Camp Hours/Location
Below is our lengthy Camp FAQ - if its been asked, we have the answer
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Payment:
If you have not paid in full, Please send in the remaining  fee for the week your child is attending on Monday morning ($371.50). Please email or call if you need clarity on the amount owed.  
Cheques made out to:
  • John Anderson
Electronic Money transfer to:  
Please note, the week registered for is a week committed to including the full payment. We will not be offering part time attendance at a reduced rate nor reimbursing for missed days.  We also want to remind you of the no refund portion of the Intake form you filled out.

Thank you very much, it’s going to be a fun program!  Please note itineraries will be posted to your right of this page. A sample itinerary from last year is posted  >>

Updates for 2023


  • Body cam use:​  We have up to 60 hrs of footage for each week.  This is NOT for casual viewing on the part of parents.  The recordings are there to capture a moment of time where a child was hurt or an incident where viewing the footage will clarify a matter.   The cameras will be turned on  when we are alone w/ a child or an issue where the recording will clarify an issue. Be aware, we may not get the camera turned on in time if a child needs immediate first aid.
Please send in
  • Water bottle is mandatory - its hot, lots of water!!!
  • Hat (optional)
  • RAIN GEAR -  many a day students were soaked because of no umbrella!
  • Sunscreen (optional, students apply it on their own)
  • Wallet or purse/clutch and watch, fanny packs for wallets work too.
  • Backpack if needed that day - do not send in anything valuable.   Phones and money stay on our bodies at all times!​
  • Girls should have extra Feminine products
  • Dress for the weather
Picnic/packed lunch
  • If the schedule says Picnic or packed lunch, that means you send the meal in for your child. 
  • There will be no microwaves/cutlery/napkins available so please pack accordingly.  Send in personal cutlery and napkins.
A note on Wallets/money: 

  • We will use bills when possible and change will go home.  Loonies and toonies are ok.  
  • Change can be tedious to count at the cash so we encourage cash or debit when possible.
  • If buying a pop or snack, and the child has a looney or toonie ready, change is ok.
  • Money is on your body at all times:  We often have to leave our back packs behind at check ins for museums or other events and money can get stolen. We expect a wallet/purse on their body.
  • ​We will help the students keep track of what they spend each day.   The students can save money by getting water instead of pop for lunches, sharing meals etc. 
  • Interac cards/Credit Cards:  Cash is preferred as it is tangible and students can see it grow or get smaller.  If your child uses Interac or CC please ensure they know the following:  Pin Number, account type.  We are not at this time teaching students how to use Interac or CC. Students must come to camp already knowing how to use it if that is their payment of choice.
Please send in clothes that will accommodate a wallet/money.  Baggy shorts and pants are super comfy but its far too easy for a wallet to fall out during play or transitions.  Consider this a good time to transition from kids clothes to proper teen attire and lets make use of those pockets!
Note on above...students have lost their money/phone because of baggy kids clothes w/ floppy pockets....uggghhhh
Electronics
  • All students required to store their electronics (ipad, switch etc), in room 1 from 9 till 2:30 pm.  This prevents them from being lost and mitigates the temptation to sneak some screen time in when they should be talking to peers.
  • Phones/devices are allowed from 8 till 9 am and after 3:00 pm 
  • Phones are only to be used for Google maps, calculating tax and tip, or looking something up relevant to the program ie store hours or location.  
  • If your child struggles w/ screen time or defaults to using their phone when they should be social, please leave it at home.
  • If a student cannot stay off their phone:   We will ask them to store it at 9am, put it way or give it to staff.  If they will not comply, we will ask parents to keep the device(s) at home for the remainder of the week.​
  • For students without a data plan on their phones, we encourage you to download the map of Ottawa on Google maps.  If your child uses another map program, please look into downloading an offline version of it.

Pick Up and Drop Off
  • Drop off is 8-9 am
  • Program starts at 9 am sharp!
  • Please be aware that some days we may leave the building shortly after 9 am.
  • Pick up at 4pm (this time is firm as Sophia, Julie and myself have commitments after 4)  Please make arrangements ahead of time if the 4pm pick up is not possible one day.
  • If your child walks or buses home on their own and you have not indicated so in the registration form, Please send a signed note/email indicating that your child is given permission to leave the program on their own or wait outside past 4pm for a pick up .  
  • Please add some In case of emergency info (I.C.E) or an id card in your child's wallet. 

  • For students under 18: Medication including Tylonal/Advil need a written permission form that includes dose and time to be taken.  Some students will require Advil/Tylonal as needed, the note must specify this and the dose.  We do not carry pain meds nor provide them, please send in your own, we will monitor the usage.
  • Fever- If your child has a fever, they must stay home until the fever is over. If we detect a fever, we will send the child home for their safety.
  • 24 hours fever free before they can return to camp.  Same policy as schools.

DID I mention Water above, send in water! It can be as hot as 40c some days, we encorurage your child to stay hydrated!

Access card and coupons
Coupons are welcome for restaurants and events.  Links to the restaurants are listed under the itinerary.  Please go over menus w/ your child to help them pick out a meal for that day. Some restaurants may be challenging as we are looking for diversity, exploring new cultures and getting the students out of their comfort zone.

