Parent Information for Camps

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Documents

Please note: The documents are posted as PDF documents. If you would like this document in another form or with communication support, please submit an Accessible Document and Communication Request Form

Program Information

Arrival and dismissal

As part of our safe arrival and dismissal procedure, parents or guardians must sign their child in and out. Program participants will only be released to those indicated on the Participant Information Form. Everyone picking up a child will be asked for photo identification before the child is released from the program. Participants are permitted to sign themselves in and out as long as this is noted on the Participant Information Form. Participants will be dismissed at times other than the posted program end times only with parent permission.

Code of Conduct

The goal of our programs is to provide enjoyable, age-appropriate activities in a safe and positive environment. All participants, parent and guardian are required to sign off on the code of conduct when completing the Participant Information Form.

Camper Expectations

The City of Burlington is committed to providing an enjoyable experience for all.

On the first day, camp staff will discuss rules and expectations with campers. Not following the rules and expectations may lead to the dismissal of the participant from camp.

We expect that everyone participating in camp will:

Complete daily health checks.
Wash hands when instructed or use hand sanitizer throughout the day.
Respect staff, other campers, the facility and equipment. Harming other campers, and staff including, name-calling, hitting, spitting, kicking, is unacceptable.
Be cooperative and willing to participate in program actives.
Use acceptable language while at City of Burlington facilities.
Stay with your group, follow sign-in and sign-out procedures and do not leave the program space without permission.
Leave personal belongings at home. (i.e. toys, electronics, books, etc.).
Tell a staff if you, or a friend need help.
Have Fun!

Photographs

Occasionally, photographs may be taken for promotional purposes either by Recreation Community and Culture staff or local papers. If you have any objections to your child being photographed, please inform the senior leader or a staff member at your site. Please also indicate this preference on the Photo Release Form.

Supervision

Leader to participant ratios vary but are no larger than 1:15 onsite. In addition, participants are not permitted to leave the group to which they are assigned.

Air quality

Our programs encourage outdoor activity. Please note that not all program facilities are air conditioned. During periods of poor air quality, staff will ensure participants are in shaded areas, have access to water and participate in low intensity games and activities. We encourage you to keep your child at home on these days if you have concerns. Visit the Air Quality Ontario website for more information about air quality in the Halton-Peel area.

Holidays

There will be no programs running on Civic and Statutory Holidays.

What to bring to program

Please ensure participants bring the following:

Sunscreen
Hat
Lunch – no nut products – easily accessible by participant without assistance
Two nut-free snacks
Labelled water bottle/jug (reusable)
Running shoes (for safety, please keep sandals at home)
Active clothes that can tolerate some program fun and are weather appropriate
Medications if needed (Must accompany completed Medication Information Form)
Participants are welcome to bring a face covering (mask). The City of Burlington camps will follow existing Provincial and Regional regulations and guidelines.

Program refund policy

You will receive a full credit or refund if you withdraw from a program up to 10 days prior to its start date. A cancellation fee of 10 per cent will be applied if you withdraw from a program nine days or less before its start date. No refunds are granted after the program start date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the children have to wear masks at camp?

The camp will follow the most current guidelines as set by the Provincial and Regional Health Unit.

My child is currently 3 years old, are there any program options available for this age group?
Our SNAP Summer camps are for participants ages four to 10 years old. Participants must be four years old by the time they start in the program. This means that they can be three years old at the time of registration; however, they must turn four by the first day they will be in the program.

Do you provide respite care for individuals with disabilities such as 1 on 1, free of charge?
The City of Burlington Summer Camps are recreation-based programs with leaders typically in high school, college and university. Staff receive training in recreation leadership and basic behaviour management; they are not trained therapists or respite workers. Staff are not able to provide the same level of support as educational assistants or behaviour therapists. City of Burlington programs are inclusive in nature and will work to accommodate as best as we can. We currently offer Individuals with Disabilities camp programming for ages four to 14. This program is integrated with our SNAP and Youth Camps. The participant to staff ratio for Individuals with Disabilities camp programming is 4:1. Participants must be able to participate at a 4:1 ratio as we do not offer 1:1 support. Email us to discuss the support that we are able to provide and how we can help to accommodate.

What if my child is attending camp with their own support person?

