CAMP SCHEDULE
| TIME | A TYPICAL DAY AT CAMP U OF T SCARBOROUGH |
|---|---|
| 8:30am | Camp doors open |
| 8:30 - 8:45am |
Counsellors introduce themselves to children and campers mingle! 1 free camp hat provided to newly registered children/ teens on the first day of camp week. |
| 8:45 - 9:00am |
Daily attendance Campers placed in designated groups by age and pre-requested grouping of children. |
| 9:00 - 9:15am | Transition period for children in Themed Camp |
| 9:15 - 10:30am | Themed Camp programming begins |
| 10:30 - 10:45am | Snack break (children should have a small snack in their backpack) |
| 10:45 - 11:45am | Themed Camp programming continues for 1 hour |
| 11:45am - 12pm | Transition to lunchroom |
| 12:00 - 12:45pm | LUNCH (Pizza every Friday) |
| 12:45 - 1:00pm | Transition to afternoon programming locations |
| 1:00 - 4:00pm | Mini-University: hourly rotations in kids’ science, arts and crafts and computing with an additional snack break between the second and third rotation |
| 4:00 - 4:15pm | Camp ends and children are escorted to pick-up area |
| 4:15 - 4:30pm | Day-end pick-up. Parents should check “Lost and Found” inventory table before leaving |
| 4:30 - 6pm |
Extended Care - for children 6-12yrs registered for post camp childcare *Note: Children in Extended Care should have an additional snack packed in their backpack |
CAMP STRUCTURE (Children’s Program)
Camp U of T Scarborough’s summer day camp for children ages 6-12 offers weekly morning Themed Camps. Children must register for the Themed Camp, which starts each morning from 9am - 11:45am. The morning camp programs offer a mini-university experience in the afternoon through hourly rotations in programs such as computers, science, sports, drama, dance and arts and crafts. Children for both programs are grouped in the following age categories: 6 - 8’s and 9 -12’s.
*NOTE: If a Theme Week takes place at an external site (i.e. the Valley on campus or TPASC), a bus will arrive at 11:50am to take children back to the school campus for lunch at noon
Children in the Themed camps will enjoy a mini-University experience each afternoon from 1-4pm throughout the week in some of the following programs on an hourly rotation schedule (these programs will vary each season) :
ARTS AND CRAFTS
The artistic abilities of all children will emerge through a comprehensive construction session creating a wide range of hand-made objects using a variety of child-friendly materials.
SPORTS
Children will participate in team-based games that will improve their communication skills and self-confidence. They also learn the rules and fundamentals of many sports while learning how to work as a team.
DANCE
Children will learn a variety of dance styles (e.g. Hip Hop, Contemporary, Latin, Jazz etc.) fused with athletic sport conditioning that will aid in enhancing artistic expression through movement which improves balance, eye-hand coordination, flexibility, rhythm and cardiovascular conditioning.
DRAMA
This program will enlighten, educate and stimulate children’s interest in the visual and performing arts through a theoretical and practical understanding of this artistic discipline through a fun and insightful exploration of acting, directing and dramatic theatre fundamentals. Children will learn and engage in a wide range of physical acting techniques such as miming, clown and mask performance, basic stage acrobatics, unarmed stage fighting, etc.
TALENT SHOW
NOTE: Children registered the last week of Camp will have the opportunity to take center stage at the highly anticipated Talent Show that takes place the last day of camp during the afternoon in the Leigh-Lee Brown Theatre. Due to popular demand, we provide parents with the opportunity to attend the show, however, spaces are limited and seats must be reserved prior.
*Parents interested in attending the Talent Show should connect with the Camp Directors at camp.utsc@utoronto.ca
COMPUTERS: In a controlled computer lab, educational sessions on the basics of core computing system applications, website building, multi-media production, health informatics, social media platforms, online research methods and various fun academic computer games are experienced.
KIDS’ SCIENCE: Children’s imaginations and creativity will be ignited through exploration of physical and environmental science workshops as they learn about wind, water, gravity and buoyancy through fun hands-on experiments and creations.
BONUS: Throughout the 8-week duration of camp, children engage and enjoy traditional recreational activities on “Fun Fridays” such as Pudding Dunk, Water Play, Capture the Flag, and Manhunt, which are camper favourites!
RAINY DAYS AND EXTREME HEAT
On days where there is an extreme heat warning, camp programming will continue indoors in our air-conditioned facilities. Campers are encouraged to regularly apply sunscreen, drink water and keep their hats on their heads during the warmer summer months. During inclement weather days, camp programming will also continue indoors. Weather reports will be monitored until it is safe to return outdoors. Please make sure that your child wears the appropriate clothing and shoes for rainy and extreme heat days.
THE FIRST DAY OF CAMP:
On the first day only, we encourage families to arrive about 15 minutes early to get familiarized with the campus, find the pick-up and drop-off areas, learn the sign-in process and of course, meet the counsellors and fellow campers! During campers’ first day, they will receive their complementary Camp U of T hat that can be worn all summer long!
YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: (Leaders-in-Training) (JULY & AUGUST)
The Youth Leadership Certificate Program (Leaders-in-Training) for ages 13-15 provides comprehensive character-building leadership themed workshops and team-based recreational excursions. A Leaders-in-Training Certificate of completion is provided to all participants on the last scheduled day of each 2-week program.
FEATURED WORKSHOPS
Characteristics of a Leader, Public Speaking and Debating, Communication Café, Eco-Scavenger Hunt, Civic Engagement, Life Balance and Mental Health, Social Media & Entrepreneurship, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, First-Aid, Youth Programming, Cover Letter & Resume Development and Career Day!
