Programs and Services

Now in our 77th year, the Ontario Camps Association (OCA) has played an important leadership role in promoting and encouraging children's and youth camping in Ontario. The OCA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that draws its membership from camps, individuals and like-minded organizations and agencies, all devoted to maintaining high standards for organized camping, and to sharing information and ideas that maintain these standards. OCA activity takes a number of different forms:

Informing the Public

Through the OCA website and publications, the OCA informs families about OCA member camps, OCA activities and why it is important to contact the OCA before choosing a camp

Activities Include:

• Website development & Upgrading
• Publications: Guide
• Stephen Fine Ph.D. writes for various publications on benefits of camp
• Interviews with media as requested
• Promotion of OCA camps at camp fairs and publications

Supporting Our Membership

The OCA works with camps in addressing their questions, and finding supports and responses if the issue is out of the depth of staff

Activities Include:

• Website promotion
• Ability to advertise camp and services on OCA website
• Answering questions and or finding the resources required by camps
• Database of Commercial members to support the needs of camps (food, medical, website development, database/computer support, etc.)
• OCA Newsletter
• Advocate on issues impacting members (physical activity tax benefits, coroners' inquests)
• Support of camps dealing with a crisis situation (Crisis Response Manual and staff support)
• Regular e-mails on current and/or emerging issues
• Working with camps should parents and/or public lodge a complaint

Education

The OCA sponsors and supports a wide range of activities which ensure a vital exchange of information between camping professionals. These include training seminars for camp staff, and events sponsored by the OCA's many standing committees. Perhaps most noteworthy among these events is our Annual Conference, which draws together hundreds of camping professionals from throughout Ontario, Canada, and the world, to meet, listen, learn, and share ideas, stories, advice, and experiences.

Activities Include:

• Annual Conference
• Day Camp Workshop
• Skills Weekend
• Healthcare Conference
• Counsellors' Conference
• Facilities and Food Staff Conference
• Marching Into Summer
• Breakfast series on current events

Standards

Camping professionals also exchange information and ideas during OCA Standards visits. These visits, which form the core of the OCA's accreditation program, ensure that high standards of practice are in place at all OCA member camps. Camp membership in the OCA is not automatic: any camp seeking OCA accreditation must meet the standards of the OCA and be visited a minimum of two times in two years before granted full membership to the OCA,. During this time the camp is visited by OCA representatives each year, and must meet our standards before being accepted for full membership. Once a camp achieves full membership, it receives a visit every four years, or the year following a change of site, ownership or director. Our camps voluntarily adhere to over 400 separate standards dealing with all aspects of a camp's operation: health & safety, leadership, food service and maintenance, staffing, programming, and administration. The OCA Standards Committee regularly reviews and revises standards when appropriate.

Activities Include:

• Ongoing creation/or revision of standards as necessary
• Regular visits to camps
• Support of camps not meeting standards

Informing the Public

The OCA is dedicated to informing families, schools, social welfare agencies, and other members of the public about the benefits of camping and the role that the OCA plays in ensuring safe, fun, exciting camping for all of Ontario's children and youth. We provide information to the public through our brochures, our website, and of course, the Camping Guide! The OCA also advocates on behalf of the public to the camping community, responding to concerns raised by parents and campers.

Research

The OCA Educational Research Task Force has made several inroads into research and research related endeavours since 2005. These include: a research webpage, a data-base of Ontario camp research, several published articles on camping research in the promotion of OC A accredited camps, on-going discussions with Jen Wolfenden, R.N. on OCA camp health study, current plans with Ryerson University and Prof. Jason Nolan towards an OCA/Ryerson co-hosted research symposium in 2010.

Our Future Directions

We are currently in the midst of finalizing our strategic plan. The plan will be made public in the New Year. For now here are some of the themes we hope to pursue for the next several years. Please not that these may be modified and/or changes as we solidify our Strategic Plan.

Themes 2008-2011

The following themes represent the areas of focus for the Ontario Camps Association over the next 3 years.

The four themes which have been identified by the strategic planning process will become the focal point of all association activities and will guide the Board of Directors and Staff team in making all decisions related to the allocation of human and financial resources.

Theme One: Serve More Ontario Camps

1. Develop and Implement a Membership Recruitment Strategy

Develop a communications strategy which clearly articulates and promotes the benefits of an OCA membership to member and non-member camps.

2. Develop and Implement a Membership Retention Strategy

Seek new ways to provide value to current members.


Develop a more meaningful, ongoing and inclusive dialogue with current members.

Theme Two: Strengthen the Ontario Camping Movement

1. Strengthen Professional Camping Standards and Accreditation Program

Further enhance, develop and implement processes and strategies to reinforce and improve the professionalism, rigor and transparency of the camp standards and accreditation program.

2. Focus on External Relations and Public Policy Development

Proactively engage in public policy development which supports and enhances the operations of our member camps.

Increase efforts to monitor, interpret and communicate relevant legislative changes in a timely and accurate manner.

Position ourselves with government and non-government organizations as a subject matter expert on issues related to the camp industry.

Theme Three: Connect with Ontario's Children, Youth and Families

1. Develop a Branding and Positioning Strategy

Develop and implement a meaningful and relevant organizational branding and positioning strategy.

Re-assess our organizational name and logo.

2. Increase Public Education and Awareness Activities

Increase efforts to educate families and other stakeholders on the value of choosing an OCA accredited camp.

Identify new and emerging markets and develop targeted education and awareness campaigns as appropriate.

Develop a system to assist families with the selection of an appropriate OCA camp.

Theme Four: Build Organizational Capacity

1. Invest in Technology

Invest in the technology required to create and maintain a website and internet presence which is current, relevant, user-friendly, known and accessible.

Explore other opportunities presented by new and emerging technology.

2. Achieve Excellence in Governance

Continue to identify, and benefit from the inherent advantages of our new organizational structure.

Update and create effective by-laws, policies, and human resources practices to ensure sound, sustainable, legal business operations.

Examine the feasibility of seeking registered charity status

3. Secure New Revenue Streams Through Sponsorships and Partnerships

Identify and secure additional sources of revenue through the creation and maintenance of sponsorship and partnership agreements

4. Promote Volunteerism

Ensure the effective communication of all OCA volunteer opportunities (both internally and externally when appropriate)

Seek new ways to engage our membership in volunteerism