Monthly Archives: February 2021

Work With Us

10 Reasons Why Working at Camp is the Best Job Ever

Spend your summer outdoors and being active

Reconnect with nature, soak up lots of vitamin D. Camp promotes an active lifestyle through playing games like capture the flag, or going on a hike. Way better than spending your summer on the couch! 

Make a meaningful difference in the lives of many children 

If you attended camp, or something similar, you’ll remember thinking that your counsellors were the coolest people to walk the earth. Campers see their counsellors as the ultimate role models, and it’s super cool to be able to make such a lasting impact on their lives. 

Build leadership skills and gain confidence 

A lot of responsibility is placed on your shoulders while working at camp. You will be responsible for the care and wellbeing of a certain group of kids, and these kids will look up to you for years and years to come.

Experience working in a community-focused and team-oriented environment 

Cave Springs is a unique community of people who love creating an awesome summer camp experience for kids. We’re motivated by the same goal. We value teamwork and fostering a positive, caring work environment. 

It’s fun!

Being wacky is pretty much in the job description. 

Try new things

On top of our regular program offerings, such as canoeing, high ropes, hiking, games and more- our staff are encouraged to be creative with the activities that they plan for their campers. As long as it’s safe- we say go for it!! This gives you the opportunity to have a blast alongside your campers. We want you to have fun!!! 

Camp friends are the best friends 

Camp friendships are unlike any others. You spend all day with them for an entire summer. You go through thick and thin with them (literally). You’ll have inside jokes galore, and countless memories to look back on fondly together. 

Learn valuable life lessons

Such as patience, time management, problem-solving, communication, staying calm in stressful situations, versatility and flexibility. All of these skills are transferable and set you up with a firm foundation 

Explore faith and spirituality in an open-minded, welcoming environment

Cave Springs is owned and operated by the United Church of Canada. We have no expectation that our staff will come from a religious background, however we do have designated times per day where we invite our staff to think mindfully about themes such as love, trust, gratitude, sacrifice, and respect. Working at Cave Springs will give you the opportunity to reflect and grow spiritually (without needing to label your faith). 

Get to know yourself! 

Camp is the perfect job for personal development. Get to know yourself better by challenging yourself to grow in an environment that allows you to be exactly yourself. 

Camp 2021 Update

Registration for our Day Camp program for Summer 2021 is now open! 

We are currently offering 6 weeks of Day Camp fun at Cave Springs! We are so excited to have the opportunity to offer exciting camp opportunities for ages 5-14. Campers will participate in cohort groups of 10 campers and 2 leaders. Camp activities will include swimming, hiking, nature education, crafts, games, high ropes (ages 7& up) and much more! Activities will be catered to meet the needs of specific ages- with introductory activities for younger campers and leadership opportunities for our older campers. 

Weeks at camp will be divided into different age categories, as follows: 

  • Dragonflies (Ages 5-6) 
  • Chipmunks (Ages 7-9)
  • Salamanders (Ages 10-12)
  • Snapping Turtles (Ages 13-14) 

To see dates and rates, click here.

Click here for Online Registration

A few notes about Summer 2021 at Cave Springs: 

In anticipation of the most likely ways COVID-19 will impact our summer, we will only be opening day camp registration at this time. 

Should restrictions lessen between now and June, we will be able to open limited spots for overnight camp when it is responsible to do so and will be in touch if and when that happens. If an overnight camp does open, campers already registered for summer 2021 will have the option to switch to an overnight program before spots are opened to the general public. 

At this time the Ontario government has not given the go-ahead for overnight programs, as such our traditional Wednesday night sleepover for Day Campers is not possible. If this changes, it will be offered at no additional cost. 

In order to ensure you have all the information you need regarding 2021 registration, we want to let you know now that there will be a $50 increase to the cost of a week at camp for the 2021 season, to account for the additional health and safety measures that will need to be taken due to COVID-19.

Camper safety takes priority, and with projections that COVID-19 will still be playing a role in our decisions at camp this summer, extra precautions will be necessary. Along with the expected additional cleaning, sanitizing, and hand washing supplies, this increase will allow for the purchasing of program equipment (high ropes harnesses, archery bows and strings, arts and crafts supplies etc.), so that we can minimize the sharing of equipment, and there will be enough time for proper sanitizing between uses.

It is projected that the cost of operating camp will increase by 15-20% with all of the necessary COVID-19 changes, which will be only partially covered through camper registrations, and so we will be organizing fundraising efforts to help cover the rest of those costs.

