FAQ'S
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many things that we as staff at U-turn take for granted and expect folks to understand.
Hopefully some of the responses below, answer often-asked questions.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY OF CAMP LOOK LIKE?
Our campers will enjoy a rotation of activities throughout the day.
Activities throughout the week include:
Horse/barn time, Vaulting, Swimming, Fishing/Frogging, Games, Slingshots/Archery, Team building, and Nature. Campers will go back to the lake and Exploring on Mount Zehr and some Canoe time on Lake Burnayleen. After lunch campers will enjoy “Under the Tree”. This is a time for singing, skits and an object lesson from the Bible.
WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE AT CAMP?
Our Cook and kitchen staff prepare delicious and nutritious meals for our campers that follow Canada’s Food Guide. Day-campers will receive a small healthy snack mid-morning, lunch and the tuck shop will be open for purchases mid-afternoon. Overnighters will receive Breakfast, Lunch, Supper & Night snack, and the tuck shop will be open mid-afternoon for a snack to be purchased.
Examples from our menus in the past would be as follows.
Breakfast: Pancakes, sausage, cereal, milk and fruit
Breakfast Sandwiches with bacon, egg and cheese, cereal, milk and fruit
French Toast, bacon, cereal, milk and fruit
Scrambled eggs, ham, toast, cereal, milk and fruit
Lunch: Grill cheese, tomato soup, crackers and veggies
Pasta, garlic bread and veggies
Hotdogs, beans, apple slices and smores.
Pizza Buns, Chicken Noodle soup, crackers and veggies
Supper: Chili, corn bread and Salad Bar
Chicken Alfrado Pasta and Salad Bar
Lasagna, garlic bread, and Caesar salad
Chicken, Mini Potatoes and Green Salad
Night Snack: Popcorn and Apples
Brownies and cucumber slices
Cookies and Bananas
Tuck Shop: Tuck shop is opened each afternoon to purchase cold drinks such as Pop, Juice or Water. Snacks that are available are both healthy and non-healthy such as chips, chocolate bars, candy, fruit, crackers/cheese, yogurt, granola bars etc.
Day-camp Mid-morning Snack: Pretzels and Orange Slices
Popcorn and Apples
Granola bars and ½ banana
HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I SEND FOR THE TUCK SHOP?
We suggest $3/day. We try to keep it simple for the campers. Each item in the tuck shop is worth $1.50. If campers are given $15 for a 5 day camp, they know that they can get 2 items each day. We strongly encourage campers to get a cool drink and snack. This ensures they are drinking lots and if eating an unhealthy treat, doesn’t allow them to go overboard on the sugar.
WHAT IF I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY CHILD HAVING UNHEALTHY SNACKS AT TUCK?
We realize that each family has different ideas of what is OK when it comes to treats. If this is a concern of yours, we would suggest having a discussion with your camper before coming to camp. Suggesting that they can have whatever they would like on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but a healthy snack on Tuesday and Thursday would be a great option.
DOES THE TUCK SHOP CONTAIN SOUVINIERS MY CAMPER CAN PURCHASE?
Director Scotty loves his swag!! Each summer a new t-shirt and hoodies are designed along with other merchandise. These items will be available at every drop off and pick up time.
WHERE DO OVERNIGHT CAMPERS SLEEP?
We have built our very own enclosed Conestoga style chuck wagons. Each wagon contains 4 bunk beds with 8 being able to sleep in each wagon. Most wagons will have 6 campers and 2 staff. These wagons are off the ground, and have a canvas type covering. Campers are protected from the weather, however it can get cool in the month of August, so we suggest an extra blanket. There is space under the bottom bed for campers to store suitcases and belongings for the week.
IS THERE A LOST AND FOUND?
U-Turn Ranch does it’s best to keep lost and found to a minimum. We ask that items brought to camp are labelled to help in this process. Although we do our best to ensure campers have all items when going home, we always have items left behind.
Friday night we will send a picture of all lost and found items for the week. Should something belong to you, we ask that it be picked up by the end of the following week unless other arrangements are made.
