Summer Camp & Retreat Facility

Annual General Reports Pearce Williams Summer Camp & Retreat Facility Annual Report List Click here to download 2024 PDF Click here to download 2023 PDF Click here to download 2022 PDF Click here to download 2021 PDF Older Annual Reports Please contact our office if you are interested in readying the older annual reports going back to 1960. info@campisbetter.com Financial Statements Audited Financial Statements are available on request. You can view the yearly financial information submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency here.

Summer Camp Director Seasonal Contract, Salary Position (Application Now Closed) Scope and Summary: The Summer Camp Director plays a key leadership role at Pearce Williams Summer Camp, ensuring the smooth and successful operation of our summer programs. Reporting to the Director of Camps & Programs and the Executive Director, this position oversees the daily management of camp life, including program planning, camper experience, staff leadership, and community connection. The Summer Camp Director is a hands-on leader who embodies the Pearce Williams motto: “Do what needs to be done.” They bring energy, creativity, and strong organizational skills to make sure every camper, staff member, and guest enjoys a safe, fun, and memorable experience that reflects our mission and values. Apply Now Job Overview: Position Type: Seasonal Contract (Salaried) Dates: May 1 to August 22, 2026, with some part-time pre- and post-season responsibilities Compensation: $13,000 total (including vacation pay) The Summer Camp Director is responsible for leading all aspects of summer camp operations, including staff training and supervision, program design and delivery, camper safety and well-being, and parent communication. Reporting to the Director of Camps & Programs and the Executive Director, this role collaborates closely with the leadership team to plan and execute an exceptional summer program. The ideal candidate is a confident and adaptable leader who enjoys mentoring young staff, creating fun and meaningful programs, and fostering a positive and inclusive camp culture that reflects the values of Pearce Williams. Key Responsibilities: Oversee and coordinate the daily operations of Pearce Williams Summer Camp. Lead and support summer staff through training, coaching, and regular check-ins. Design and deliver creative, engaging, and safe camp programs for campers ages 5 to 15. Communicate effectively with parents, campers, and the Pearce Williams leadership team. Ensure all health, safety, and risk management procedures are followed. Maintain program supplies, equipment, and facilities in a safe and organized manner. Support community events and alumni engagement opportunities. Uphold the mission and values of Pearce Williams in all aspects of camp life. Qualifications: Experience in camp, recreation, or youth leadership, preferably in an overnight setting. Strong leadership and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to motivate, mentor, and support a young staff team. Knowledge of Ontario Camps Association standards is an asset. Standard First Aid and CPR-C (or willingness to obtain before the start of camp). Criminal Record Check. A passion for creating safe, inclusive, and life-changing camp experiences.

Packing Guide View our printable packing guides and keep scrolling to read about our favourite packing tips to prepare for a great week at camp! Tip #1 Pack in One Bag Packing all your camper’s belongings, including their sleeping items, in one bag keeps everything organized and easy to manage. It reduces the chances of items getting lost or left behind and helps campers keep track of their things throughout the week. Having everything in one place simplifies unpacking when they arrive and makes it easier to pack at the end of camp. Plus, it’s more convenient for transportation and for campers to carry! Tip #2 Put Daily Outfits in Sealed Bags (Younger Campers) Packing outfits in individual Ziplock bags is a great way to keep campers organized. It simplifies getting dressed each day by providing a complete, ready-to-go outfit—no searching for missing socks or matching shirts! Plus, it helps keep their bags organized throughout the week, making it easy to see what’s been worn and what’s still fresh, reducing mess and stress at camp! Tip #4 Send a Laundry Bag Packing a laundry bag for summer camp is essential for keeping dirty clothes separate from clean ones. It helps kids stay organized and makes it easier to keep track of what needs to be washed when they return home. Tip #3 Roll Your Clothes (Older Campers) Rolling clothes is a great way to save space and keep things organized. It helps maximize luggage capacity, making room for all the essentials. You can even roll outfits together, making it easier for kids to grab a complete set of clothes for each day, keeping the suitcase neat throughout the week! Tip #5 Label EVERYTHING Labeling everything helps prevent lost items by ensuring that each piece of clothing, gear, and personal belongings is easily identifiable as your child’s. With so many campers sharing common spaces, labeled items make it easier for counsellors to return misplaced belongings. By clearly marking each item with your child’s name, you can give yourself peace of mind, knowing that their belongings are less likely to get mixed up or lost! Tip #6 Pack a Comfort Item Packing a comfort item for your child can significantly enhance their summer camp experience. Familiar objects like a stuffed animal or blanket provide security and reassurance in a new environment, helping to ease homesickness. Having something familiar to cuddle or hold onto can make the transition smoother, allowing your child to focus on making new friends and enjoying their camp adventures!

