jb@cisvvictoria.ca
We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our local mini camp for ALL Junior Branch members (ages 10-18) from May 30 to June 1! Friday night of camp will still be our chapter’s AGM starting at 7pm (parents please join us!) and the JB meeting will still occur as usual. Campers will then get to sleep over and participate in more fun activities on Saturday, and sleep over again to then get picked up on Sunday around noon. More information and registration for mini camp will coming at the end of April.
What is a CISV Mini-Camp? Local and Regional Mini-Camps are held at various times during the year to spread awareness of CISV values and principles among its current and future members. The camps are designed to be similar to a two day experience at one of CISV’s programs. The purpose is to give young people, who have and those who might be interested in applying for one of CISV’s international programs, a glimpse into what the international experience might be like.
What activities happen at Mini-Camp? Participants will take part in a variety of educational, cultural, and fun activities that have been planned by the youth from the chapter’s Junior Branch. The activities will revolve around a common theme and CISV’s peace education content areas, which are: diversity, human rights, conflict and resolution, and sustainable development. On occasion some educational activities may engage participants at an intensive level bringing out deep feelings, thoughts, and emotions. This is done to help explore, but not judge, different views and perspectives on issues relevant to CISV educational goals.
Who can attend Mini-Camp? 2025 Spring Mini-Camp will be open to those 10 to 17. Those 18 years or older can join as junior leaders. Please contact our JB Liaisons to find out how to join as a junior leader.
The camps are especially important for those traveling one of CISV’s national or international programs: they help young people develop an understanding of CISV and its culture and applicants for those programs must have attended at least one local Mini-Camp in the 12 months prior in order to be eligible for a travel delegate position. Mini-Camps are open to CISV members and non-members. Youth may attend one Mini-Camp as a non-member. Further participation in CISV programs will require a membership with CISV Victoria.
Who plans and leads activities at a Mini-Camp? In line with CISV’s “learning by doing” approach, activities at Mini-Camp are planned and lead by youth of various ages from the chapter’s Steering team (i.e. our youth leaders). Steering organizes several meetings leading up to the camp when they develop and organize the activities for the camp. To support the youth and to ensure that appropriate safety and risk management measures are met, trained adult leaders, supported by CISV Victoria Risk Manager, will guide the camp activities and ensure overall accountability of the program. CISV’s adult leaders receive training through CISV Canada / International, complete a criminal record check and are supervised by program coordinators from the CISV Victoria board. We maintain an adult leader to participant ratio of 1:6.
Does my child have to attend the entire Mini-Camp? Participants are to arrive on Friday at 7 pm and depart on Sunday at noon. Your child’s experience and the experience of others is impacted if participants come and leave at different times. The disruption of having a participant leave the camp also creates safety and logistical concerns for leaders and takes them away from activities with the other participants. However, if you have a situation that requires a different departure, please contact the JB Liaisons prior to Mini-Camp to discuss. If you know that someone else will be picking up your child, please note that they have the authority to do so in your registration forms and when checking in on Friday.
How much does Weekend Mini-Camp cost? The fee is still being determined by the Steering and Adult Board. It will be announced once registration is open. We intend to provide a discount for those who are attending both CISV Vancouver and CISV Victoria’s minicamps in May.
What is included in the Mini-Camp Fee? Four meals – all meals on Saturday, breakfast on Sunday and some snacks; accommodation at MMA, all CISV programming, and lots of fun! In order to get right into programming after arrival, there is no dinner provided on Friday evening. Please make sure that your camper has eaten dinner prior to arriving at camp. All meals will have vegetarian-friendly options; please note allergies, medical alerts and other important information on registration form. The minicamp cook is able to accommodate dietary requirements (e.g., celiac, nut allergy, etc).
Camp Cleanup? We are looking for volunteers to help cleanup after the conclusion of the minicamp. We’ve scheduled one hour on Sunday from noon to 1 pm, but with the more helping hands available, the faster it will be done.
What about COVID? In consideration of other campers and our staff, please refrain from sending your child to camp if they are feeling unwell or have any COVID-19 or other contagious sickness with related symptoms (runny nose, fever, sore throat, upset stomach, etc.). Please contact the JB Liaisons if you need to cancel because of sickness. If a participant shows any of these symptoms, in light of the safety of all other campers, CISV Victoria reserves the right to request that the participant take a rapid test, to deny participation at the camp, or to request that the participant be picked up as soon as possible or any of these.
The wearing of masks is optional when indoors and social distancing is not possible.
How else can we help? In recognition of the valuable service provided by leaders in donating their time and supervising participants throughout the weekend, we don’t charge for their participation. If you would like to make a donation towards the cost of their meals, you can contact treasurer@cisvvictoria.ca for how to do so (tax receipts will be given for donations over $20).
Is carpooling or public transit an option? If you know other families who are attending, we encourage you to make your own arrangements. If you have seats to spare, or need a space, please email the JB Liaisons and we will try to connect up families. Carpooling arrangements are the responsibility of each individual family however we will assist when possible by trying to connect those with space with those needing rides. MMA is also accessible by public transit.
Who do I contact for more information? For information: Local Junior Representatives, Samantha and Astrid at jb@cisvvictoria.ca or JB Liaisons, Leanna and Sophie at jbliaison@cisvvictoria.ca.