Dissimilar to previous Day Camp programs at Cave Springs, campers will be responsible for bringing their own packed lunch each day. Campers will be provided with a tuck snack each day, which is included in the registration fee. 

This year we are also making it a priority to increase the capacity of our camper bursary program. We recognize the financial impact that COVID-19 has had on families and are committed to ensuring that financial barriers do not impact access for children to experience a transformative summer at camp. Please reach out to Sharon at director@cavespringscamp.on.ca to discuss your bursary needs and eligibility. 

We are thrilled to be able to bring back our in person camping program after a year away. We know that there will be many changes to navigate and we are truly blessed to be able to undertake these changes with the support of our incredible Cave Springs community.



There is a mantra that I repeat often to my staff throughout our summer: our bottom line will always be fun at camp for kids. As always, we will embrace that goal with passion, enthusiasm, safety, and creativity. 

We cannot wait to welcome you back to Cave Springs this summer.

See you then! 

Confident Campers

Sending your child to camp has so many benefits! At camp, kids are able to have so much fun and many new experiences- they won’t even realize all the new tools they’re adding to their toolkit! Camp fosters personal growth and development in many ways.

Here are a few reasons why choosing to send your child to camp is a great idea: 

Camp Fosters Independence 

Attending summer camp can be a great way for children to gain independence. Guided by the support of their counsellors and camp staff, campers will be able to step out of their comfort zone and learn positive coping mechanisms for how to carry themselves when they’re away from home. 

Camp Improves Social Skills

Meeting new friends can be scary! Camp offers children the opportunity to meet new friends in a safe, welcoming environment. With their counsellors there to help facilitate friendship-making, campers are bound to make new friends and gain important tools for socializing that will only benefit them later on. 

Camp Promotes Creativity 

From spending time in the craft hall to participating in silly games and campfire skits, campers will have ample opportunity to stretch their creative muscles at camp. We encourage campers to help their counsellors decide which activities they will participate in- and there’s rarely an idea for an activity that can’t be made possible at camp with a bit of creativity! 

Camp allows kids to try new things

Camp is the perfect place for kids to try something that they’ve never done before… it’s almost certain they will do an activity that is brand new to them! Even if they’re a seasoned camper, camp still provides the opportunity for kids to do things they wouldn’t get to do every day- such as hiking, archery, high ropes, canoeing, crafts, big group games, fishing and more. They may find a new passion for something they wouldn’t otherwise get to try!

Camp provides positive role models

It’s very important for children to have positive influences to look up to. A good amount of our staff were once campers themselves, so they remember what it was like to look up to their counsellors and therefore understand how important it is to be a good mentor. We hand-pick our staff with the intention that they will be excellent role models for our campers.

Camp is an encouraging, supportive environment 

We teach our campers about love, trust, and respect. As such, we uphold a welcoming, positive and affirming environment for campers to be comfortable to be themselves. Kids really come out of their shells at camp! 

At camp, kids learn a lot! 

Campers learn SO much at camp- and oftentimes they don’t even realize it! Camp can be a great way for kids to learn in a non-classroom setting. Kids will learn about nature, friendship and leadership. Smarter kids are more confident kids! 

DIY Bird Feeder

Looking for something easy and fun for the whole family to partake in this winter? Why not give birdwatching a try! 

You may enjoy hanging up a bird feeder near a window and watching as birds flock in for a treat. 

The best foods to offer birds in colder weather have a high fat or oil content that will provide abundant energy for winter survival. Nutritious winter foods for birds include black oil sunflower seeds, peanut butter, peanuts, suet, millet, and thistle seed (nyger). Most of those can be found in your average wild bird seed mix. Fresh berries could be an extra special treat to leave out for birds in the winter!

A fun activity for you and your family this winter could be making your very own bird feeder and watching to see which birds come for a snack! 

A simple way to make a bird feeder using supplies you might already have at home is to coat a toilet paper roll in peanut butter (or suet) before rolling it in seeds and nuts. You can simply place it on a branch, or you can string some twine or ribbon through it for hanging. 

Consider putting up a tracking sheet for you and your kids to tally the number of times you see certain birds in your backyard, or while on a nature walk. Here are some common birds you might spot in the winter Southern Ontario:

  • Cardinal
  • Blue Jay
  • Black-Capped Chickadee
  • Mourning Dove
  • House Sparrow

Happy birdwatching! 

Kickstarting 2021

2021 will likely be a year of cautious optimism.  We have learned from 2020 how we can live, work/learn and celebrate in safe and healthy ways. 

