Pioneer Gray Jay Hike or Hike/Horse - YMCA Calgary

13-DAY PIONEER GRAY JAY HIKE AND HIKE/HORSE OPTIONS (14Y–15Y)
YMCA Calgary
Camp Chief Hector YMCA
Summer Camp
Accommodations and Amenities
Gray Jay campers live in tipis. Tipis are a short walk from outhouses and from the wash shack, which is equipped with sinks
and showers. Storage room is limited in tipis and shared by bunk-mates. The Gray Jay Directors live nearby, helping groups
have a great time at camp. Gray Jay groups are also supported by other resource staff such as horse staff and kitchen staff.
During outtrips, Pioneers stay overnight in two, five-person tents.
The Gray Jay site is a rustic place where campers and staff come to be responsible for much of their experience. The site
has treated water which is drawn from a nearby creek and delivered to the main lodge, the packing center (Casa Grande)
and taps in the wash shack. Propane powers our freezers and refrigerators and solar power helps to charge the satellite
telephone and internet connection. A back-up generator provides power at any time. Our two neighbours at Gray Jay are
the Provincial Backcountry Patrollers and the ranch staff at Parks Canada’s Yaha Tinda Ranch. Sundre, the nearest town (a
one hour road travel time), has a hospital, RCMP detachment, and an Alberta Forestry office.
Health Care
Gray Jay is equipped with health services supplies, health history documents and medications that need to be kept secure.
The Gray Jay Directors provide on-site health care.
If a trip to the doctor or the hospital is considered, a Gray Jay Director will call you, and a staff will also accompany your
child to the hospital or clinic. We will contact you with the first update available from the attending physician. If
prescription drugs are necessary following a hospital visit, we will purchase the prescription drugs and invoice you for the
amount when your camper returns home. In the event of a serious illness, you will be notified immediately. If your camper
requires any medication or medical treatment not covered by your provincial health care plan, Camp Chief Hector YMCA
will pay the hospital and then bill you later for the same amount.
A Typical Outtripping Day
6:30 am Campers and counsellors share in the morning tasks of taking down the tent, making breakfast, and getting
personal and group gear ready to travel
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am On the trail: Groups will travel at a comfortable pace for all members and cover distance and terrain
appropriate for the campers’ age and experience. Opportunities abound for exploration, investigating local
plants and animals, and learning interesting things about your fellow hikers/horseback riders. Breaks are
taken at regular intervals in order to stay hydrated and energized.
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm More adventures on the trail
4:30 pm Find a campsite: All group members share in preparing their chosen site for the night. Tasks include setting
up the tents, preparing and cleaning up from supper, and planning the next day
6:00 pm Supper
7:00 pm Clean up the campsite for the night
8:30 pm Appreciations: time to reflect on the day and look forward to tomorrow
9:45 pm In tents, in sleeping bags
* Please note that the above times are a guideline and will depend on the group, the weather and other
environmental factors

YMCA Calgary
Camp Chief Hector YMCA
Summer Camp
Packing for camp as a Pioneer camper
In the Pioneer section, the quality of a camper’s clothing for their backpacking trip is very important. Weather can range
from hot/dry days to cold rain and heavy snow. Evenings, though usually warm or cool, can be quite cold. The out-trip
locations are sufficiently remote that proper clothing – from head to toe, from hats to shoes and boots – will have a
significant impact on the quality of one’s experience.
Many of the examples below of clothing and gear are from Mountain Equipment Coop (www.mec.ca). MEC supplies quality
and economical outdoor gear for children. Similar items can be found at other stores as well.
CAMPERS MUST BRING:
RAIN JACKET AND PANTS
o Look for fully waterproof jacket & pant, made of durable material
o Rain pants are just as important as the jacket to help a person stay reasonably warm
o Examples of quality and economy: MEC Reflective Rain Jacket (youth) and MEC Rain Pants (youth); for adult sizes,
MEC Heavyweight Rain Coat & MEC Heavyweight Rain Pant.
WARM SLEEPING BAG
o Look for a sleeping bag that could suffice as your child’s bedding during all of their nights at camp
o The correct sleeping bag is rated to 0˚ Celsius, minimum (-7° recommended, generally)
o Synthetic filling (bulkier than down-feathers) stays warmer when wet; synthetic fill dries more easily
o An example of quality and economy: MEC Habanero sleeping bag -7° or MEC Habanero 0°, depending on how
“warm” your child sleeps (-7° recommended, generally).
SLEEPING BAG COMPRESSION SAC
o You will find that your sleeping bag fills most of an overnight backpack, leaving little space for personal items, group
food and group gear. A compression sac provides a solution to this problem. A compression sac is a sleeping bag
stuff sac that has straps on the outside to compress the bag so that it takes up much less space. One compression
sac will fit all of your child’s years of sleeping bags.
o An example of quality and economy: MEC Outdoor Research Ultralight Compression Sac 25L.
FOOTWEAR
o Sandals – a pair of securely-attached sandals
o Runners
o can be an old, worn-in & light pair of runners for “campsite shoes”
o should be sturdy enough for light day-hiking in the mountains and/or portaging packs/canoes over portages
o Hiking Boots
o Look for: comfortable fit, waterproof (with boot-wax or by design), sufficient support for multi-day
backpacking, (wear boots in the store as you shop, in order to rate their comfort)
o NOTE: Boot fit and boot comfort can be highly variable, personal, and can change over time. Camp Chief
Hector YMCA is not responsible for boot-fit difficulties based on the recommendations below. Though
reviewed very favourably by many customers on the MEC website, the boots described below do have
some critical reviews as well
o Examples of quality & economy: MEC Purcell 2 Backpacking Boots (adult), Timberland Pawtuckaway WP
Mid Shoe (kid/youth), Hi-Tec Altitude IV Jr. Approach Boots (kid/youth).
BACKPACK
o Look for an internal frame, proper fit (ask for assistance in the store), simple design, appropriate volume:
o Pioneer volume = 60 litres to 80 litres, though proper fit is the most important consideration
o Examples of quality and economy: MEC Alpinelite, MEC Ibex, or MEC Brio – select appropriate volume.

YMCA Calgary
Camp Chief Hector YMCA
Summer Camp
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On canoe trip, backpacks are waterproofed by lining with durable garbage bags
Campers can also bring dry bags to pack their things for the trip: MEC Brooks Bag Dry Bag, MEC Transparent Dry
Bag
SYNTHETIC (or wool) CLOTHING/SOCKS
o Synthetic or wool clothing keep their insulating qualities (they stay warmer) even when wet – unlike cotton fabrics
and clothing; as well, synthetic or wool fabrics dry faster than cotton fabrics
o Cotton clothing, great for in-camp and short trips, is NOT recommended as the main clothing layers for a multi-day
overnight camping trip. Wet or damp cotton becomes cold. Cotton is difficult to dry on a camping trip
o Examples of quality and economy: similar items are also available in adult sizes
o Tops, from inner to outer layers: MEC Presto Short-Sleeved T-Shirt (Youths'), MEC Microcheck Sweater
(Youths'), MEC Dynamic Jacket (Youths'), MEC Physique 3 Jacket (Youths')
o Bottoms: MEC Sidetrack Shorts (Youths'), MEC Sidetrack Pants (Youths').
LONG UNDERWEAR
o Synthetic or wool long underwear on a cold morning or during a rainy day makes the difference between comfort
and distressing cold; synthetic or wool long underwear is light, easy to carry and easy to dry
o Examples of quality and economy:
o Tops: MEC Midweight Underwear Crew
o Bottoms: MEC Expedition Stretch Long Johns
Please do not bring electronic devices to camp (cell phones, iPods, gaming devices, etc). Campers and staff coming to Camp
Chief Hector YMCA Summer Camp are making a choice to be in-the-moment with their group and with their surroundings. If
your camper is found to have any of these items at camp, we will keep them in a locked office until the end of the camp
session. Candy, money and jewellery should also not be brought to camp.
Complete list of items to bring:
Rain jacket AND pants
Day pack
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Bag Compression Sac
13-day supply of underwear
13-day supply of socks
4 pairs of long pants
4 pairs of shorts
6 t-shirts
3 long sleeved shirts
2 warm sweaters – fleece or wool. Example: MEC Dynamic Hoodie (youth)
1 pair pyjamas
1 bathing suit
1-litre water bottle
Hat that will keep the sun off the head, ears, and face
Sunglasses, sunscreen, sun block lip balm, insect repellent
Pillow and Blanket (extra warmth on chilly nights and for our closing ceremony)
2 towels – one for showering and one for swimming/waterfront
Laundry bag
Flashlight or headlamp

YMCA Calgary
Camp Chief Hector YMCA
Summer Camp
Sturdy pair of shoes that can be worn walking (running shoes work well)
Sandals or water shoes
Hiking boots
Rubber boots or riding boots (we have some rubber boots available to lend to campers in common sizes)
Bug net – OPTIONAL – Mosquitoes and other insects live in our environment at camp and are often especially abundant
in July. A bug net is hung over the bed to keep insects away during the night
Camera – we recommend disposable – please write your camper’s name in permanent marker on the camera
Books and word puzzles for bedtime and downtime
Paper, addressed envelopes and stamps
A labelled zip-lock bag works well for storing toiletries.
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Soap, shampoo and conditioner (small bottles are best)
Comb or brush
Deodorant
Specific Outripping Equipment and Clothing
□ Backpack – big enough to fit sleeping bag, a change of clothes, the following items, and a small amount of group food or
gear. Example: MEC Big Squeeze 2 Backpack
□ 1 pair long underwear: tops and bottoms. Example: MEC Midweight Underwear Crew Top and Long Johns
□ Camping sleeping pad. Example: Therm-a-rest RidgeRest Sleeping Pad
□ Camping/plastic plate, cup and spoon. Example: GSI Infinity or Cascadian dishes
□ Warm toque and mitts
□ 2 strong garbage bags to line backpack on outtrip
PACKING
A Rubbermaid type bin or a duffle or hockey bag work well for organizing clothes and keeping them dry and secure in the
tipi. A Rubbermaid Roughneck Tote (37.9L fits under bunk beds and 53L or 68L work well, too)
Lost and Found
Please consider keeping expensive valuables and other items that would be greatly missed at home. Camp Chief
Hector YMCA is not responsible for lost, broken or stolen items
We highly recommend labelling all of your child’s items
Consider sending a list of packed items with your camper that they can double check as they pack to go home.
Camp Chief Hector YMCA is happy to keep, for 2 weeks following each session, labelled lost & found items such as
backpacks, water bottles, pairs of shoes, quality clothing, and rain gear. Please contact us at 403-673-3858 ext 223 with a
description of the lost item. We will contact you if it has been found. Items such as socks and toiletries will not be kept.
Visit our website, for more information, including the following topics:
Camper Medical Information and Transportation at CampFax Family Zone, Safety and Risk Management, Communicating
with your Camper
Please contact Doug Saul if you have any questions about 13-Day Pioneer camp programs or information listed here:
dsaul@calgary.ymca.ca or 403-673-3858 ext 301.