TORONTO FAMILY HANDBOOK SUMMER 2019 WWW.TRUENORTHCAMPS.COM [email protected] 416.619.1224 #PLAYALLDAY Table of Contents 2 Who We Are 3 Our Story 4 Why Attend True North Sports Camps 5 Camp Staff and Leadership Team 6 What’s New This Summer 7 What You Need to Know about Camp 9 What to Bring to Camp Each Day 10 Sport-Specific Equipment 12 Locations – Glenview Park 13 Locations – Memorial Park 14 Locations – Bond Park 15 FAQ 16 Transportation 17 Pictures, Social Media, and Blog! 18 Health and Safety 20 Important Dates 21 Contact Information WWW.TRUENORTHCAMPS.COMWWW.TRUENORTHCAMPS.COM [email protected] [email protected] 416.619.1224 416.619.1224 #PLAYALLDAY #PLAYALLDAY 2 Who We Are True North Sports Camps offers year-round sports programming for boys and girls ages 4–14 of all skill levels in Toronto, Etobicoke and Markham. We operate summer day camps as well as after-school and weekend clinics for baseball, flag football, basketball, soccer and multi-sport. At True North Sports Camps, we believe that recreational sports are an important part of every child’s development and we make it our top priority to deliver a truly memorable experience. With low camper to staff ratios, our outstanding coaches are committed to building an individual rapport with each and every camper. All of our energetic coaches are experts in their sport, who love to share their knowledge of the game while stressing the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork and fair play. We focus on creating an encouraging environment where all players learn something new, stay active and have fun! Since 2007, our goal has remained the same: to provide the highest quality sports instruction in a fun, safe and encouraging environment. WWW.TRUENORTHCAMPS.COM [email protected] 416.619.1224 #PLAYALLDAY 3 Our Story Following humble beginnings as a local baseball camp, True North Sports Camps' sports programs have become a staple throughout Toronto and the GTA. True North offers year-round programs for boys and girls ages 4 to 14 in Toronto, Etobicoke and Markham. We offer a variety of different sports camps as well as after-school and weekend programs, including: baseball, flag football, basketball, soccer and multi-sport. True North Sports Camps (TNSC) was launched in 2007 by four wide-eyed university students. Having coached competitive youth baseball for several summers, the four decided to create a local baseball camp - originally known as North Toronto Baseball Camp - in order to give back to their community and to continue doing what they love: teaching young athletes the wonderful game of baseball. After their first summer, NTBC quickly earned the reputation as Toronto’s premier source for baseball day camps and after-school clinics. Boys and girls from the community signed up to have fun with their friends and learn baseball in a pressure-free environment. Whether it was the weekly tournaments and cool giveaways, or the scouting reports and unique drills, there was always something fun for all skill levels. In 2016, NTBC expanded to form TNSC, offering baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer and multi-sport programs. Based on the overwhelming response from campers and parents, TNSC launched a new location in Etobicoke in 2017 and Markham in 2018. As we embark on our 13th summer, TNSC looks forward to building upon the quality of our programs in Toronto, Etobicoke, and Markham. We hope to see you soon! WWW.TRUENORTHCAMPS.COM [email protected] 416.619.1224 #PLAYALLDAY 4 Why Attend True North Sports Camps? Campers get a fantastic opportunity to develop their athletic skills, to remain active, and to learn valuable life lessons including sportsmanship, teamwork, and fair play. Campers are divided into skill groups based on age and skill level, and throughout the week they participate in unique drills, fun games, and mini competitions. With tons of giveaways and prizes, as well as individual scouting reports (similar to a report card), each and every camper receives individual attention and leaves the week with something special. Five reasons to attend True North Camps: CHOICE. OUR CULTURE. We have something for everyone! We’ve created the perfect balance between advanced skill Whether you enjoy baseball, soccer, basketball, instruction and having fun in a summer camp environment! flag football, or multi-sport, we have a sport and While learning various skills from our outstanding coaches, program for you. campers also get to participate in our themed Fun Fridays, site-wide games, water activities, and more. In order to ensure that all campers have a memorable and positive camp experience, we make it a priority to create a camp environment is safe, encouraging and inclusive. OUR STAFF. We go to great lengths to ensure we hire the best possible people. This involves a unique interview process that includes: PARENT EXPERIENCE. a formal interview, a practical assessment, and a communication/ teamwork component. Once hired, we invest a