing or belongings to camp. Expensive watches, jewelry, music devices, and games should not be sent.
Stray items found during the week are placed on a table by the sign-out table for parents to look through. Items not claimed are washed, if necessary, and hung in the Lost and Found room. Parents are welcome to look through the Lost And Found for items missing.
Laundry is done on an as needed basis. This means that campers can be expected to return home with dirty clothes. Caton’s Island will arrange for significantly soiled items to be laundered as best we can. However, clothing that becomes soiled within the 24 hours prior to pick-up may not be washed, due to time constraints. In this case, these items would be completely rinsed, placed in a plastic bag, and returned home for laundering.
Caton’s Island accepts all who apply, without discrimination, regardless of race, national origin, or religious belief. The Wesleyan Church believes that Christians ought to manifest social concern in every manner that is in keeping with their Christian testimony. (The Wesleyan Church Discipline, 2016, 410.1)
- Campers will get up to three warnings for misconduct.
- As well, privileges may be lost (ie: canteen).
- The second warning will include a phone call home.
- The third warning may result in early dismissal.
- Campers dismissed from camp will NOT receive a refund.
Due to a high volume of visitors over the course of the summer, Caton’s Island has developed a Visitor Policy in order to ensure the safety of our campers. A visitor can be defined as anyone on the island who is neither a staff member nor a camper, at the specific time that they are here.
Each visitor must follow these steps:
- Upon arrival at the mainland parking lot, visitors may call the office to ask for transportation to the Island via the Caton’s boat. If you want you use your cell phone to call, you can reach the main office at 1-506-468-6262.
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All visitors must report to the main office and sign-in. They must state the purpose of their visit and let the administration staff know how long they intend to remain on the camp grounds.
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When departing all visitors must again report to the main office and sign the sign-out sheet. From there, the administration staff will contact a boat driver who will then take the visitor(s) back to the landing.
As mentioned in the Visitor Policy, anyone failing to report to the main office upon arrival on Caton’s Island may be asked to leave. An unauthorized person could impose danger on our campers and therefore we must treat the situation seriously. Upon realization of an unauthorized person, staff will sound the alarm bell and all campers will assemble to the previously determined meeting place. The Camp Director will be informed of such unauthorized persons and will determine the appropriate steps of action to take from asking such person to leave the island or calling the appropriate authorities.
All campers will be checked on registration day for head lice. In the event we discover lice/nits the camper will have to return home. Due to the difficult nature of removing lice/nits, the camper may not return to camp that week, however, a refund or rescheduling the camper for another week will occur. It is recommended that you check your campers a couple of days in advance for lice before coming to camp to avoid the embarrassment of the camper having to return home. If we discover lice mid week we will notify the parents/guardians of the situation and ask them to pick up the camper. As well we will notify parents/guardians of children who have come in contact with the infected camper.
Below are some useful links on head lice:
Caton’s Island has a medic or nurse on staff at each camp. Ambulance service is less than 15 minutes away in case of an emergency. This medic or nurse will collect and dispense medications that campers are taking. Campers are required to discuss a medical questionare upon arrival. “Yes” answers to any of the questions will then be discussed with the camp medic for consideration. Campers with severe flues, or an active communicable disease that cannot be managed at camp will be sent home.
Make sure to carefully consider the amount of medication sent for the number of days the camper will be at camp. Send a more than adequate supply of all necessary medications. The medications must be sent in the originally labeled container from the pharmacy. These labels should include strength, dosage, instructions and doctor’s name. It is always helpful to send written instructions for the medic. These medications will be kept under lock and key in the camp infirmary and distributed by the camp medic when necessary. The infirmary always has over the counter items such as headache and nausea medication, bandages etc.
If a camper’s conduct or management becomes dangerous to themselves or to others we will: manage the situation to the best of our ability given the staff and resources; contact the parents or emergency contact person for guidance and to inform of action taken. Unresolvable problems rarely occur at camp but when all other plans of action have been tried we will ask the parents/guardians to transport the camper home.
- Campers will get up to three warnings for misconduct.
- As well, privileges may be lost (ie: canteen).
- The second warning will include a phone call home.
- The third warning may result in early dismissal.
- Campers dismissed from camp will NOT receive a refund.
Cooperation with and respect for those in authority is expected and required.
- Leave cell phones, ipads, ipods, electronic games, etc. and bad attitudes at home.
- Camper’s are expected to behave in a safe and non-aggressive manner.
- Camper’s are not allowed in restricted areas. (Staff housing areas, pastures, etc.)
- Proper footwear and clothing required while participating on the ropes course.
-For ropes course: Sneakers – sandals not allowed, long pants or shorts. - Modest clothing is required at all times
Girls:
– Modest one-piece bathing suit ONLY
– Tube tops, low-cut and spaghetti straps are
inappropriate. - For the protection of our campers, while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere of fun and adventure, Caton’s Island insists that campers adhere to our code of conduct. No alcohol, tobacco, drugs or sexual misconduct will be tolerated. Campers breaking this code, or who are rebellious and uncooperative may be picked up early by parents. (No refund will be issued to these campers.) Every effort, however, will be made to make your child’s stay at camp both enjoyable and safe.
Caton’s Island adheres to a strict no cell phone/electronics policy for campers. Caton’s believes that the camp experience is a way of stepping outside the rhythm and routine of everyday life into an engaging week which helps to shape the campers independence and problem solving abilities. The camp atmosphere encourages campers to step outside of their comfort zones and participate in new activities free from electronics. Cell phones may promote homesickness, hinder the camper’s ability to create friendships and allow inappropriate posting of pictures to social media sites . In adherence to this policy, campers should not bring electronic games, i-pods or cell phones to camp.
Caton’s Island is committed to providing a high quality camp experience for each of our campers. However, from time to time, there are issues that need attention. Please feel free to call and discuss these issues with our Camp Director, Assistant Director, or office staff by phone or e-mail. Talk to our staff as soon as problems arise so we can work towards a solution immediately.
Campers are not permitted to smoke at camp. Please do not send or encourage campers to bring cigarettes to camp. The camp must be informed about campers with a nicotine habit.
If you are looking to apply for financial assistance download the PDF form here.
Caton’s Island is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all campers / registrants. The recent public health situation involving multiple confirmed cases of the measles within New Brunswick has prompted Caton’s Island to implement the following policy:
- Campers who have had or have been in contact with the measles in the past 21 days (21 days prior to the first day of arriving on the island) are asked to stay home. This ensures the health and safety of all campers and staff and is the most effective way to prevent an outbreak.
- If Caton’s Island discovers that a camper is showing signs / symptoms of the measles while at camp, the camper will be quarantined, the parents will be immediately contacted and the camper will be sent home. Caton’s Island will then contact all parents /guardians to notify them of the suspected case.
- Caton’s Island will not block any camper without immunization from attending camp. However, Caton’s Island highly encourages all campers to make sure that their immunizations are up to date to ensure the health of all campers and staff.
- Caton’s Island encourages all parents to be familiar with the symptoms and precautions involving the measles. Please visit the following website to get up to date information.
- https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/ocmoh/cdc/content/measles.html
A camp registration may be canceled at anytime; however, the $50 deposit is non-refundable. Any other money paid for the canceled week of camp will be refunded.