We have made a conscious effort to continue to keep our fees extremely competitive despite the fact that our operating costs continue to increase substantially, as you can well imagine. We are aware that youth camping has become expensive over the years and these are challenging economic times. Keep in mind we are one of the few, if not the last, remaining camps committed to retaining FULL 4-week and 8-week programs. We have steadfastly continued to upgrade our facilities and cabins, as well as increase and diversify our camp programs.
All of our fees are listed in Canadian dollars. To potentially save money on your camper fees you should make every effort to get the best exchange rate. That’s why we recommend using Firma Foreign Exchange Service (formally Globex). You will save a substantial amount of money using this service as opposed to securing a bank draft from an American bank or by using a credit card. We have done the research and American banks and credit card companies typically utilize an unfavorable exchange rate and charge exorbitant service fees (you may want to call your credit card company in advance to inquire about potential foreign transaction fees). Using Firma/Globex for your deposit of $750 may not result in significant savings, particularly if your bank charges you for wire transfers, however money will be saved when paying your balance.
When you’re ready to send funds through Firma/Globex, please call 1-877-423-2217. Simply mention that you would like to make a payment towards your 2011 camper fees for Camp Tamakwa, give them your name and your camper’s name, and the amount in Canadian dollars of the payment you would like to make. Firma/Globex will handle the rest of the transaction with you from there by booking your foreign currency exchange purchase. You will be able to wire the required funds in U.S. dollars from your bank directly to Firma/Globex and they will send us the Canadian funds. Please know that once a transaction is booked with Firma/Globex, you cannot cancel a booking. Firma/Globex has purchased Canadian dollars on your behalf at the time of booking and is unable to refund them once purchased.
Please plan in advance of all payment deadlines because processing your money can take a few days. In order to set up an account for those who have not used Firma/Globex before, you will be required to complete a simple registration form and provide them with a piece of identification necessary for security purposes. Once your account is set-up, Firma/Globex will be able to quickly process future payments at your request. Your wire transfers will be directed to:
Firma Foreign Exchange Corp.
Harris Trust and Savings – Chicago, IL
Account Number: 2718013
ABA/Routing Number: 071000288
RE: Camp Tamakwa 2011 Remittance Account
Firma/Globex Foreign Exchange is one of the world’s largest private foreign exchange companies, with over 20 office locations, more than 20,000 satisfied customers, and transactions in excess of $4 billion annually. They have the most competitive rates in the industry and are therefore able to save you money on the conversion of your funds into Canadian dollars.
Over the last few years, more than 45% of our non-Canadian camper families have used Firma/Globex to pay their camper fees. Their transactions went smoothly and they appreciated this latest method of payment. If you require further information or have any questions, please visit www.firma.com or feel free to call 1-877-423-2217. Also, we would love to hear about your experience with Firma/Globex, feel free to call the camp office at any time.
We hope you understand how much we are trying to make it as easy and cost efficient as possible for you to pay our camper fees. Please let us know if you have any questions.
