Looking to add a new program to your camp?
In 2017, twenty-three camps across the country and thousands of campers participated in the Summer Camp Bondar Challenge. With direction form trained camp staff (training material available online and in hardcopy), campers took their cameras outdoors to explore, observe, appreciate, and photograph nature. Include this great program at your camp this summer!
The deadline to apply is May 1, 2018.
Download this Bondar Challenge flyer.
Fore more information, or to sign up, please visit http://www.therobertabondarfoundation.org/the-bondar-challenge/summer-camp-bondar-challenge/
Thousands of Campers Are Doing It!
In 2016, twenty-six camps across the country and thousands of campers participated in the Summer Camp Bondar Challenge. With direction form trained staff (training material available online), they took their cameras outdoors to explore, observe, appreciate, and photograph nature.
2015 Bondar Challenge Award Winners!
Diamond Level — most experienced, most difficult
“Tall Trees” by Olivia Boyuk of Camp Woolsey received the 1st place prize at the Diamond Level in 2015.
Visit The Roberta Bondar Foundation website and enjoy the world of nature as captured by award-winning camper photographers.
Consider joining the over fifty Canadian camps now benefiting from this excellent program, the Summer Camp Bondar Challenge, a fusion of the natural environment and photographic art.
The Bondar Challenge: Connecting with Nature through Photography
Since 2013 when the partnership between the CCA and the Roberta Bondar Foundation began, over fifty camps in six provinces have participated in the Summer Camp Bondar Challenge. Eleven of these camps have participated in all three years and hundreds of campers are now connecting in new ways to the diverse natural environments at their camps. The Foundation welcomes returning camps for summer 2016 and encourages new participants to join this exciting program.
The judging of hundreds of submissions is now in progress and the 2015 winners will soon be announced.
The Bondar Challenge allows campers to slow down from their usual fast pace and really connect with nature — what camp is all about!
– Camp Kanannaq, YMCA of Northern BC, British Columbia
April 30 is NOT just your tax deadline!
April 30 is also the deadline to register your camp for the Roberta Bondar Challenge. Visit the website today and submit your application.
Learn more at www.therobertabondarfoundation.org/the-bondar-challenge
2015 Bondar Challenge – Registration Now Open!
The Roberta Bondar Foundation is proud to offer the Summer Camp Bondar Challenge for the fourth year. The program brings art, science, photography, and outdoor learning to your camp.
Join camps from across Canada in the Bondar Challenge. The program focuses on engaging campers with the natural environment around camp. Campers are challenged to capture an image of their surroundings that highlights the unique biodiversity and ecosystem around camp, and then write an artist statement to accompany their photo. Campers and staff can use the Foundation’s provided materials and resources to help guide them through the challenge. The program fuses the art of photography with environmental sciences to promote a lifelong love of nature, protection of our environment and global citizenship.
The winning images and statements, and camps, will be recognized on the Foundation’s website and social media platforms. The winners will travel with the Foundation’s Travelling Exhibition and Learning Experience alongside the fine art works of Dr. Roberta Bondar in art galleries and museums across Canada.
For more information and to register your camp, visit the Foundation’s website. Registration will remain open until April 30, 2015 – 11:59PM (EST).
Role of the Foundation
The registration fee of $100 includes:
- Unlimited use of the program for summer by trained staff counselors/leaders
- Start up camp kits of detailed information about program regulations, judging criteria, competition deadlines, submission guidelines, etc.
- Training materials for staff counselors/leaders delivering the program including certificates signed by Dr. Bondar certifying completion of the training program
- Password protected on-line access to all learning tools, program materials, regulations, and instructions for submitting entries to the competition
- Digital badge for trained staff counselors/leaders completing the evaluation of the program experience at the end of summer
- Acknowledgment on The Roberta Bondar Foundation’s website as a participating camp
- Winning entries will be posted on The Foundation’s website and social media sites
- Opportunity to apply for loan cameras
Role of the Camp
Camps agree that:
- All staff delivering the program have completed the training provided on-line through The Foundation’s website
- The program may be run in any number of sessions during the summer but each session must ensure campers have allocated a minimum of 6 hours over at least 2 days for each camper/group who participates (any combination is acceptable to achieve the 6 hour commitment)
- Access will be provided to necessary electronic support for campers /staff to view images, complete artist’s statements and make submissions online
- An online evaluation questionnaire on the program experience will be completed
How and When To Register
Individual CCA member camps can apply on-line through The Roberta Bondar Foundation website.
YMCA/YWCA Director Praises Bondar Challenge
In 2014, 30 camps (including 16 returning camps) from British Columbia to New Brunswick participated in the Roberta Bondar Foundation photo challenge delivered by a total of eighty-six trainers/leaders. A few camps continued the program into their fall schedule.
The theme for 2014 was Connecting with the Natural Environment. Winners from the hundreds of submissions will be announced in December and information on participation in 2015 will follow in the New Year.