 If you have an Access card, please send it in.

Lunch Cost:
  • I am aware that eating out 2-3 times a week is not typical for teens.  Repetition is what helps them learn. Restaurant experience helps them learn to manage their money, read the menu, talk to wait staff, practice their social skills in a public setting and learn to be more independent.  
  • For picnics Please remember, there are no microwaves on any outing and bring your own utensils/napkins.  Bringing an item to share is welcome and we do have some designated “Shared” Picnic days where we have a communal lunch.

OC transpo:
  • We have training passes for all the students.  The passes will be handed out each day and collected at the end of the day 
  • If the card goes home by accident, please send it in the following day, we have a limited supply given to us by OC transpo
  • If you prefer to have your child practice paying for and using bus tickets, a presto pass or bus pass please let me know and I will email you the cost for tickets or instruction on how to obtain a presto pass.

We will try return to Sunnyside at 2:30 pm most days. In previous years most students were exhausted by the end of the day so this year I promised to give them some time to relax..   I want them to connect and bond so this extra time will be good them to just be themselves, socialize and wind down after a long day of walking. The students can socialize, play board games, share electronics, watch a video together on the projector.   Feel free to send in any games/DVD or electronics that you feel would be fun to share.  ALL electronics (phones are the exception) will stay at Sunnyside until we return


What we cover weekly at the Spectrum Insights Camp

Learning to use public transit


  • Teach the student how to enter a bus
  • How to use the OC travel Planner
  • How to use google maps
  • Planning the bus route for the day or week
  • Emergency situations: Missed stops, If a student gets lost, Location of Yellow call boxes
  • What to do if left alone on the bus or left alone at a stop
  • Where to sit on the bus
  • Who not to sit next to
  • What to do w/ backpacks
  • How to talk to OC security and where to find them
  • Using Emergency Yellow Boxes

Safety:

  • What to do and say when approached by a stranger
  • What to do when Lost or separated from the group
  • Walking down the street, making room for the elderly or wheelchairs
  • Spatial awareness/social awareness
  • Using your emergency contact cards


Money Management:
  • How to use a wallet
  • Where to carry your money
  • Budgeting for the week
  • Daily Budget
  • Keeping track of money as they move through the day
  • Help the students handle money during transactions
  • Help the student learn delayed gratification (personal shopping is done on Fridays)
  • Losing money
  • Losing a wallet/purse
  • How to handle small change
  • Teaching the student how to be efficient during a transaction
  • How to stay calm when they feel rushed


Organization Skills:
  • Daily planning: Where are we going - how do we get there - what do we need
  • Ensuring the student has ALL their belongings during each transition
  • Medication - When is it needed - Do they have it w/ them
  • Using a watch and telling time
  • Printable weekly budget - Update it daily w/ the students
  • Daily Schedule posted


Social Skills
  • Daily greetings
  • Remembering names
  • Knowing the interests of each student
  • Conversation starters
  • Social etiquette in the classroom - In the city - On the bus - During transactions
  • Teach how to plan a socials

Memory Lane:  2012-22 photos

July 15-19 2019

July 22-26 2019

July 29-Aug 2nd

August 5-9

August 12-16

Itineraries and camp photos for 2025 will be in this Column


Go over the menus linked below w/ your child before camp if its their first time ordering.

New change re phone use.

Phones can be used for free time:
  • 8-9am
  • after 3:30 pm
  • Free time is still 2:30 - 4pm
  • Exception to the rule: answering a call or text from mom or dad about pick up, using it for a calculator or google maps when out w/ John & Sophia or Julie

Online Review

If you enjoyed your experience at camp, please consider writing a review on our FB page or emailing your thoughts for us to share on our web page:
Facebook Reviews
[email protected]

Wanna stay in touch w/ friends made at camp?
​Join our social groups

 ​Menus: Dumpling Bowl, so good, Level One, Zacs, Extreme Pizza, heart & Crown, Baja Burger Shack, Strand (menu is on their FB page), The works, Fils Diner, pizza pizza, Tim Hortons, Harveys, The Works, Lone Star, Jack Astors, Swiss Chalet
​Strand Diner: See image below

2024 August 19-23
D&D with John & Sophia
​Right Click to view Itinerary

2024 August 19-23 Moving Forward
Team Julie
​Right Click to view Itinerary

Be Aware that some days we return at 4pm.  Most days we are at camp by 3pm but due to weather, traffic or bus connections we may return at 4pm.  Text 613.220.5920 if you need to pick up earlier or talk to your camp leader at drop off.

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July 15 - august 23 2024

July 8-12 2024

July 3 -31 2023

August 1 - 18 2023

July 4-29 2022

August 2022

August 10-14 2020

August 3-7 2020

July 27-31 2020

July 20-24 2020

July 6-10 2020

July 13-17

2018/19 pics

July 23-27

July 9-13

July 16-20

Sample Itineraries from pre covid times below. 
Your Child's itinerary is posted top of the page to the right

Picture