Life in the Bunks: The Complete Guide to Summer Camp Organization at Redwood Country Day Camp

Since 1974, Redwood Country Day Camp has been creating unforgettable summer camp experiences for children ages 4-15. Our 27-acre property in Vaudreuil has become the center of camp life for thousands of campers, with our bunk system serving as the foundation for daily activities and lifelong friendships. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore how our summer camp bunks work and why they're essential to the Redwood experience.

Understanding Summer Camp Bunks at Redwood

At Redwood, bunks serve as much more than just a place to store camp water bottles and personal belongings. Each bunk functions as a home base throughout the camp day and most importantly, build connections with fellow campers and camp staff.

The bunks house approximately 12-14 campers each, organized by age and gender. Boys' bunks and girls' bunks are separated, with campers divided by age to ensure appropriate activities and social development. Each bunk of campers becomes a tight-knit community within the entire camp ecosystem.

Parents often request friends be placed in the same bunk, which our camp administrators are happy to accommodate when possible.

Age-Based Camper Divisions in Bunks: Rascals, Turtles, Raiders, and LITs.

Redwood's bunks are organized into three main units, each with its own identity and age-appropriate programming:

Rascals Unit (ages 4-6): Our youngest campers enjoy specially designed bunks with 8-12 campers per group and a higher camper to staff ratio.
Turtles Unit (ages 7-9): Intermediate campers in the Turtles unit enjoy bunks with 10-14 campers, balancing supervision with growing independence. Turtle bunks incorporate more camp games and structured activities during bunk periods.
Raiders Unit (ages 10-12): Our older campers in the Raiders unit experience bunks with 12-15 campers and more autonomy in organizing their personal belongings and bunk activities. Raiders bunks often develop strong identities and unit pride through friendly competitions.
LITS (campers finishing grades 6 & 7) are special leadership bunks, that participate in all the camp activities, but have more opportunity to choose their activities , have more independence throughout the day, and participate in team building and leadership activities.

Additionally, we have the CITS, for our oldest campers (finishing grades 8 and 9) who participate in our counselor-in-training programs and enjoy enhanced responsibilities within the camp community.

Each unit follows a camp scheduling system that ensures they experience all the wonderful activities Redwood offers, from swimming in our four heated pools to rock climbing, arts and crafts, biking, and special programs like Driver's Ed and our Zipline adventure.

Daily Life and Bunk Times at Camp

Upon arrival at camp each morning, campers report to their assigned bunks where counselors take attendance and prepare them for the day's activities. These bunk times are crucial for building community spirit and ensuring every camper is accounted for before activities on camp begin.

Throughout the day, campers return to their bunks to change for swimming, get their snacks and lunch, and change for swimming again in the afternoon.

The Role of Camp Counselors in Bunk Life

Camp counselors are the heart of the bunk experience at Redwood. Each bunk has 2 dedicated camp staff per group who:

Supervise campers during bunk times and throughout the day
Ensure campers' personal belongings are organized
Help foster connections with campers in their group
Participate in the activities with the campers

Our counselors work directly under our camp administrators and the camp director to ensure every camper is happy and engaged throughout their time at Redwood. Many of our camp counselors were once campers themselves, making them very familiar with our camp traditions and the importance of positive bunk dynamics.

Summer Camp Packing List for Your Bunk

Parents often ask what items should be included on their camp packing lists. For Redwood bunks, we recommend:

Camp water bottles (campers are active all day)
Complete change of clothes
Swimwear and towels for swimming twice a day in our four heated pools
Sunscreen and hats for outdoor activities
Labeled personal belongings (using custom colors or camp versions of name tags)

Building Community Through Bunk Activities

The bunk system at Redwood creates a micro community within the camp grounds. Each bunk within the Rascals, Turtles, and Raiders units develops its own customs, terms, and traditions while participating in broader camp experiences. Camp families often report that their children form their closest camp friendships with fellow bunkmates.

Special bunk-based activities include:

Group challenges at the rock climbing wall
Bunk competitions during camp game sessions
Creative projects in arts and crafts
"Schedule Scramble" where campers grade 2 and up can choose activities they're particularly interested in
Special bunk activities during theme days and camp gatherings at the start and end of the day.

These shared experiences help create lasting camp memories that extend far beyond the summer months. Many campers develop friendships that continue into the school year until they can meet again the next summer. For some campers, these friendships have lasted for many years to come.

Photos and Capturing Bunk Memories

We understand how important camp photos are for parents and campers alike. Our secure photo gallery captures campers in action throughout the day, often organizing images by bunk groups within the Rascals, Turtles, and Raiders units. Parents can access this collage of photos through our website, instagram or facebook, allowing them to see their children enjoying all aspects of camp life.

Our camp photography team makes special efforts to capture bunk groups together, documenting friendships and activities that showcase the community spirit unique to each bunk. These photos become treasured camp memories that families revisit for years to come.

The Importance of Bunks in the Overall Camp Experience

In the world of summer camps, bunks represent much more than physical spaces—they're the building blocks of the entire camp community. At Redwood, we've designed our bunk system to maximize opportunities for social development, friendship-building, and personal growth.

From our camp living facilities to our carefully structured bunk times, every aspect of our program reinforces the values of community, respect, and fun that have made Redwood a beloved summer tradition since 1974.

Ready for an amazing summer? Get all the details you need by visiting redwooddaycamp.com, signing up through our registration form, and staying connected on Instagram and Facebook.