“A unique summer camp full of innovation, hands-on challenges and activities and lots of learning experiences”
Putting together a summer camp is fun and challenging. We work with instructors who not only work at The Urban Camp; some have their own companies, some are mentors of local entrepreneurs, some are graduate students doing an internship in well-known companies and some work for big tech companies, to name a few. I need to be mindful of their time and schedules. I find it fascinating how many jumped on board after my first approach. I have had instructors with The Urban Camp since our first virtual summer camp at the pandemic’s peak. How lucky I am! Thank you, all!
We just turned 5, and this has been the most exciting program. Don’t get me wrong, they all have been amazing and had a touch of uniqueness. Every cohort brings brilliant students and personalities; this time, we had a beautiful mix of nationalities. Our body of instructors and mentors is also diverse. We will never claim our instructors are 100% Canadian because that is not Canada. What makes Canada great is the mix of cultures and nationalities, and even though our instructors and mentors became Canadian citizens along the way, we pride ourselves in embracing our roots. And that is what we teach our campers: to embrace who they are and where they are coming from. Seeing how campers respected each other and got along well was beautiful. When you see other camps with 100-plus campers at the time, you sense a disconnection between groups. They are also divided, so no one is interested in talking to their fellow camper unless they know each other from their original groups. Having witnessed this and another few things here and there, we are already planning different scenarios to never lose what makes us unique, even though we host 100-plus students in the coming years.
If you know me or have been following our social media channels, you know I am 100% involved in the operation. Not because I am a control freak but because I genuinely enjoyed getting involved in the operation and execution. Between us, I get FOMO every time I delegate activities to the OM (Operations Manager) and AS (Activities Strategists). Sometimes, I wish I was omnipresent, to be everywhere, literally. There are so many fun things happening, so many learning experiences, so many challenges and activities…perhaps I need to admit to wanting to be an urban camper myself!
Living in person during our 2023 Easter and summer programs gave me a good insight into what youth are more inclined and interested in learning. Also, the way we deliver our workshops, classes, guest speakers we invite and even classrooms and venues!
After our 2023 summer camp, we decided to unify the program. Urban campers in our Tech program missed a few fun activities and field trips we made, and those in the English+ program were not as exposed to Tech. So, we put everything in a blender, and the outcome was an even better program overall!
“When we had our first meeting with Edna, the Director, we knew the summer camp was going to be different. However, we never imagined how amazing it was going to be! Our daugthers came back fascinated of such experience. Thank you Urban Camp.”
People asked me what my favourite moments at summer camp 2024 were. And that is a tough question! But if I had to choose five, these would be my most precious moments:
Our Welcome Ceremony. I think it was so perfect. We even had a candy cart on site!- The Granville Island Challenge—oh my god, that was not easy at all. The TEAM organized and planned it so well, and we got to participate. My group lost, but oh boy! We did have fun!
- A day at Microsoft—a Disneyland for grownups (I know it is meant for the urban campers, but having the opportunity to be there was such a unique experience). The super cool Microsoft Team was very friendly and great to the urban campers; they treated us all like VIPs and went out of their way to show, teach and talk to our campers.
- Whistler! Of course, Whistler is always fun. Urban campers and the TEAM got into the water and spent a good day kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming and tanning. We even cohabitated for an hour with a black bear!
- The Urban Hackathon. This is our signature event. I can’t wait for the upcoming ones!
I can spend hours discussing everything our urban campers lived, learned, and experienced. I would love to share all the details with you, and I will do so if you are ready to have a “virtual cafecito.”
I will leave you saying that what I experienced prepping for summer camp and those two weeks on campus are moments and learning experiences I will remember fondly. There hasn’t been a program where I don’t cry at the welcome ceremony (when we sign the Canadian National Anthem) and at some point on the last day. I see the evolution of my students from the moment they arrive, or even before, on the discovery call with their parents and then compare what they achieved throughout the two weeks. The friends they make, how proud they feel, how fluent their English is at the end of the program, seeing them so happy and the fact they acknowledge things they learnt and are ready to apply in their lives…
They are all part of my mission, a dream, and now part of my life.
Thank you, urban camper. Thank you, parents and agencies, for trusting me and The Urban Camp.
Until next time,
Edna
Founder + Director