Celebrations this year may not be as traditional or grandiose as in the past, however, we can still mark our special milestones in different ways. 

Cave Springs Camp, Retreat & Conference Centre is looking forward to working with you to find a venue that will suit your needs while adhering to government regulations.

It is early to talk about large gatherings indoors, but small, friendly gatherings in an open centre with lots of room for social distancing may be possible.

In 2020 we completed an open, bright, customizable conference centre on the Beamsville Bench with a panoramic view of the escarpment.  This new venue features two halls and a large kitchen for catered events.  This space is ideal for small to medium-sized weddings, offsite meetings, employee training, leadership retreats or sales events. 

Another venue option is to take your event outside!

Our property has an amphitheatre in the forest, two large firepits and a large pavilion.  We have access to the Bruce Trail for great hiking and a high ropes course for adventure.  Reconnecting with nature can be inspiring, relaxing and healthy!  Plan an outdoor wedding, meeting or family gathering now!

To discuss the possibility of booking a safe indoor or outdoor event please call Krystyn Keir, our Venue Planner, at 289-501-3743 or send her an email at venues@cavespringcentre.ca.  She will be happy to schedule a tour and talk about how we can meet your venue needs.

The German Spyhole

Compiled by Maggie Stoyles in Summer 2020

There have been many stories and legends told at Cave Springs Camp. We describe a legend as a story that has been passed down from person to person, with some true parts and some false parts. Some of our legends are newer, and some are very, very old. The thing about legends is that they morph and change as time goes on, so how I might tell these stories may be different from how a counsellor would have told them in the past (even last summer!), but overall the concept remains the same. We have included “the real version” of some of these stories, especially when history is involved. Often it is just as interesting to know what actually happened, and usually, it is more important. 

Lots of information found in this book is from the Cave Springs Farm: Fact and Fancy book that was written in 1952 by W.F. Rannie, as well as some community newspaper articles. The rest is general camp knowledge and stories that have been told and retold.

The Legend

There was a man who lived in Germany who wanted to be a farmer. At night, he would dream of the sheep, chickens and corn he would own, and during the day he would get lost in thoughts of hay bales and horses. Unfortunately, World War II had just begun, and he was not interested in being part of the war. So instead, he decided to pack up a suitcase and move to Canada, where he hoped he would eventually save up enough to start a farm.

He moved to the small town of Beamsville, where he bought a little house and started to learn about Canada and farming. The problem was, he didn’t know how to speak english at all, so he would have to learn. He learned english by listening to the radio and watching the TV, but he found that listening to other people speak worked the best. His favourite hobby was to sit at the local coffee shop and try to understand the conversations that were happening around him.

The problem was that Canada was fighting on a different side of the war than Germany, so the people of Beamsville thought that he was a German spy! They were worried he had been sent by Germany to listen to their secrets and report back. They were so afraid that he was a spy, that one night they had a town meeting and decided to chase the German man out of town. They made a plan to show up at his house later that night and scare him away forever.

Luckily, the German man had become friends with the coffee shop owner, who ran to his house and warned him of the oncoming mob. By the time the people of Beamsville got there, with their pitchforks and torches, he had already run up the escarpment. The people searched his house and everything around it, burning it to the ground when they could not find him. They ran up the escarpment looking for him. The german man was smart though, and he had found a secret tunnel through some rocks that went down the escarpment. As the crowd ran up, he went down through the hole. Then, when the people couldn’t find him on top of the escarpment and ran back down, he went up through the hole. This continued for a while until the people of Beamsville eventually decided that he had left for good, and they gave up and went home.

The man from Germany spent the next few years living out of the tunnel in the escarpment. He ate what he could find and lived in the forest, hiding whenever he heard anyone come up the path. After many years, the war with Germany ended and the people forgot about the German man. He came out of hiding and sued the town of Beamsville for burning down his house, and ended up getting $10, 000, which during the time was enough money to buy himself a farm like he always wanted. The man from Germany, who was not a spy, lived happily ever after with his sheep and his chickens. 

The Real Story

During the first world war, there was a German man who lived on King St that was said to have been under investigation for spying. He was threatened out of town and eventually ended up in Germany, but there are no records of official charges or suspicions.

Many years later, two men from Illinois, USA, came to visit the ice caves and mentioned that their German father left some belongings in a hole on the escarpment during the first world war. 

There was also an army base in Grimsby where similar instances of  finding “German spies” occurred.