Camps

Camper Forms

During registration, you will be required to complete the Emergency Contact and Consent form. Additional completed forms are to be submitted the Thursday before your week at camp. The following forms are available for completion online:

• Camp Medical Administration Request Form
• Consent for Assistance in Administering an EpiPen® at Camp Form

Should you require an alternate format of the above mentioned forms or have any questions please call 705-324-9411 extension 1307 or e-mail the Parks and Recreation Division.

Waitlist, Refund, and Cancellation Policy

Our programs have a limited registration capacity. Once registration is full, additional registrants will be placed on the waitlist for their preferred program. Individuals will be contacted following the chronological order of the waitlist, should a spot become available. Payment is not required to secure a waitlist spot. If you are already registered for an alternative camp and wish to transfer to the now available camp, you may do so at no additional charge.

The Parks and Recreation Division reserves the right to cancel programs due to insufficient registration. In these cases, a full refund or credit will be issued. Upon cancellation, staff will contact participants and offer options for alternative programs (where space is available). Refunds or credits for any other reason are subject to approval and an administration fee of 15% ($5 minimum).

All refund requests must be made in writing and sent to recreation@kawarthalakes.ca

If your camper has known allergies, please indicate this information on the Emergency Contact and Consent form (completed during registration). All camp programs are nut-free environments, where all attendees are required to refrain from bringing peanut or nut products to camp. However, it cannot be guaranteed that all patrons within camp facilities will follow this advisory as well. The City of Kawartha Lakes and its employees, servants, agents, officials, and contractors make no representations and accept no liability regarding the presence or absence of allergens at facilities where camps take place.

Caregivers are required to provide consent for camp staff to hold prescription medication as directed by the label. Campers must administer the medication independently. Please provide the medication in the exact dose required daily. Non-prescription medications are not permitted at camp.

If a camper requires an EpiPen, please indicate this on the Emergency Contact and Consent form (completed during registration). Campers are responsible for bringing two EpiPens with them to camp each day. The camper must carry one EpiPen on their person. Staff will store the second EpiPen in a secured location in case of an emergency. Campers must take their EpiPens home each day.

• If your camper wils need to take medication while at camp, caregivers are required to fill out the Camp Medical Administration Request form.
• If your camper has an EpiPen, caregivers are required to fill out the Consent for Assistance in Administering an EpiPen form.

Camps will operate 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Camps will not operate on statutory holidays.

Extended care is available in the mornings starting at 8am and in the evenings until 5pm. There is no extra cost associated with extended care. If you require extended care, please be sure to indicate this at time of registration.

The Parks and Recreation Division is proud to offer an Inclusion Support program, intended to foster accessible and inclusive opportunities for participants of all abilities. One-to-one support can be requested for participants who benefit from additional support to be successful in a typical recreational program. Inclusion support may be suitable if the participant: receives support at school; engages in behaviours that could affect the safety of themselves or others; and/or is associated with a support agency.

Participants who require assistance with toileting or continence-related needs will be asked to attend with an external support worker/caregiver to assist with these needs. Camp staff are not responsible for assisting with toileting or continence-related needs.

Register in the Inclusion Support course for the week of your choosing to ensure your request for support is received. The Program Coordinator will confirm once the request for support is fulfilled. Requests are processed in the order they are received, and are contingent on inclusion staff availability.

All camp participants are to abide by the Behaviour Code of Conduct. The Parks and Recreation division reserves the right to remove camp participants that are unable to follow the behaviour expectations as outlined in the Behaviour Code of Conduct; this includes behaviour that jeopardizes the safety of the camper themselves, program staff, and/or other participants.

External Support Workers

Participants are welcome to provide their own support staff while attending camp. Families with external support workers are required to complete the Outside Support Worker Release form prior to attending the program.

Prior to attending the program, external support workers must submit a Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector Search (issued within the last six months), and provide proof of valid Standard First Aid and CPR-C certification. The municipality may request personal information from the support worker, in case of emergency.

For further information, contact our Program Coordinator by phone at 705-324-9411 extension 1307.

Programs are available for campers aged 5 to 12 years old. Specialty Camps have different age requirements that are listed in the respective program descriptions.

All children must be toilet trained to attend camp.

Camp programs will provide age appropriate programming. Camper groups will be determined based on the age of registrants in particular programs, while abiding by mandatory staff supervision ratios.

The City of Kawartha Lakes is committed to providing inclusive and quality programs. To foster safe and enjoyable experiences for all, staff and volunteers uphold the highest standards in regard to appropriate behaviours while at camp. All campers and staff are to do their part by showing respect for all people and property while attending City of Kawartha Lakes camps. Please report any incidents or concerns to staff promptly.

Do you like working with kids and want to improve your leadership skills? If so, consider volunteering with our camps!

Camp volunteers must:

• Be at least 14 years old.
• Undergo the screening process, including an interview and reference check.
• Attend mandatory training prior to volunteering at camp.

Complete a Volunteer Application form online. Volunteer candidates will be contacted in June for next steps. For questions, contact the Parks and Recreation Division or call 704-324-9411 extension 1307.

We welcome all program feedback. Your valuable insight helps us continue to improve the summer day camp experience for our participants. Participant families will receive an opportunity to provide feedback based on their child's experience at camp in an end-of-camp survey.

Those with more immediate comments, questions or concerns, are encouraged to contact the Program Coordinator by e-mail or by calling 705-324-9411 extension 1307.

Weekly newsletters are sent to caregivers via email on the Wednesday of the week prior to your camper’s first day at camp (by the end of day). This will include information regarding daily schedules, weekly theme, and other important details to help prepare for camp.

Communications will be sent to the email address that is associated with your online Program Registration account. If you do not receive an email, please be sure to check your junk/spam folder and do not hesitate in contacting us at recreation@kawarthalakes.ca.

Campers are required to bring their own litter-less lunch, snacks, and reusable water bottle to camp each day. There will be two nutritional breaks, in addition to a lunch period. Snacks and/or meals will not be provided during camp programming, with the exception of our Pizza Lunch program.

• We are a nut-free camp. Peanut butter, nuts, tree nuts, and/or any food that contains nuts are not permitted.
• Refrain from sending food that needs to be refrigerated or heated.
• Food will not be shared or traded amongst camp participants.

Friday Pizza Lunch will be available for order each week of the summer! The $5 order will include one individual-sized pizza (8 inch crust) from Boston Pizza. Orders will be accepted until 5pm on the Wednesday prior to your child’s Friday Pizza Lunch.

Camps will continue during inclement weather and heat alerts. Activities will be modified to low-energy and additional water breaks will be added as necessary. Many of our daily activities take place outdoors, we ask that caregivers help with participant sun safety by ensuring campers:

• Pre-apply sunscreen before arriving at camp.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, lots of water, and cool clothing.
• Clearly label participant sunscreen with their first and last name.

All camp programs include a weekly swim and have related rules in place to keep all campers safe while in the water. Campers are asked to bring a towel, bathing suit, and appropriate shoes for the pool deck/outdoor water play.

• All campers under six are required to wear a lifejacket in the pool, and are supervised closely by camp leaders.
• Campers, seven to nine years old, that do not pass the swim test must wear a lifejacket and be supervised by a camp leader while in the pool.
• Campers, seven to nine years old, who are able to pass the swim test may be admitted to the pool unaccompanied and without direct supervision of a camp leader.
• Children 10 years and older may be admitted to the pool without direct supervision of a camp leader. To enter the deep end of the pool, campers must pass the swim test.

If your camper has passed the swim test and has a swim test card, please let staff know at drop-off on the first day of camp. Campers with valid swim test cards are not required to take the swim test.