GBC is a great camp.I enjoyed it alot,but at the first time ever i went it was hard because I had never seen or been to the camp before.I don't think that it's true when other people say you need to go to private school or you need to live in a rich neighbourhood and your parents have to make alot of money.I loved the activities but my personal favorite was sailing.You can talk to the staff about any problems and they'll help.They do have composting toilets so outside the washrooms it smells bad.The food is good,but sometimes it's amazing and sometimes it's fine.I would highly reccomend the camp.Another thing I loved was they had ploar dip so you would wake up early and get into the lake.The lake is shallow so you can stand for along time.
I went to this camp about 5 years ago. I signed up for three weeks and the moment i arrive i was counting down until i got to leave. I did not feel very welcomed and not knowing anyone there was tough. I was homesick and the councillors did not care and payed little attention towards me. At night you would be left alone with no councillor and I was young and this was quite intimidating. I remember being hungry regularly cause not enough snacks were provided. Overall I hated the experience and cried every day with no one there to console me. I went to Onondaga the next year and loved it!
I've been going to this camp for five years now and I love it! It truly is my second home!!! I just finished my explorer year (12-13). I've made life long friends here. My cabin group has been the same for 4 years which is really nice because they are now just like my sisters! I feel more comfortable with people at camp than I do anywhere else! The activities are so much fun! I've been able to do things at camp that I'd never even considered trying before. I've never experienced bullying at this camp ever! We all except each other for who we are. The whole private vs. public school issue has never been a problem. It's fun to share our different experiences. I love GBC and am longing to go back!
I have been going to GBC for 6 years and it has been absoloutely amazing every year. AS you get older your experience gets better. THe geeb is a place where everyone is included. You can choose your cabin mates and make life long friends. I just got back from my expo year and I cried on the bus because I LOVE camp. Every year I learn something new about myself. It is true a lot of girls go to private schools but an equal amount go to public schools. I go to a public school and no one really cares. It's actually a lot of fun talking about the differences. One of my favourite parts is that it's an all girls camp. I'm actually going to an all girls school for high school because of it. I Love the geeb!
I love this camp and it is honestly my favorite part of the year. people say this is an elite camp but in truth, i was the only private school girl in my cabin with only two other private schoolers in the section. I love all my friends and they are the best i have. no one cares about how cool you are or how popular you are or anything like at school they only care if you want to have a good time and laugh and have fun. Joc makes the camp so much better and every girl looks up to her. all my counselors were amazing and i love them so much they are like big sisters to me. please come to this camp if you want to have an unforgetable summer wish it was longer
Both of my daughters have attended GBC, and they consider it one of the highlights of their lives. Our eldest daughter has been a counsellor for three years, and my younger daughter is a counsellor in training beginning this summer. They both count the days until they return! Yes, a lot of the campers are from Rosedale, and yes, a lot of them attend private schools - but we are from deepest, darkest GTA, and both of my girls attend(ed) public schools - and they have both made friends for life at GBC. Our eldest daughter attends Queens University, and a lot of her social circle there are GBC campers that she has known since the age of 12. If you are looking for a heart and soul experience in a summer camp, and friends that will last a lifetime, this is the camp for you.
I have been going to GBC for 6 years, and consider it my second home. The staff are extremely kind and attentive, and encourage you to take chances and be responsible for yourself. The facilities are great- a beautiful shore line and nice, new cabins. There are a wide range of activities, from sailing, canoe, windsurfing and canoeing to mountain biking, earth education and high ropes.The staff are generally very attentive to campers and work hard to make sure everyone is included. Going here is my favourite part of the summer, and I think of it all year. If you are looking for a fun, caring environment where girls can become independent and make new friends come here! In regards to the comments about elitism, I would say that there is a mix of private and public school girls, and there is no discrimination as far as I have seen- GBC is like a separate world where who you are at school and what you do during the year does not matter. It's all about who you are at camp! :)
GBC was the best overnight camp! Many people stereotype it as being a camp for only private school girls. But, the thing is in my cabin I only had one girl out of eight that went to a private school! Overall, Glen Bernard is a great camp for girls and the zip line is alot of fun! :)
I have read all the other reviews about how this is a camp that is only for the elite and has experienced lots of bullying, but for those of you who want the truth read this review. I have been attending Glen Bernard Camp since I was 7 years old, over the eleven + years I have been attending this camp I have made life long friendships with all the girls in my age group and grown positively as a person. Anyone who says that this camp does anything but allow you to develop strong leadership skills, build life long friendships and have the best summers a girl can experience is not fully informed. This camp is the best you will find out there, if you want a life changing experience come here.