Outdoor Spaces Enhancements We need your help to fund Hammock Village at Pearce Williams We’re thrilled to announce that, thanks to the generous support of our community, we’ve successfully funded 17 brand-new picnic tables for our beloved camp! But the journey doesn’t stop here! We’re on a mission to transform and enhance our outdoor spaces even further. Get ready for the next big project – the creation of a serene Hammock Village! This tranquil retreat will offer a unique place for relaxation, connection with nature, and a new way to experience the beauty of Pearce Williams. This upgrade will ensure that our facilities continue to serve our community for many years to come. Join us in this venture by considering a contribution towards this lasting investment in our shared outdoor spaces. Your support is not just for a hammock—it's for countless memories to be made!

Mail at Camp 1 Email your Camper Campers can receive two (2) emails per camp session. Make the most of your emails – write it exactly like a letter full of family news! Emails will be printed at 9am daily and delivered during the lunch hour. Please include the Campers Name, Cabin & Counsellor Name in the subject line. Emails can be sent to: campers@campisbetter.com . Please note that we are not able to process camper replies to email. 2 Sending Physical Mail Feel free to send your camper a couple of pieces of mail at camp! If you are sending letters through the mail, be aware of shipping times and ensure letters arrive prior to picking your child up. A more time conscious option is to bring pre-written letters in envelopes with your camper at the beginning of the week and hand them to your camper’s counsellor at drop-off. Their counsellor will distribute them to your camper throughout the week. Our address is: Pearce Williams c/o –CAMPERS NAME 8009 Iona Road Fingal ON, N0L 1K0 3 Campers Sending You Mail If your camper would like to send letters to you or anyone else in your family, you can send self-addressed and stamped envelopes with your camper! If you let your camper’s counsellor know you have sent one or more self-addressed envelopes, they will ensure that your camper sends some mail out. Your camper’s counsellor will collect the mail that campers may have and they will be placed in the mail daily. If your camper writes any letters to send out and did not bring pre-stamped envelopes, these letters will be handed to you at the deregistration table prior to taking them home.

Contact Us Please reach out if you have any questions or inquires about our summer camp, rental facilities, outdoor education or general info! We are happy to help. Let's Chat Phone 519-764-2317 Email info@campisbetter.com Social Media

Help children get to summer camp. Donations for children in need to be able to attend overnight summer camp in Southwestern Ontario and Elgin County Share the Love GIVE THE GIFT OF CAMP Children Love Summer Camp. Love looks like a cabin full of giggles. Love looks a campfire shared with friends. Love looks like a quiet moment under the stars. SHOW A CHILD WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE HERE > You can make a camper like Hannah your valentine. Every year Hannah looks forward to spending her summers at Pearce Williams — but this year, her family's financial hardships mean camp is suddenly out of reach. Your $700 gift will give Hannah a week that changes everything.- Be Hannah's Valentine's Day Hero! Will you be Hannah's valentine? When you give $14, you provide craft supplies for campers when inspiration strikes. When you give $28, you provide a cabin with a full makerspace to spark imagination. When you give $56, you provide multiple cabins with enough materials for a week of creativity. When you give $114, you fill a camper's week with delicious meals. When you give $350, you help open the gate to a week of fun by partially sponsoring a camper. BE A VALENTINE'S DAY HERO - GIVE NOW You can help teach campers about the love of camp. You can help campers make lifelong friends, make happy memories, and find a home away from home. You can give campers the summer camp experience. When you give, here's exactly what you do: You help kids have amazing staff, program supplies, and a safe space to create lifelong happy memories. You are a difference maker in a camper's life. Your gift changes their summer and everything afterwards. Your gift shows a camper they matter. Because of you, camp is possible this Valentine's Day Joe Richards, Executive Director & Guitar Player Anchor 2 Donation

Monthly Giving Monthly giving is an easy way to ensure that Pearce Williams Summer Camp continues to change the lives of kids through unforgettable summer camp experiences. By becoming a monthly donor, you are investing in the future of our campers, ensuring they have the opportunity to build lasting memories, develop new skills, and form lifelong friendships. What are the benefits of Monthly Giving? You will NEVER forget to give. Choose the amount you want to donate, and on the 15th of each month, this amount will be automatically deducted from your bank account or credit card. (Unless it falls on a weekend and then the withdrawal will occur on the following Monday.) You can change your gift amount at any time. You can easily amend your gift amount, put it on pause, or cancel by calling the Pearce Williams office. There are no hidden fees or charges. You will receive a consolidated tax receipt with giving statement at the end of the year - so convenient at income tax time! Become a Monthly Donor Become a Monthly Supporter Give Today Reach out to learn more: Justine "Jolly" Donor Relatations Coordinator 519-764-2317 donate@campisbetter.com

Land Acknowledgement To acknowledge the traditional territory upon which Pearce Williams resides is to recognize its longer history, one predating the establishment of the earliest European colonies. It is also to appreciate and respect this territory’s significance for the Indigenous peoples who lived and may continue to live upon it. Pearce Williams acknowledges that their practices and spiritualities were and are tied to the land and continue to develop in relationship to the territory and its other inhabitants today. We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional territory of the Anishnabek (on-is-saan-e-bec), Haudenosaunee (hau-denosaunee), Ojibway/Chippewa, and Lunnaapeew (luna-pow) peoples, and we deeply appreciate their historic connection to and stewardship of this land. We also recognize the contributions Métis, Inuit, and other Indigenous peoples have made, both in shaping and strengthening this community and to our province and country as a whole. As settlers, we are grateful to be able to live and learn as guests here today and welcome all who visit to join our collective commitment to make the promise of Truth and Reconciliation real in this community, while advocating for justice for Indigenous peoples across the country.

Support our dining hall and the wonderful staff, campers, and guests who use it: Give Today Reach out to learn more: Louisa Flock Donor & Fund Development Coordinator 519-764-2317 donate@campisbetter.com Help keep us smiling in the Dining Hall for years to come! Emergency Appeal: Dining Hall Hot Water Heater Tank Here's what happened: After years of faithful service, the dining hall’s hot water tank has suddenly failed, making it hard to provide consistent hot water for cooking, cleaning, and daily use and causing large water output in the basement when we do use it. Due to the significant leaks and cracks, we now unexpectedly need a full replacement. We're installing a modern on-demand system that’s reliable, energy-efficient, and built to last -- a definite upgrade from what the dining hall currently has. It will provide instant hot water when it’s needed most, reducing waste and improving daily life in one of the most important buildings at camp. Why it matters: Campers and our staff rely on the dining hall daily for meals, dishes, washing up, and even showers in the accessible bathrooms throughout the whole summer. Beyond summer camp, this vital resource is used throughout the year by rental groups, school programs, retreats, and events. Reliable hot water is essential to keeping things running smoothly, safely, and comfortably so that camp can continue to host groups in the off-season while helping kids experience the magic of camp in the summers. Why your gift matters: Replacing the whole system efficiently comes at a significant cost—no less than $15,000—and we can't do it without you. With your help, we can ensure Pearce Williams remains a welcoming and well-equipped space for all who visit. Your gift will help restore comfort, safety, and functionality to an essential part of our camp operations. How you can become a difference maker today: Here are some examples of how your contribution can make a difference! $100 – Supports tools, materials, or connection parts needed to get the system running. $250 – Contributes to professional labor for safe, code-compliant installation. $500 – Helps cover a portion of the unit cost or plumbing upgrades. $1,000 – Funds a major part of the tank system or installation labor. $5,000 – Drives the project forward in a big way—powering hot water for years to come! Donate Today

Weekly Themes Each week at Pearce Williams has a special theme! These themes are woven into exciting games and challenges where campers take on special roles or quests. A highlight of the week is our themed dinner on Thursday, where everyone dresses up in costumes and enjoys a fully decorated feast that brings the theme to life. Check out this year's themes down below! Summer 2025's Weekly Themes Summer 2024's Weekly Themes

Catering to kids who might be unsure about staying at camp for a full week session, our First Timers camp session offers a fantastic opportunity with a three night stay at camp, with all the same fun of a full week stay! FIRST-TIMERS August 4 -7 Primary/First Timers Camp is the perfect introduction to camp for 5-9 year old campers. At Primary Camp, your camper will get to discover all that Pearce Williams has to offer in a shorter time period. Your campers first time at camp will lead to a lifelong love of camp. The goal at Pearce Williams is to allow your young camper to gain self-esteem and self-confidence, while living in a supportive community setting. Primary Camp is a great way to get younger campers comfortable with the overnight summer camp experience. Activities include: swimming, nature, sports, Makerspace, chapel, drama, dance, hiking, cook-outs, rocket building, gaga ball, 9 Square in the Air, campfires and so much more! t1:$460 T2:$435 T3:$420 APPLY NOW