Arts & Crafts

In Dino (ages 2 1/2 - 5 1/2) Arts and Crafts we focus on developing children's artistic skills while having fun. In Senior (ages 6-10 1/2) Arts and Crafts, children are challenged with more intricate masterpieces: papier maché, salt and wire sculptures, and African masks, are only a few of their favourites.

The Jewellery Shop

Bracelets, necklaces, pins and more! Using plastic lacing, wire, rope and beads.

Pottery

Crestwood is fortunate to have superior instructors. Our facilities include two large kilns. Children make at least two creative projects per session. Children are in charge of the entire creative process; they start with the raw clay and continue working on it throughout the session until it arrives on your living room coffee table!

Drama

This activity includes dress up, improvisation and mime. The oldest campers put on a show at the end of the month, involving singing, dancing and acting. The campers are active in both on- and off-stage activities, such as costuming, set making, and design. The end product is both rewarding and entertaining. The children gain knowledge of all the arts while having fun.

Dance

The Preschool Dance specialists prepare activities that include body movement, balance, and rhythm. Children are taught simple routines to their favourite songs. Senior Dance specialists concentrate on modern jazz routines, dances from foreign countries, and prepare the children for the many performances that they put on at the all-camp gatherings.

Computers

In Computers, campers learn basic computer skills and usage. Campers receive keyboard and mouse instruction. Activities that campers have done in computers include making cards, drawing pictures in KidPix, making their own sheet of stickers, innovative design work, as well as using entertainment software. The campers are also able to bring home full-colour printouts of their work.

Camp Craft

At Crestwood, senior campers enjoy roasting marshmallows, pitching a tent, orienteering with compasses, making trails and tying knots with licorice. Campers of all ages enjoy mini-hikes and campfire sing-alongs.

Nature

Our beautiful wooded valley provides a wonderful location for environmental studies. Campers study many forms of plant life and trees and learn to examine cells and bugs through the microscope. 'Hiking' through many natural trails is a favourite! Crestwood enjoys a cozy on-site petting farm where the animals become special friends to the campers.

Magic Forest

Magic Forest is a specialty specifically directed at the younger campers. When children enter the Magic Forest at Crestwood, they are greeted by larger-than-life cutouts of multicoloured trees, castle walls, gates, and bushes. This program combines drama with music and storytelling in order to give the campers a sense of self-confidence in the arts.

Puppetry

This specialty is a combination of performance and creative art. Children make a wide variety of puppets using a multitude of materials, and create small performances with them. Our instructors have weekly puppet-show days, where they entertain the children. Our puppets also participate in all our special events as the comical hosts.

Music

In Music, children have the opportunity to sing along with their instructor, who is trained in guitar and/or keyboard. They also play clapping games and use rhythmic instruments, such as tambourines, triangles, bells, etc. There is variety in our music program to coordinate with the many special events.

Low Ropes Challenge Course

CV and Senior Section campers will benefit and be excited by our Low Ropes course, designed and maintained by one of Canada’s leading ropes companies, The Canadian Ropes Course Company. The emphasis of each trip to “Low Ropes” will be strength, endurance, teamwork and fun. Each cabin will learn co-operation while facing challenges as a group, forming and implementing their own strategies and finally, bonding with their cabin-mates through the feeling of accomplishment achieved by successfully completing the course as a team. This specialty area is operated by a fully certified Canadian Ropes Course Instructor.

Claymation & Green-Screening

ICompute is a premiere education company delivering unique, hands-on computer programmes for children that are as entertaining as they are educational.

ICompute partners with Crestwood Valley Day Camp each summer to provide it’s two most popular programmes: Animation and Digital Video Production.

Animation introduces campers to the fun world of Claymation and Stop-Motion technology, as campers are able to create their own clay figures and story-lines, and turn them into full-fledged animations with sounds, music and titles.

Our Digital Video Programme wows everyone who participates. Using Green Screen technology, campers and staff can find themselves flying over the moon or swimming with sea-life as they create their very own video adventure.

Yoga Rocks – w/ Antoniette Finelli

Yoga for all campers will be introduced to Crestwood by Antoniette Finelli, Montessori Teacher, Yoga & Brain Gym Certified with 15 years of inspiring children’s health and wellness. This programme offers an active approach to Yoga. Children will practice skills that improve their balance, coordination, and gross motor skills. The campers will also focus on exercises that integrate the left and right brain which leads to better whole brain function. This comprehensive training includes breathing exercises, yoga poses, games and visualization and relaxation techniques. These tools help create a more focused, calm and harmonious camper “Yoga Rocks” and Ms. Finelli’s goal is to engage campers of all ages to become healthy, active and confident citizens through the use of non-competitive activities. For campers of all ages!

Magic

You won’t believe your eyes! Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there is definitely more than meets the eye. Play, Practice and Perform InterActive Magic in this incredible programme provided by Canada’s top sorcerer “Magic Mike”

For 20 years,Magic Mike has designed magic and illusions for live theatrical productions, movies, television, commercials and music videos and has been performing for audiences all over the world. He has worked with and for such celebrities as Richard Dreyfuss, Siegried & Roy, Tony Curtis, Jon Woo and Ringo Starr. Mike is also artistic director of Magic Unlimited Theatre Productions, a touring children’s theatre company, teaching magic to children through the TDSB and, is founder of Canada’s only summer camp for young magicians – “Sorcerer’s Safari”.

Magic Mike’s instructors are all talented, creative performers who inspire, instruct & entertain all of our campers.