Camp IHC Lingo to Know Before You Go!
So you’re rolling up to summer camp for the first time? The first thing to know is that camp is the most welcoming place on earth and you’re going to be made to feel like a part of the family from the moment you step off the bus.
It can be over-whelming but please know that everyone adjusts in their own time. Everything will be new to you and we encourage you to just get involved and roll with it.
This year we’re giving you a head start. Here’s a list of IHC lingo you will hear over the summer, give it a read and you’ll totally know what everything is before you arrive… maybe. We all get there in the end!
Whilst we are one Co-Ed camp at IHC, you can split camp into 4 main age group areas.
Lake Camp
Lake Camp refers to the younger age groups on camp, these are our boy and girl campers that are in grades 2–7, so around 6–12 years old. It’s called Lake Camp because their bunks are closer to the lake. Get it?!
Hill Camp
Hill Camp refers to Grade 8 & 9 campers, they are older than Lake Campers and they live above them on a hill… how good are we at naming things?!
Tribe West
I’m sure you’ve seen people say ‘I’m on Tribe West!’ and you’re like, okay?Tribe West is the lucky campers in grade 10 that get to spend 4 weeks of the summer traveling the west coast of America in the most insane summer camp trip ever.
CIT’s
CIT stands for Counselors in Training. They are our oldest campers and act as counselors on half staff day’s and grow their leadership skills over the summer. It marks their final year of being a camper at IHC.
Half Staff Days
Every staff member gets a day off each week, staff will either get the Wednesday night and all day Thursday off, or Sunday night and all day Monday. The split is half and half.
Olympics
Olympics is the biggest special event at Camp IHC. It breaks out around the last week or two of camp but nobody knows when. The camp is split into two main teams of blue and white and compete in a series of challenges for points. At the end of Olympics there is a winning ceremony before the camp becomes one again.
OD’
This stands for On Duty. Each week there will be a night or two when you’re assigned to bunk watch from 10pm onwards. On OD you have to make sure the campers aren’t making too much noise and keeping other bunks up.
Polar Bear Swim
There’s a couple of mornings when campers are allowed to get up super early and head to the pool for an early morning swim. It’s called Polar Bear swim because the pool hasn’t heated up yet. Brrrrrrr! You do get cookies at the end though!
OPT
This stands for Out-Post Tripping. The OPT staff lead off camp trips to go hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, caving, you name it. You will often find them wandering around heavily wooded areas wearing a lot of flannel.
OAS
These are our outdoor activity specialists. They are very similar to OPT, they look after our ropes courses and outdoor adventure areas.
“Talk to Program”
The Program team makes daily camp life happen. They give out daily schedules that determine where each division on camp needs to be. They are summer camp superheroes.
Divisions
Divisions are the different age groups on camp. The youngest division are called the Rookies and every year the campers move up a division until they get to Tribe West and CIT’s.
“Fancy a game of Gaga?”
Yes, yes you do. This dodgeball style game is played in a wooden octagon. Staff and campers slap a rubber ball at each others legs to try hit them. Get hit and you’re out. Last person standing claims the victory!
“Fancy a game of Knock-out?”
Yes, yes you do. Don’t worry someone isn’t going to punch your face. It’s a basketball elimination game, it’s a great way to get a large group of people involved.
The IHC Café
This is the staff lounge where you have access to wi-fi and lockers and our incredible Moka Origins Cafe!