Read Luc Cousineau’s (Director of YMCA-YWCA Guelph Camp Nagiwa) assessment of the program in below, and consider adding the Bondar Challenge to your camp program next summer:
I cannot say enough about the program – the communication from the Foundation, the equipment provided, and the teaching aids. This is an excellent program for camp and for campers, and I would expect YMCA-YWCA of Guelph Camp Nagiwa to continue its participation well into the future. Our camp has tried in the past to develop a Photography/Digital Media program with little success. With the introduction of the Bondar Challenge into our existing program, our staff was given excellent training, direction, and goals to accomplish with our campers. The results have been overwhelming with campers as young as seven years of age taking photographs of exceptional quality. What an excellent addition to our camp this year.
Camp Directors Report on the 2013 Roberta Bondar Challenge
“Hoppin’ Around” by Brianna Ramagnano of Camp Wenonah was the first place winner in the 2013 Bondar Challenge.
In 2013, thirty-two camps across Canada participated in the Roberta Bondar Challenge, a program that encourages an appreciation of nature through photography. All participating directors praised the many benefits of the program for both campers and staff. Visit the Bondar Foundation’s website to view the 2013 winning photos, learn more about this amazing program, and register YOUR camp for 2014.
“The program was a total success…the goal of connecting kids to nature through photography was clearly met. We set up an outdoor evening slide show to showcase the many pictures…these were educating and motivating other campers to participate in 2014. The program provided a tremendous leadership opportunity for three of our staff.” – Jeff Bradshaw, Camp Wenonah
“About 80 campers participated and the benefits were incredible! We found campers asking questions about the small wonders that they were seeing through the camera lens. The resources included with the program are first class and the staff found it a relatively easy program to teach.” – Patti Thom, Camp Tanamakoon
“Canoe tripping and connecting kids with physical disabilities to nature are both key comments in the Camp Awakening program. So when presented with the concept of the Bondar Challenge we jumped at the chance. We are extraordinarily proud of our award winning camper and plan to re-apply in 2014.” – Tracy Morley, Camp Awakening
April 30 – not just a tax deadline!
April 30 is also the deadline to register your camp for the Summer Camp Bondar Challenge.
Register online at www.therbf.org for this creative, environmental program, which fuses the art of photography with science while teaching campers a love and appreciation of nature.
The Bondar Challenge
Dr. Roberta Bondar is a Canadian icon most widely known for her journey aboard Discovery as the world’s first neurologist and Canada’s first woman in space. Her achievements are outstanding in her varied careers as a scientist, medical doctor, astronaut, author, environmental educator and professional landscape and nature photographer.
In summer 2012, The Roberta Bondar Foundation partnered with the Canadian Camping Association to launch the Summer Camp Bondar Challenge, piloting the experience in 5 summer camps. Modeled after the successful school-based Bondar Challenge, it focused on campers using a camera as a tool and gateway to learning about the environment. Campers are challenged to capture an image in their environment that relates to an aspect of biodiversity and then write a statement to accompany their photo. The program fuses the art of photography with a knowledge of science and promotes a lifelong love of nature, protection of our environment and global citizenship. The winning images and statements will travel with The Foundation’s Travelling Exhibition.
You can view the 2012 winning images and accompanying artist’s statements on the Bondar Challenge page of The Roberta Bondar Foundation website at www.therbf.org.
Your camp can join the Bondar Challenge in summer 2013.
Role Of The Foundation
The 2013 trainer registration fee of $25 per trainer includes:
- Unlimited use of the program for summer 2013 by trained staff counselors/leaders
- Start up camp kits of detailed information about program regulations, judging criteria, competition deadlines, submission guidelines, etc.
- Training materials for staff counselors/leaders delivering the program including certificates signed by Dr. Bondar certifying completion of the training program
- Password protected on-line access to all learning tools, program materials, regulations, and instructions for submitting entries to the competition
- Digital badge for trained staff counselors/leaders completing the evaluation of the program experience at the end of summer
- Acknowledgment on The Roberta Bondar Foundation’s website as a participating camp
- Winning entries will be posted on The Foundation’s website
Role Of The Camp
Camps agree that:
- All staff delivering the program have completed the training provided on-line through The Foundation’s website
- The program may be run in any number of sessions during the summer but each session must ensure campers have allocated a minimum of 6 hours over at least 2 days for each camper/group who participates (any combination is acceptable to achieve the 6 hour commitment)
- Access will be provided to necessary electronic support for campers /staff to view images, complete artist’s statements and make submissions online
- An online evaluation questionnaire on the program experience will be completed
How And When To Register
Individual CCA member camps can apply on-line through The Roberta Bondar Foundation website.
Applications to be a participating camp open March 1,2013 and must be received by 20:00 EST April 30, 2013 to be considered.