Here’s a quick guide to some phrases and words you might hear the local Canadians using during your camp placement (or maybe you came across some of these this past summer if you’re a NYQUEST alumni)! Some are stereotypical Canadianisms, while others are specific to camp life in general. Think of it as a Camp Canada glossary. Let us know if there are any more we should add to the list!
Beavertail: a fried dough pastry that is topped with delicious ingredients (reference)
Buddy system: when campers are paired up in the swimming area to ensure their mutual safety
Canuck: nickname for a person from Canada
Cottaging: Actually going to spend some time at a friend/family member’s cottage (no other meaning!)
Colour wars: the most intense and competitive event at summer camp where campers are divided into teams, each assigned a colour, and compete in different challenges (reference)
Double-Double: a coffee with two creams and two sugars (reference)
Eavestrough: the “gutter” that runs along the eaves of a building to catch rain/leaves
Eh?: a Canadian’s way of saying, “don’t you agree?”, or “could you repeat that please?”
Flagpole: a camp-wide meeting that usually takes place around the flagpole in the morning where announcements are made
“For sure”: “Definitely”
Ga-ga: variation of dodgeball game played at camp (reference)
Gimp: a knotting camp craft that uses flat colourful plastic string to make bracelets
Giv’n r: doing something really well or enthusiastically
Housecoat: a bathrobe
Hydro: electricity
Keener: a person who is extremely eager
Kerfluffle: a big commotion
Klick: a short-form of “kilometre”
Knapsack: another word for backpack
Kraft Dinner/KD: macaroni and cheese made from a box (reference)
Loonie: one dollar coin (reference)
Mountie: Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer (reference)
Muskoka chair: large wooden deck chair (reference)
Pencil Crayon: coloured pencil
Polar bear dip: a camp activity where you jump in the lake in the early morning before breakfast
Pop: a soft drink or soda pop
Poutine: french fries covered with gravy (poutine sauce) and cheese curds (reference)
Runners: running shoes/sneakers
Soaker: what you call your foot after stepping in a deep puddle, lake, or river
Timbits: donut holes (reference)
Timmies: Tim Horton’s coffee
Toonie: two dollar coin (reference)
Toque: a knit winter hat
Tuck Shop: a small store at camp that sells small items for campers to buy while away from home
Washroom: a bathroom/restroom/the toilet/the loo
Zed: the letter “zee”