Campers begin each day with general instruction on a certain topic or idea. The idea is further explored in the projects and assignments that they campers are given throughout the day. There are on average 2 projects a day. Campers are encouraged to continue working on unfinished projects in their spare time at the camp to further improve their skills and portfolio. From 11:45-1:00 is lunch where the campers are encouraged to go outside and play soccer, frisbee, board games, or simply eat their lunch and chat with fellow campers and intructors. The CyberARTS Camp offers a Pizza Lunch Program every day. Pizza comes from Pizza Pizza, and can be ordered daily, or by the week. If you re ordering just for a day or two, please supply your child with money on that day, and make sure that they tell their instructor that they will be ordering that day. (So that we can order enough pizza for them!) For campers ordering pizza every day, please make use of our Pizza Lunch order form mailed to you with your confirmation letter to order for the entire week. These forms are paid on the Monday of each week, so you're child won't need to bring money every day. Our camp also offers a concession stand every day, supplied with chips, pop, chocolate bars, freezies, etc... Please supply your child with money should they want to purchase from the stand.

Of course, campers may bring their own lunches, but please note that our camp has a strict policy regarding nut products. No camper may bring any product made with or that has come in contact with nut products. At the end of the week (on Friday) the camp hosts an Open House from 3PM - 4PM for parents to come and see their child's work, and to witness the graduation' ceremony. Campers are supplied with 5 colour prints of their work, a complimentary CyberARTS Camp T-shirt, and a certificate during this Open House.

If your child would like digital copies of their work, please provide them with a CD, or $1.00 to purchase a CD, and one of our staff will load their work.


History and Background

Spawned from the CyberARTS Academic Program (CyberARTS Website), the CyberARTS Camp is operated within the same building, making use of technology that would be otherwise idle for the summer. The camp will be going into its 12th year of operation this summer (2009). The camp has been steadily growing every year since its inception, but we have maintained our high standard by keeping a low camper-staff ratio. We have built a solid reputation as a professional and friendly camp that caters to the individual interests and development of every camper. Our community of campers grow with the increasing number of references generated by experienced campers.
The CyberARTS Camp has an official partnership with the Toronto District School Board's Continuing Education department.


CyberARTS Camp's Mandate

At CyberARTS Summer Camp, we offer summer week-long programs that provide an opportunity for students to be exposed to different technologies in the field of digital arts and design. Our introductory courses are designed to expose campers to a wide variety of professional software and different aspects of digital art.

This is not to say that our time is completely devoted to teaching software. We place equal emphasis on the visual arts component. We feel that technology is a tool we use to expand on the variety of options we have to express ourselves. In the same sense that skill with a paintbrush doesn't make you a painter, knowing how to use Adobe Illustrator doesn't make you a graphic designer.

We believe in quality and not quantity. We keep our instructor to student ratios low to provide individual attention to every camper. We pride ourselves on our flexibility to cater to the different needs of each individual camper.


Staff and Resources

The instructional staff consists of senior CyberARTS students and graduates of the program who are currently in university or college. Don Mills CyberARTS teachers serve as supervisors during the summer. Instructors are trained in the areas of camp safety, curriculum, and professionalism. We take our staff and volunteer training very seriously in order to ensure the quality of service and care that we provide each camper. We also strive to maintain high standards for the technology and facilities at the camp.

We have two Apple computer labs, each with at least 17 workstations and one teaching workstation. Teaching workstations consist of either an Apple eMac or iMac, and dedicated data projector. We also have two DELL computer labs, each with at least 17 workstations and one teaching station. Teaching workstations consist of a DELL computer workstation and dedicated data projector. The two utilize DELL computer labs are used for graphic design level I and 2D animation. We are equipped with CD burners and a Canon colour laser printer for professional media output.


Policies

We strive to be nut-free at the camp. For the safety of other campers, please do not bring any food products containing nuts to the camp. Our refund policy requires you to give us at least two weeks, or 14 days notice for course cancellations. We charge a $10 administrative fee for each course canceled with less than 2 weeks notice. No refunds will be given for cancellations with less than 24 hours notice prior to the start of a course, or after a course has begun. No refunds will be given for days that a child is absent from camp, and missed days can only be made up at the discretion of the camp. Refund requests for medical reasons must be accompanied by a doctor's note. Course changes and adjustments will be subject to availability.

Payment for the CyberARTS Camp MUST be made either at the time of registration. Should there be low registration in any given course, we reserve the right to cancel the course or session and offer a full refund, or transfer the camper to a different week or course.

CyberARTS Camp expects that campers will not exhibit behaviour that harms himself/herself or anyone else in any way. If any camper behaves in an unsuitable manner, the parents/caregivers will be contacted. If it becomes necessary to remove any camper because of unacceptable behaviour, no refund will be given.
Camp doors open at 8:30am for drop-off, and pick-up is at 4:00pm. If you require after hours-extended services, please let us know on the first day of camp. There is a service fee of $10 per day for this extended hours service till 5:00pm. We require written permission from parents if the camper would like to leave the camp on their own during lunch or at the end of the day.

We also have a smoke-free policy at the camp, applicable to all campers and staff. Smoking is not allowed on Don Mills Collegiate Institute or school board property.


CyberARTS

The CyberARTS Program is hosted at Don Mills C.I. and Northview Heights S.S. at the high school level, and Don Mills M.S. and Charles H. Best M.S. at the grade 7-8 level. It combines visual arts, technology, graphic design and communications taught in a dynamic environment with an emphasis on life-skills by teachers with experience in professional fields such as photography, video, business, fine arts, and computer programming. The summer camp is taught by senior and graduate students from the program, while administrated and supervised by the program's teachers and staff.

Program applications are usually due in early January, followed by an interview early February. Candidates are required to bring in 10 portfolio pieces, one self portrait accompanied by a photograph of the candidate, a writing sample, as well as at least two teacher references. Results are finalized early March and you will be informed by mail or phone.

For further inquiries, please call the school at 416-395-3192 ext.20135, to speak with the CyberARTS program director, Sharron Forrest or check out the website at www.cyberarts.ca.

Please note that if you contact the CyberARTS Camp regarding the CyberARTS Program, we may not be able to assist you.