All items that are not claimed or picked up by the end of the summer season, will be donated to a local charity.
ARE THEIR ITEMS MY CAMPERS SHOULD NOT BRING TO CAMP?
We ask that campers do not bring chewing gum, electronic devices of any kind or inappropriate reading material. If items such as these are brought to camp, they will be held in the office and returned to camper at the end of the week. We ask that valuables are not brought to camp, as U-Turn Ranch cannot promise that they will not be broken or stolen while at camp.
We also ask that no alcohol, drugs (unless Doctor prescribed and turned in with the first aid attendant), tobacco or vaporizers of any kind be brought to camp. We are a non-smoking facility. If any of these items will be an issue for your camper, please discuss prior to registering for camp.
CAN MY CAMPER BRING A CELL PHONE TO CAMP?
We ask that all technology be kept at home. Camp is a very busy place! We ask campers to take the opportunity to unplug for the week. We have found that technology often gets in the way of the full camp experience and cuts into great friendship opportunities. U-Turn Ranch can also not guarantee that items will not be broken while at camp. Should you need to get a hold of your camper or pass a message along, please contact the office. Should a camper need to call home, we are happy to provide a phone.
WHY CAN STAFF CARRY CELL PHONES IF CAMPERS CANNOT?
We ask that our camp leaders keep their cell phones on them for camp communication purposes. Our overnight staff who live at U-Turn for the summer, are allowed to have their phones with them at night. Often campers go to bed earlier and this allows our staff a few minutes to catch up with families and the rest of the world while at camp.
IS THE CELL PHONE POLICY THE SAME FOR TEENS AND LIDS?
We ask that all campers leave technology at home. Teens in particular are bombarded with technology all year long. We find that unplugging for the week at camp, allows them to relax and fully participate in the camp experience. Campers who use their phones for alarms, do not need to be concerned, as our staff have this covered.
WILL THERE BE PHOTOS/VIDEOS TAKEN OF MY CAMPER?
U-Turn Ranch takes photos of campers as time permits. We like to post pictures on our Facebook and Instagram Pages. If you follow our Facebook and Instagram pages, you may just see photos of your child in action. We ask that campers do not take pictures of other campers.
IS U-TURN RANCH AFFILIATED WITH A CHURCH?
U-Turn Ranch is not affiliated with any denomination but is a Christian Camp. U-Turn welcomes campers of any faith and race and hope to encourage everyone to grow spiritually, mentally, socially and physically. Day-Campers will participate in Under the Tree time and overnighters in campfire at night. These time includes skits, songs, and Bible stories which encourage positive faith growth. Many campers that attend have no church background. All are welcome.
Scott, Jodie and their family are Christians who love Jesus and do our best to follow His leading in all we do. Scott grew up in a Mennonite affiliated church and attended Columbia Bible College in British Columbia. Jodie grew up in a non denominational Church and attended Summit Pacific Bible College. Scott is a credentialled pastor with Be in Christ Church of Canada. The Zehr family attends Friday Night Lites in Tavistock where Scott is the pastor.
WHO STARTED AND OWNS U-TURN RANCH?
Scott and Jodie Zehr started and own U-Turn Ranch. Scott and Jodie have over 50 years of experience in camp life between the two of them. Both started as volunteers with Circle Square Ranch, and worked their way into program director, office admin, and Director positions within the organization. In 2005, Scott and Jodie decided to branch out and open U-Turn Ranch. Although they thought camp would be a thing of the past, very quickly they missed what camp brings to a family and decided to open up U-Turn Ranch Summer Camp in 2006.
WHERE DID THE NAME U-TURN RANCH COME FROM?
Scott had always dreamed of having a place that allowed young people to come and turn their lives around for the positive. In whatever way that may be. “Do a U-Turn”. When Scott and Jodie bought the property on Oxford Road 34, they realized that it was a U-Turn back into Tavistock, the town 2 minutes away. Scott and Jodie both grew up on farms, and the horses seemed a very natural enjoyment for the camp. So out of this U-Turn Ranch was born.
We look forward to Hosting your Camper!
Contact our office, if you have further questions.