A competent, mature and caring staff is essential to ensure a successful camping program.

The ability to make campers squirt milk out their noses is also a plus.

At Kanata, our staff helps maintain an atmosphere of fun, within a carefully controlled and tightly monitored environment that encourages safety and positive character development. All staff members must be committed to listen to a story, hear a joke or respond to a concern. They must feel comfortable giving a hug, maintaining order and offering words of encouragement. Most important, they must always serve as positive role models.

It goes without saying that Camp staff memers are carefully selected, to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for the campers. Only qualified college students, high school graduates and rising seniors in high school who have a genuine love for, understanding of, and interest in young people are chosen. Each summer Kanata also hires several international staff members. These individuals contribute some of their unique culture to the camp and allow campers to broaden their view of the world.

Once they've been selected, Camp staff undergoes an intensive weeklong training event to become oriented to summer camp, and the unique characteristics of Kanata.

Camp Kanata firmly supports the YMCA’s character development program. The four core values of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility are grounded by faith in God and integrated into all areas of camp life.