I strongly do not recommend this camp. Stay away. My 8 year old daughter just returned from this camp (July 2009). She has been to other camps twice before and is not new to camps. She was really looking forward to this experience given the stated activitied and it ended up just being terrible. Councilors do not stay with the children, they are in their own cabin. Bathroom failities are not in the cabins which is not unusual however children were left to themselves with no councilor to find the bathroom in the dark. Teasing and bullying occured and nothing was done. Girls were ganging up and telling they HATE another person. I feel heartache for my daughter for something she should have cherished. This camp is experienced should know better on how to take care of children. Stay away.
Even though i gave the camp some 4s I still think that it means its good like really, my first year at camp it was amazing it was only this year my scond year that i dindt like my AC alot of my friends go to other camps and ours sounds like heaven compared to theirs. I'm going into my PIO year and i know its gonna be great because camp always is. Youcan askanyone the time between my frst two years , I ONLY talked about camp (well, pretty much) and I definetely suggest you go there.
I liked this camp and definetely want to come back next summer, the staff are amazing and can always help you sort out problems and are so nice. The facilities are acceptable, they are good for a camp but many toilets dont flush etc. The activities are amazing and you can learn so much at this camp i passed so many levels. The food is amazing and if you have any special diet they will help you get the food you need, i liked every meal. The people are nice but it can get very cliquey at times and there is alot of drama amongst cabins. I would say it is expensive but alot of fun. Go to this camp, youll love it.
I'm not sure why some parents see the camp through the lens of social class, private school circles, and elitism. I was there every summer from 1982 until 1990 (age six till 13) and loved it every year. I went to public school, had hard working smart parents- and never considered GBC as somekind of class-oriented environment. It never occured to us- the camp is other-worldly. It always felt like an endless summer alter-environment more than anything. I think it is a shame that some intimidated, paranoid parents patronizingly chalk-up GBC to be nothing more than an environment on social-exclusion. For me, GBC was a magical, structured environment that taught me to feel like girls could make their own fun in the world, and survive in the woods over night to-boot! That is very powerful when you are young. All best to Jocelyn Palm, who I see is still the director.
amazing amazing AMAZING. This camp really helped me become who I am today AND helped shape my path towards education as a career. Memories of summers spent under open skies will live on in my heart forever.
When I went to this camp, I enjoyed every second of my time there. I rated it all 5's because there are loads of activities, great food, fun counselors etc.
I've been going for 5 years, and I have never had as much fun before... ever. GBC is my second home. It is definitely an amazing experience to get to spend your summer there. The staff are so friendly, the facilities are really cool and spaced throughout the camp so that it is not too crowded, the activities are so much fun, and it is 150% worth what you pay! Glen Bernard Camp is amazing and I wouldn't want to spend my summer any other way.
This camp is all about image, and if you don't go to the right prvate school or live in the right neighborhood and if your parents don't make the right income you won't be welcomed here. The staff are oblivious to the bullying and ostracizing that go on within cabin groups. My daughter was miserable the entire time she was there and no-one cared enough to notice. This is an over-rated, over-priced camp that is great if you are looking for a place that will help your daughter meet the "right" people and move in the "right" social circles. If these values aren't important to you then do yourself (and your daughter) a favour and send her to a camp staffed by genuine, caring people - it'll cost you a lot less and your girl will be happier!
I went to this camp as a school trip for 3 nights and it was okay but the activities were a bit boring sometimes and the food was okay. Maybe it was just that I went there for a school trip but I was split up from ALL my friends, when some were put together, and I didn't get to choose any of the activities I wanted. It was stricter than my usual summer camp but I still enjoyed it. I would not want to go longer than four days.
i love this camp soooo much it has brang up my self esteem and i have made new friends i am going to this camp again in 2 days and i am very excited!!i even e-mail my counsellor!!their staff are amazingly friendly and u will make instant friends!!!hope u take this advice and try the camp !!! i hope u love it as much as i did
Going to this camp was probably the BEST decision I have ever made. The staff are incredibly caring, the activities are well planned and amazing. I spent six years at this camp and I have made some life long friends and I now have some memories that I will never forget. I absolutely recomend this camp.
I went to this camp for 6 yers of my life. I loved everymoment of it, however it can be very clichey. Most children come from a wealthy background, so it was hard for me to fit in, however all of the activities and things to do made it better. Overall, a great camp.
the geeb is the greatest place on earth! Especially Special Theatre. It's the most non-competetive, laid-back, and completly fun program ever. and Annie one of the Theatre heads is an AMAZING director and counciller :) I STRONGLY reccomend this camp. I've made lifelong friends here.