If your child already has a support worker, they can attend camp at no extra cost. A support person may be a family member, or a friend who is at least 14 years old, or an individual found through an organization that is familiar with the child’s individuals needs and requirements.

A support person is fully responsible for the care, support and safety of the camp participant during the program. The support person must stay with the participant at all times and must follow sign-in and sign-out procedures. If a participant will be attending a program with a support person please email us.

How do I know if my child should register in a program with a reduced ratio?

Your child may benefit from registering in one of our Individuals with Disabilities programs or by bringing a personal support person if they:

Have a physical, visual, hearing, developmental or intellectual disability.
Have attention of behaviour difficulties.
Receive support or special education services at school, or from a community agency.

What forms do I need for the first day of camp?
All participants must complete the Any medications the participant may require while at camp must accompany a completed Medication consent form. Please connect with staff with additional health concerns to confirm complete information is on file.

What additional efforts are in place to manage the COVID-19 health situation?

The health and safety of participants and staff is our priority in all programs. Provincial and Regional guidelines for the safe provision of programs and services have been updating regularly with the changing health situation. The following are some of the processes we have utilized as part of this management strategy, although these may change prior to the summer months:

Staff complete active screening online prior to attending work.
Hand hygiene will be practiced and hand sanitizer will be available at sign in locations.
Additional cleaning protocols in place for facilities and equipment

What is your camper to staff ratios?

The number of staff and participants in each camp may vary but typically aim for the following:

SNAP (ages 4-10)– 1:12 ratio of staff to campers
Youth Adventures (ages 9-14)– 1:15 ratio of staff to campers
Leader in Training Program (ages 14-16)– 1:15 ratio of staff to participants

What if my child has a cough or symptom associated to COVID-19?

Prior to attending program parents/guardians should review the COVID-19 school and child care screening. You must stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms or are waiting for test results after experiencing symptoms. Anyone who is sick or has any symptoms of illness, including those not listed in this screening tool, should stay home and seek assessment from their health care provider if needed. The health and safety of participants and staff is our priority in all programs. We will continue to follow Provincial and Regional isolation guidelines for the safe provision of programs and services. If a child experiences symptoms while attending camp, the child (and siblings) will be isolated on site and will require immediate pick up. The participant (and siblings) will be required to follow existing Provincial and Regional isolation guidelines prior to returning to camp. If your child has pre-existing health condition that may exhibit symptoms similar to those of COVID-19, you must inform us in advance on the Participant Information Form under health concerns.

Can I have my child drop-in for the day?
We are not currently offering camp drop in options at this time.

What are your procedures during extreme weather?
Our camp programs seek to actively engage campers outdoors as much as possible. During regular summer heat, staff will ensure children are in shaded areas, focus on low intensity games/activities, and have plenty of access to water. In declared heat events, programs may be relocated to a facility for safety and may require modified programming. During any extreme weather events, safety of participants is our number one concern, so facility space is reserved, and modified programming will keep the children engaged safely.

Medical Information

Participant Information Form

We want to make sure participants have a safe and enjoyable program experience. Please complete all information on the registration form. An additional Medication Consent Form is required for anyone that may bring medications onsite during the camp program.

Medical Administration

Does your child require medication to be administered during program hours? Complete the Medication Consent Form to provide us with the information we need to be sure your child receives their medication safely. All medications must be in the original container with proper labelling of the medication and recipient. Only send enough medication for one day at a time.

EpiPens and Inhalers

Participants who need an EpiPen or inhaler must bring it with them in a separate fanny pack and wear it at all times. Please check the expiry date on supplies before starting a new program.

Food Allergy Alert

Due to an increased number of children with nut allergies, we request that you do not send peanut products with your child to the program. If your child has a food allergy, please ensure you have leaders record it on both the Participant Information Form and Medication Consent Form.

In case of illness

You may be asked to pick up a participant immediately if they become ill at program. If your child shows signs of severe illness or communicable disease, please follow the guidelines outlined on the Halton Region Department website.

About Our Staff

All program locations are staffed with a minimum of two caring and qualified leaders. Our program staff are typically university, college and high school students who are committed to participants' safety and enjoyment.

All program staff receive training in leadership, recreation programming, group dynamics, risk management, communication, behaviour management, problem solving and more. In addition to internal training, all staff are also required to have: