Our day camps focus on enhancing vocabulary and conversational skills. We aim to promote French as a living language. The campers are encourage to use their french in an environment where they are not evaluated which allows them to take more risks. We offer French summer camps in Brampton, Burlington, Markham, Maple, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill and Toronto.
What makes our French camp special
One of the aspect that makes Camp Tournesol so special is the teachers who work at our French summer camp. At Tournesol, every program is supervised either by teachers or university students paired with high school students. The high school counselors are fun and great role models for the campers and the adults ensure that the French camp is well organized with lots of activities and most importantly, safe for everyone. Our counselors are all trained on our different modules and all activites are standardized across counselors and campus so no matter which group your child is in or which campus, they benefit from our wealth of experience in camping activities. Oh yeah, and the campers LOVE our new crafts each year.
We keep a ratio in each french campus of LESS than 1 counselor to 10 campers and for campers in the Boute-en-train program, of 1 to 8. Our staff is in place for next summer with lots of the same counselors returning so register your child for a great week of fun in French.
Need to know a little more? Download a sample day camp week or a sample “Boute-en-train” week to show you what you will experience at our camps. If you need to see more, check out our last year’s video!
Quick Links:
Our French Day Camp Programs
LES BOUTE-EN TRAIN (INTRO TO FRENCH)
This is for children age 5 and 6 entering French immersion or Francophone schools in September (offered only as a two weeks session). They will be introduced to basic vocabulary and sentences that they will need in the beginning of their school year. This is a bilingual program supervised by a Francophone or French immersion teacher. The ratio in this program is 8 campers to 1 counselor.
Daily activities include: We start with a language circle where new vocabulary will be introduced for a 30 minute period. This learning is then reinforced throughout the day with organized sports; arts or crafts, nature interpretation, songs, show and tell, cooperation games, camp games, board and card games as well as our very own Tournesol workbook. The workbook also includes the words to the songs that they will learn and will be sent home with the campers at the end of the French camp. They will be able to continue “working” in their workbook for the rest of the summer to reinforce their learning. Find out when and where this french summer camp is offered and how much it costs here.
LES BAMBINS: This program is the Boute-en-train program but only for one week. It is only offered the week of July 30th at selected campus.
LES CURIEUX / LES ESPIÈGLES / LES INTRÉPIDES
LES CURIEUX is a full day French camp for children graduating from grade 1 in French immersion or from “jardin” and grade 1 from Francophone schools. We maintain a ratio of 8 campers to 1 counselor.
LES ESPIÈGLES is for children graduating from grade 2 in French immersion or Francophone schools. The ratio in this program is 1 counselor to 10 campers.
LES INTRÉPIDES is for children graduating from grades 3 to 6 in French immersion or Francophone schools. The ratio in this program is 1 counselor to 10 campers.
The focus of this program is to promote French conversation outside of an academic environment. The level and expectations of french are adapted for each age group. We place the children in situations where they use their french while doing fun activities. Children must already be able to express themselves in French to attend this program.
French Camp daily activities include: Organized sports, arts or crafts, cooperation games, camp games, board and card games and children will take part in a different drama club each week where a short skit or song will be develop by each group on a book theme and presented to the rest of the camp on Friday morning. Activities, crafts, field trips etc… are all different from week to week so you can register for multiple weeks for LOTS of fun in french this summer!
Find out when this French camp is offered and how much it costs here.
COUNSELOR-IN-TRAINING
This program is offered to previous Tournesol campers for students in French immersion or Francophone schools graduating from grade 7 and 8. They will be given responsibilities and placed in situation to develop leadership skills. Each CIT is assigned to a group and mentored by one of our senior camp counselors. This program is eligible for volunteer hours towards the high school diploma requirement for grade 8 students ONLY for most school boards. Each week, the students will earn 35 hours. Check with your high school to ensure that it qualifies.
There is VERY LIMITED availability so register early. Find out when this French camp is offered and how much it costs here. Following online registration, you must complete the CIT application form (click here for the PDF or for the DOCX) and submit it to the office attention Martine Brouillet. Candidates selected will be contacted directly beginning on March 15th. Priority will be given to students who apply for a minimum of 2 weeks and application received prior to March 15th will be treated first.
French Camp — Additional Information
Did you know that more than 66% of our campers come for more than 1 week each summer?
DID YOU KNOW? Register before April 30th and benefit from our early bird discount. This discount does not apply to lunch order or extended care.
ALL PROGRAMS FEATURE
- A great new field trip each week
- Special treat provided on Friday
- Special lunches (at additional cost)
- Supervised by french teachers
- Free Camp Tournesol t-shirt
- Although all efforts will be made, we can not guarantee an allergy free environment
- All instructors are fully bilingual.
- Space is limited in each age group.
- We provide busing for the convenience of our campers with sufficient registration. Click here for busing service.
- An early bird discount is available as well as multiple siblings discounts. Please refer to our fee schedule.
In addition to our French day camps, we also offer 2 different overnight programs. A short one within a week called Intrépides-en-route and a longer overnight trips for older children.