1.         Who can register for our camps?
2.         How do I register?
3.         How can I pay for registration?
4.         What is the refund policy?
5.         What activities does the day camp include?
6.         What are the times of the camps?
7.         What are the optional clinics?
8.         How are the groups for the day camp determined?
9.         Do you accept goalies?
10.       What equipment do the participants need to bring?
11.       Do we have to pack a lunch?
12.       What if I am interested in a camp which is already full?
13.       Who are the instructors in the camps?
14.       Who are the counsellors in the camps?
15.       What is the participant: instructor ratio in the day camp?
16.       Are jerseys included in the registration fee?
17.       What are the registration events for the day camps?
18.       When are the registration events for the specialty camps?

1. Who can register for our camps?

Day camps- We accept registrations for male and female skaters and goalies between the ages of 6 and 15. As a developmental hockey camp, we accept participants with varying hockey experience. Participants do not need hockey experience but are required to have reasonable skating ability.
Note- We will accept 5 year olds for our day camp if they have had one year of hockey experience.

Specialty camps- Our specialty camps are designed for participants who intend to try out for that specific level in the upcoming hockey season. The specialty camps are considered to be conditioning camps and do not include the variety of activities found in the day camp.
The Girls’ Camp is for girls who are 12 years of age and older.

2. How do I register?

Registrations are accepted online via our website. You can also print out a registration form from the website and fax it to 1-866-319-0060, or mail it to Black Elk Hockey Camp, 207 Sandstone Drive, Okotoks, AB T1S 1R1.
Note- We do not consider a participant registered until we have received full payment.

3. How can I pay for registration?

We accept credit card payments (Visa and Mastercard), cheques and/or money orders.
We will accept a $100 deposit prior to May 1 with the balance due on May 1.
Note- We do not consider a participant registered until we have received full payment.

4.   What is the refund policy?

Refunds will be issued up to July 15 less a $50 administration fee. After July 15, refunds less the $50 administration fee will be issued in the event of injury when accompanied by a doctor’s certificate. In the event of injury during the camp, the appropriate portion of the registration fee will be refunded if the request is accompanied by a doctor’s certificate. No refund will be given if a player leaves on his/her own accord or is expelled from the camp.

5.   What activities does the day camp include?

Each day during the day camp the participants will have power skating, a hockey skills session (on ice), floor/ball hockey, dryland training (aerobic activity) and chalktalk/videos.  Throughout the week of camp, participants will also have 2 scrimmages and a final game. At the end of the camp, they will receive a report card and a certificate.

6.   What are the times of the camps?

It is best to consider the day camp as a day of school which runs 9am to 3 pm approximately. The 2 scrimmages that are offered to each participant will take place in the late afternoon or early evening on 2 of the camp days. The final game will take place on the last day of camp.

Due to the fact that the schedules and groups change up until the camp starts, we are not able to give out the exact schedules until the camp registration event which is held on the day before the camp starts.

View our sample schedules for our day camps and specialty camps.

7.   What are the optional clinics?

The optional clinics are for our day camp participants only. We offer shooting, checking and defence clinics. Each clinic consists of 4 hours of on-ice instruction in each of those areas. The clinics are divided up into four 1 hour sessions. Participants attend all four sessions. Day camp participants may register for a maximum of 2 clinics. Each clinic costs $45.

Note- The clinic sessions are separate from the day camp schedule. They usually take place before or after the day camp hours. There could be a span of time between the end of the participant’s day camp schedule and their clinic session.

8. How are the groups for the day camp determined?

We divide the registrants into groups of approximately 30 (including goalies). We use birth years to determine the basic group structure and then we use their hockey level to fine tune the groups.
If you would like your child to be in the same group as a friend, they should be the same age and you must indicate this to the registrar at the time of camp registration.

9.  Do you accept goalies?

We accept goalies for all of our camps. During the day camp, the goalies will be assigned a basic group schedule in which they participate in the variety of activities with the skaters. In addition, they will be given a goalie school schedule. This schedule will comprise of approximately 1.5 hours of separate goalie instruction each day. The goalies will miss part of the regular day camp schedule for this session. In addition, we invite the goalies to attend some of our shooting clinics at no charge.

10.   What equipment do the participants need to bring?

Participants in all of our day camps and specialty camps are required to bring their own equipment (skaters and goalies). We do not offer any hockey equipment. We require skaters to be in full equipment (including neck guards) for all on-ice sessions. In addition, all participants will need athletic wear (shorts, t-shirts, sweats, running shoes etc) for the floor/ball hockey sessions and the dryland training activities.

All equipment is the participants’ and their parents’ responsibility. Please label all items with the participants’ name. We are not responsible for lost or stolen belongings. In addition, parents are responsible for ensuring that the participants’ equipment is safe. We are not able to do equipment checks for everyone in our camps.

We cannot store equipment overnight during the day camp. Participants must bring their equipment each day and take it home each evening.

If you are interested in borrowing any hockey equipment for use in the day camp, please contact your Minor Hockey Association.

11.   Do we have to pack a lunch?

The arena concession at each of our locations offers an optional lunch program for camp participants. The cost is approximately $50 per week and you can sign up and pay for it at the registration event which is held on the day before the camp starts. We do not run these programs so we are not able to answer questions about the menu.
Participants may bring their own lunches. We do recommend packing a couple of small snacks for use throughout the day.

12.   What if I am interested in a camp which is already full?

When our camps fill, we start a wait list. If you wish to be added to a wait list, please proceed to our online registration where you can be added to a wait list. You can also call us at (403)938-2686 or (888)338-2686 to be added to a list. We will contact you if a spot becomes available for your child.

13.   Who are the instructors in the camps?

All of our hockey instructors are experienced players who have played either pro or college level hockey. Our power skating instructors are certified in that area. The instructors leading the goalie sessions are experienced goalies. The other instructors in the camp are usually teachers and administrators experienced in the activity that they are leading.

14.   Who are the counsellors in the camps?

Each group is assigned to a counsellor. The counsellor is responsible for ensuring that the group stays together and makes it to their activities on time. They are available to help with equipment, lunches and the general day-to-day running of the camp. The counsellor stays with the group all day. Younger groups may be assigned 2 counsellors.

15.   What is the participant: instructor ratio in the day camp?

The on-ice ratio is 25 skaters to 3 instructors. In addition, we have 1-2 counsellors included in all activities.

16.   Are jerseys included in the registration fee?

The purchase of a Black Elk Hockey Camp jersey is completely optional. Participants do not have to wear a camp jersey during their time at the camp. The jerseys are available for purchase for $48 at the time of registration. They are also available at the registration event which is held on the day before the camp starts.

17.   What are the registration events for the day camps?

The registration events are held the day before the day camp begins. At these events, participants come to the arena and pick up their schedules for the day camp. In addition, each event offers an hour long free skate session for the participants (please bring only skates, gloves and helmets). At these times, parents can sign their children up for the concession lunch program. Following the free skate, there is a short assembly where the instructors and counsellors are introduced and important information is provided for parents and participants regarding the everyday running and expectations of the day camp.
Note- You must be registered for the camp to attend these events. We do not accept new registrations at these events.

Please click here for a list of dates, times and locations of the day camp registration events.

18.   When are the registration events for the specialty camps?

Please click here for a list of dates, times and locations of the registration events for the specialty camps.

Note- You must be registered for the camp to attend these events. We do not accept new registrations at these events.