significant We strive to provide outstanding customer service to all amount of time to ensure our staff are properly trained and given of our camp families. Whether you are a 10+ year True North the resources they need to succeed. Our staff are able to make family, or joining us for the first time, you can expect our sure every camper has the best experience possible with our Leadership Team to respond quickly and thoughtfully to all low 6:1 camper to counsellor ratio (even lower for the younger of your questions and concerns. Don’t hesitate to reach out! age groups). Our Program Directors and Leadership Team are not included in this ratio, which allows them to provide extra on-site support and assistance. Above all, True North Camps believes recreational sports are an important PROGRAMMING. part of every child’s development and Our exceptional programming is developed by a combination of university level coaches and elementary and high-school we make it our top priority to deliver teachers. We implement the latest drills, exercises, and games a truly memorable experience. for each specific sport, creating daily schedules which are designed to keep campers active and having fun! WWW.TRUENORTHCAMPS.COM [email protected] 416.619.1224 #PLAYALLDAY 5 Camp Staff True North Sports is known for its incredible staff. Everything starts with our hiring. From Camp Directors to CITs, we simply hire the best. While having playing or coaching experience is certainly important, it’s not our main priority. Most importantly, our coaches are able to create a positive environment for our campers, allowing them to have fun and forge lasting friendships. See below for more information about our Leadership Team and visit us at www.truenorthcamps.com/staff to learn about our 2019 summer camp directors! Leadership Team Courtney Berger, Executive Director Courtney graduated from Western University with an Honours Business Administration degree from Ivey. She subsequently attended law school at the University of Toronto and practiced as a management-side employment lawyer on Bay Street for 3 years before joining our staff as the Executive Director. Courtney is responsible for overseeing the operations of the business, including hiring and training our staff, marketing, communications, finance and strategy. After having worked at a number of summer camps in the past and dedicated her free time volunteering with children, Courtney knows what it takes to create a memorable experience for each and every camper. Blake Koester, Director of Operations As Director of Operations, Blake will be seen running year-round programs and ensuring that each and every camper has a fantastic experience. Blake completed the Sport Management program at Humber College, which led to him working at the Ontario Cycling Association. Prior to joining True North, Blake was the Assistant Manager of Mooredale Sports Club, where he was responsible for organizing and coordinating a wide range of sports leagues and competitive teams. Blake loves to share his passion for sports, especially football and basketball! Justin Atkinson, Assistant Director of Operations As the Assistant Director of Operations, Justin helps Blake with year-round programs and ensuring every camper has the best possible time. He has over 15 years of baseball playing experience, including playing for the Ontario Blue Jays and at the collegiate level in the US. As a freshman, he helped lead his Jefferson College team to a #2 NJCAA ranking and an appearance in the 2012 Junior College World Series. Justin completed his Sports Administration degree from Belhaven University, in Mississippi, that led him interning for the San Francisco 49ers and in the Stanford University Athletics Department. Justin loves to share his baseball experiences and help kids develop their skills on the diamond! WWW.TRUENORTHCAMPS.COM [email protected] 416.619.1224 #PLAYALLDAY 6 What’s New This Summer? EXPANDED GIRLS CAMP We are thrilled to be offering our Girls Baseball Camp again while adding a Girls Multi-Sport and a Girls Soccer Camp in 2019! Week 2 (July 8-12) – Girls Baseball Camp Week 3 (July 15-19) – Girls Multi-Sport Camp Week 4 (July 22-26) – Girls Soccer Camp Operating Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., we provide an inclusive and encouraging environment in which girls can learn, practice and compete. EARLY DROP-OFF NOW AVAILABLE We are pleased to announce that we have expanded our existing extended care program in Toronto and Etobicoke. You will now be able to drop off your child as early as 8am and can pick them up anytime between 4pm – 5pm. As much as creating the best possible experience for each and every camper is our main goal we strive to make our programs convenient for parents as well! NEW LOCATION: BOND PARK We are excited to introduce a new location for 2019: Bond Park! Located at Leslie and Lawrence, Bond Park offers state-of-the-art facilities and a fantastic environment for young ball players.