Your first 48 hours in camp: a checklist for a first rotation

The first two days set the tone for the hitch. You are tired from travel, you don’t know where anything is, and every question feels like it should have been obvious. It wasn’t. Here is a plain checklist you can read on the flight or bus.

Camps differ. Treat this as a list of things to ask about, not a description of every camp. Your employer’s paperwork and the camp’s posted rules come first.

Hour zero to six: arrive and settle

Check in and get your room. Have your ID and your site-access paperwork handy. Check the room before you unpack: heat, lock, lights, bathroom. Report anything broken now.
Ask where the cookhouse is and when each meal runs. Find out how the lunchroom works too, since you need it on a long shift. Our camp food guide covers the stations.
Find the exits and muster points. Most camps post a fire plan. Read it once.
Text home. A short “made it, room is fine” saves a lot of worry.

The first evening

Read the rules you were given. Alcohol, drugs, visitors and quiet hours are the rules workers most often ask about. Our camp rules guide has more.
Sort your phone. Turn on WiFi calling if you haven’t, and expect slow speeds in the evening. See the camp WiFi guide.
Check the menu. ESS publishes the weekly menu for Albian Village on a public page (essonsite.com/albian/menu, accessed 2026-09-28). Yours may be posted somewhere else, in the dining hall or an app. For a readable version of the Albian one, see the camp menu page, and the home screen version if you want it a tap away.
Lay out your gear for the morning. Boots, PPE, ticket copies, lunch plan.

Day two

Learn the laundry routine. Where, when, and whether it is self-serve. Do a load before you’re out of clean socks.
Meet the people around you. Say hi to your hallway neighbours. Ask which of them are on nights.
Find the gym and rec room. Even if you don’t go daily, know where they are. A routine keeps the days from blurring. See camp gyms and rec rooms.
Ask about shuttles, mail and store hours, if your camp has them.
Protect your sleep. Sleep in a dark, quiet room. If you’re on nights, tell the neighbours.

When something is wrong

Say so early. If your room, your meals (for example, an allergy) or your safety is a problem, tell camp services or your supervisor on day one, not day nine. If you are struggling emotionally, the mental health guide lists real supports.

After the shift

If you ever want to know what is regulated in your province for an evening off, our comparison page by province looks at licensing, Interac support and responsible-gambling tools. Off-shift only, on your own device, never on company networks or equipment. 18+ in Alberta. Please play responsibly. Gambling should be entertainment, not income.

FAQ

What should I do first when I get to camp? Check in, get your room, check it, find the cookhouse and the exits, and let someone at home know you arrived. Unpack after that.

Do I need to bring anything to prove who I am? Bring government ID and the paperwork your employer told you to bring. Check your onboarding instructions rather than guessing.

Who do I ask if I don’t know something? Your supervisor for work questions and camp services for room, meals and laundry. Asking early is normal.