Whistler Multicultural Society (WMS) aims to bring cultures together fostering intercultural awareness, understanding, and interactions across the Sea to Sky. Our programs build cross-cultural interaction and connections, develop awareness and understanding of our local diversity, and seek to grow equity and inclusion. Our goal for Multicultural Camps is to introduce children to aspects of local cultures represented in their local community and to spark a life-long curiosity about culture and differences.

Each Multicultural Camp is led by a cultural ambassador, a local immigrant from the country being explored, who will immerse the children in a cultural experience to learn about the country of the day. All camps are different, tailored by each cultural ambassador and deliver hands on activities exploring the language, food, games, crafts, music, song, and dance. WMS multicultural camps focus on being fun, safe, enjoyable, and inclusive. Our cultural ambassadors are supported by assistants experienced at working with children at a ratio of 3 or 4 to 1. In food portions, your child will be learning with professional equipment such as knives. Use of this equipment is monitored at all times and proper safety methods are taught without fail. 

Camp Policies

Please read our camp policies carefully. You will be required to acknowledge that you have read, understood and accept these when you register your child.

Registration and Cancellation

• No class registration will be considered complete and/or final, nor will any child be allowed to participate in Whistler Multicultural Society multicultural camps, without a fully completed registration form, which includes a release, and payment has been received. 

• We will do everything possible to avoid program cancellations; however, we reserve the right to do so if necessary. In the event that a Multicultural Camp is cancelled by Whistler Multicultural Society, we will offer you a full refund. 

• For all of our Multicultural Camps, we can provide a full refund, less a 10% administration fee, up to 14 days prior to the start date of your camp. Alternatively, we can allow someone to take your space, or you switch to another camp date if spaces are available. We regret that barring extenuating circumstances, no refunds will be made within 14 days of the camp start date. 

• In cases where the participant is unable to attend camp due to medical reasons suffered by the participant, a full refund, less 10% administration fee, will be granted following receipt of official documentation. This applies only to medical conditions affecting the participant, not the participant’s family.

• Families are still able to find another child to fill their spot within that 14 day period providing ALL of the following conditions are met: 

  • WMS has been informed of this change, via e-mail. 

  • Prior to 5 pm the day before the camp is set to take place (so for July 2nd, we would need to know who is taking the space before 5 pm on July 1st). 

  • The other family must also be cc'd in the e-mail.

Conditions 

Please understand that Whistler Multicultural Society makes no exceptions to the following conditions:

• Only a parent or legally recognized guardian may register a child for children’s multicultural camps.

• Participation in children’s multicultural camps is solely at the risk and liability of the parent or legal guardian enrolling the child.

• Due to the potentially dangerous nature of cooking equipment and tools, it is the responsibility of the registering parent or guardian to ensure the child’s skill level is consistent with the ability to cut and use a cooker and utensils under close supervision. Whistler Multicultural Society and its employees cannot accept liability for any injury or damages that you or your child may suffer related to the location or site of Whistler Multicultural Society Camps or participation in activities sponsored by Whistler Multicultural Society.

• Every effort will be made by Whistler Multicultural Society and its employees to ensure the safety of your child while participating in a program being run by Whistler Multicultural Society. Please contact us with any questions or concerns about our day camps.

Emergencies and illness 

If an emergency or illness occurs while your child is on the site of Whistler Multicultural Society Multicultural Camps and staff consider the situation to be life-threatening or otherwise potentially hazardous to your child, your child’s health, other children or any property, staff may escort the child from the premises of the building. Staff may at that time request any personal, governmental, or professional assistance that is deemed necessary to protect the welfare of the child.

• Whistler Multicultural Society staff will not administer any medication to any child. If the child has a pre-existing condition requiring or a need for prescribed medication, please ensure that the parent or guardian is able to satisfy these needs either prior to or after the day’s session.

• For the welfare and benefit of everyone, if your child is sick on a class day, please keep him or her home for the day and notify Whistler Multicultural Society prior to the start of the camp.

Drop off and Pick Up 

Please make arrangements to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the start of camp, and to retrieve your child no later than the scheduled end of camp.

Lost, stolen or damaged property 

Any personal belongings of the enrolled child or the parent/guardian that enters the site of Whistler Multicultural Society Multicultural Camps remain the sole responsibility of the child, parent, or guardian. Whistler Multicultural Society shall not be responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property or belongings.

Changes to scheduled camp days

• Whistler Multicultural Society may change the country and theme of any Multicultural Camp without notice, due to staff changes or unavailability.

• Participants and their families will be notified of a detailed schedule for each day within 5 days of the camp and of any changes to the country focus or theme.

Media/Photo Waiver

• Please note that Whistler Multicultural Society may use pictures taken during day camps to be used for marketing purposes. 

Data Privacy

WMS collects personal information in order to ensure the safety of participants and to communicate with/update individuals who have enquired or registered for a multicultural camp by gathering information on:

·         food and other allergies and preferences

·         normal and emergency contact information in the case that parents/guardians need to be contacted

·         any other special needs required by participants and their families

By completing the registration form, you are consenting to WMS holding your personal information for the purposes described above.

WMS will not disclose personal information without consent. Access to personal information within Whistler Multicultural Society is restricted to those staff members and/or individuals we hire under contract who need the information in order to carry out their job duties. Those employees will maintain the information in the strictest of confidence and will not provide access to the information to anyone who is not authorized.

You have the right to formally request access or corrections to your personal information at any time. Likewise, you can, at any time, can request a correction or deletion of your personal information. Please contact WMS with any questions or concerns about data gathering and privacy by email at admin@wmsociety.ca

**It is important to note that the policies may be amended at any time. Whistler Multicultural Society (WMS) will continue to monitor the ongoing health situation, following guidance and recommendations from the Ministry of Health, B.C. Centre for Disease Control, WorkSafe B.C., and other relevant sources of information. Families will be immediately notified of any changes to policies and procedures.