WHAT TO PACK...

The Annotated Packing List ...by Andrew Vivian (Programme Director)

Download the Course Packing List (pdf document, 212KB)

This packing list is a suggestion based on my 30 years of being a staff member at summer camps. It assumes 7 days at the course, where the environment can be wet, and the temperature can vary between the 90's and the 50's (30°C to 10°C) in the space of one day.

If you visit the MBCC photo tour, you will have a better idea of the facilities. Please edit this list as necessary or practical for you, and ensure that the chorister's name is on EVERYTHING, including less obvious items.

General Packing List:
• You DO NOT need to bring sleeping bags or pillows (bedding will be provided for all)
• Small backpack to carry materials for the day for boys and teens.
• 1 rain coat and hat / poncho
• 1 set PJs
• 7 pairs underwear
• 2 pairs shorts
• 1 or 2 pairs swim trunks
• 3 towels (combination of bath & beach.) ADULTS NEED THIS TOO.
• 6 pairs of socks
• 2 pairs running shoes
• 1 pair sandals
• 1 or 2 pairs long pants (at least one pair should be suitable for running through the brush)
• 6 t-shirts (please make sure one of them has white as the background colour, and
  one of them has an obvious background colour that is neither white nor gray)
• 1 long-sleeved shirt (for warmth or protection from bugs)
• 1 sweatshirt or sweater just in case it gets chilly in the evening or morning.
• 1 hat for purposes of protection from the elements or the amusement of others
• Sun block
• Bug repellent (please avoid spray cans). The biting insects tend to be waning by early
  August, but as there might be a wet summer, or evenings that encourage mosquitoes or
  a few big‐league flies (deer and horse, not pop), participants will be encouraged to wear
• repellent when outside during the evening. Please get a liquid product that has between
  20 and 30 percent DEET. Anything else (like citronella) or a lower concentration of DEET
  tends to be ineffective after 20 minutes.
• Fan (a six to eight inch fan is recommended for comfort at night in case of a heat wave)
• Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
• Laundry bag or reasonable facsimile
• $10 cash for Sunday afternoon lunch. In addition, there is a Bishops College School
  Supply Store which has lots of cool items for sale, many of them in the colour of purple
  (it is Bishop’s School).

We would be happy to store any cash for the boys during the course of the week for safety –
just turn it in at the time of registration, in an envelope marked with the campers name on
it and the amount enclosed.

Sunday dress: Our final services are held at Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal, a poorly-ventilated building with no air conditioning. The choir is placed at the back of the church. As the building can be very warm, we do not use choir vestments, so do not bring them along. Our Sunday dress will be:
• Black polish-able shoes (dress shoes, not "good sneakers")
• Black socks
• Dress shorts or pants (any color is acceptable)
• The newly provided MBCC Logo Polo Shirt.

Optional Items:
• Camera
• Padlock (lockers are available for all participants in Molson Hall)
• Swim goggles
• Tennis racket and balls (there are tennis courts we can use)
• Musical instrument
• Adult/teen organists may bring along music to practice during the week. We will set up
  a practice schedule for the chapel organ once all participants have arrived. There are also
  four practice rooms (with piano) available for our use which any may use for musical purposes.
• Reading material or playing cards or suchlike, for use during rest period each day, when
  activities are required to be individual and silent. A small personal device (mp3 player, iPod,
  or the like) is fine, but is brought entirely at the risk of the owner. Sleep becomes an
  increasingly popular rest period activity as the week progresses.
• Board games
• Flashlight and batteries
• After-Bite
• While we don't have WiFi access, a computer lab will be made available for use by our adults.

Do not bring:
• Sleeping bag (a bed with pillow and linens is provided)
• Anything that you would regret getting “borrowed" (this includes expensive and desirable
  personal electronics)
• Stereo with speakers (a small personal device – mp3 player, iPod, or the like is allowed as
  long as it is used with headphones)
• Participants may bring cell phones for travel before and after camp. BUT, BOYS MAY NOT
  USE THEM DURING THE COURSE OF THE WEEK, AND WE WILL STORE THEM FOR
  SAFE KEEPING ON ARRIVAL AT THE COURSE. We remind all US participants that Canada
  is rarely included in cell phone plans, and calls home can be VERY expensive. Any questions
  on this may be directed to a camper from a few years back, who was on the phone home
• quite a lot, and received a bill of over $800 a few weeks later... If communication is needed,
  please call Bishop’s College School, and they will pass the message on. On a practical level
  though, it is not possible for parents to communicate with boys during the week by phone.)
• Fishing rod
• Matches or Lighters
• Bags of candy or junk food

For those who are flying: This seems like a huge list. To adapt, please cut down on numbers, and washes can be done on an emergency basis during the week. The machines are domestic quality, and the volunteer MBCC staff will be happy to instruct the participants on the joys of colours versus whites.

Please identify all articles of clothing and all belongings with the course participant’s name. The Course cannot be held responsible for any item lost or stolen.

Attendance: Parents and choir directors are reminded that course participants are expected to fully participate in all activities, musical and non-musical. Boys may not be removed from any activity without the permission of the Programme and Executive Directors. Postal service is limited so do not send your child any letters, cards, or packages, as they will probably not arrive until your boy has already left the Course. However, sending an email is an effective way of maintaining contact.

Conduct: Our policies have been established to help ensure safe and enjoyable training courses. The safety of all and the success of our programme depend on the actions of each participant. Therefore, any participant whose attitude, conduct, or behaviour is detrimental to the course or to the reputation of the programme, who endangers himself or other members of the group in any way, or who uses alcohol, tobacco, or any non-medical drug during the course will be dismissed from the course at the discretion of the Executive Director, the Artistic Director and the Programme Director. Under such circumstances, all additional transportation, communication, accommodation, and other expenses incurred by the dismissed participant shall be the responsibility of the participant’s parents or legal guardian. There is no refund whatsoever for participants who are expelled, regardless of the point at which they are dismissed.

Please feel free to call or email us should you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you at the course.