RECREATION
Indoor Gym and Outdoor Recreation and team building activities.
OFFSITE EXCURSIONS
Treetop trekking and archery tag are included!
*Descriptions of the workshops and excursions will be provided to Leadership Youth in a welcome package on the first day of their program.
REQUIREMENTS
Each 2-week program session has a registration capacity of 24, campers can only register for Leadership Camp once throughout the summer.
A one-page reference letter written by a teacher, coach, mentor, etc., must accompany each leadership application to explain why the youth is registered for the program and the benefits the program will provide in their life's journey. Reference Letters do not need to be submitted at the time of registration; however, they should be submitted 1-week before the program starts at the latest. Reference letters can be emailed to: camp.utsc@utoronto.ca
*The reference letter is not a qualifier to determine eligibility or acceptance into the program. A copy of the letter is provided to the Senior Leadership Counsellors who will be overseeing the development of the youth over each 2-week Leadership session. It is in the best interest of the youth that the counsellors overseeing them are informed about their goals and what they personally hope to achieve from the program.
EXTENDED CARE
(Post-camp child-care services) is a service offered at an extra fee from 4:30-6:00pm each day over the 8-week duration of camp for children 6 -12 yrs who will be picked up after camp between 4:30 - 6:00pm. Child-care providers engage children in organized activities, which consist of board games, reading books, colouring, puzzles, and arts and crafts. Please remember to pack an extra snack for your child if they are registered for Extended Care.
*Morning pre-camp care (before 8:30am) is not a service provided.
If parents/guardians will be delayed from picking up their children on-time due to unforeseen circumstances, they are required to contact the Camp Directors.
EXTENDED CARE FEE: $65/week ($55/week for shorter weeks)
FAMILY RATE: 4+ children Flat rate of $200 per family/per week ($190.00/week for shorter weeks)
*Pay–as–you–go or mid-week payments are not an option for this service.
EXTENDED CARE REFUND:
A full refund will be provided prior to start of week/s child/youth is registered.
LATE PICK-UP NOTICE: $5 every 5 minutes will be charged for children not registered for Extended Care picked up between 4:30-6pm. A fee of $5 every 5 minutes will be charged for children registered for Extended Care picked up after 6pm until 7pm.
Late fee payments must be paid in full by “day end” on the Friday of the registration week in which the late fee ticket was issued. The Camp Coordinator will contact you to process your payment.
*Leadership youth (ages 13-15) may wait in Extended Care to be picked up by their parents after the day camp ends, however they will be asked to assist Extended Care Volunteers with low organized activities for campers 6-12yrs. Leadership youth will be provided with a volunteer certificate outlining their hours of service.
WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP
ITEMS TO BRING
Campers should be equipped with the following items to have a successful camp experience:
- Nut-free lunch and snacks (there will be two snack breaks; please try to bring reusable containers and as little garbage as possible)
- Backpack and/or lunch bag
- Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing
- Reusable water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable, weather-appropriate footwear (preferably running shoes or closed-toed shoes)
- Hat and sunglasses
- Any necessary medications/ EpiPen (Camp U of T Scarborough staff will not administer any medications unless in a life-threatening situation, such as an EpiPen)
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Expensive electronics, toys and collectibles are prohibited for children to bring to camp (e.g. cell phones, notepads, Pokémon cards etc.). These items cause children to be distracted and, in some cases, unwilling to participate in carefully planned programming. Other prohibited items include any hazardous items such as matches, knives, alcohol, illegal substances, lighters and weapons (real or imitation).
If you need to contact your child in an emergency, please contact our Camp Director or Camp Coordinator, and we can relay the message to your child.
NOTE: camp staff won’t be able to ensure that valuables will not get lost or damaged.
LOST AND FOUND
All misplaced items that are found throughout the day will go into our designated lost and found bin. Families are encouraged to check the lost and found area before leaving each day. Any unclaimed items will be donated at the end of the summer. To avoid lost items, please clearly label all of your child’s belongings. Camp U of T Scarborough is not responsible for any loss, theft or damage to personal items.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
ALLERGIES
It is our priority at Camp U of T Scarborough to keep our campers safe. This is especially true for those with allergies. It is very important that upon registering your child for camp, all allergies and the severity of them are stated. Camp U of T Scarborough is a nut-free environment. This means that no nut products of any kind are permitted at camp. This is to protect our campers who may be severely allergic to nuts. Their reaction to nut exposure (through ingestion or smell) can result in hives, swelling, or death. Please respect our policies in order to ensure the safest measures for our campers!
ASTHMA
If your child has asthma, it is important to inform the Camp Director and/or Camp Coordinator. Please also let the camp know the particular environments that may trigger an asthma attack, if necessary.
It is important to inform us if your child requires an inhaler. The inhaler can be placed in your child’s backpack or a small pouch that can be kept close at all times. Children will be responsible for administering their inhaler on their own, unless it is an emergency situation and there is medical documentation that gives the camp permission to do so.
HEAD LICE
Head lice is often acquired by close head-to-head contact between others, especially children. It is not a sign of poor hygiene or an unclean living environment. Prior to arriving at camp, please examine your child for head lice/nits. Common symptoms are itching, sores on the scalp, “nits” or eggs on the scalp or grey or brown louse on the scalp. If your child does have lice, they will not be permitted to be at camp until the situation is resolved. If head lice are detected while your child is at camp, a parent/guardian will be contacted immediately.
MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
No medication can be given without the permission of a child’s parent/guardian. This includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicine. If a child must take medication at camp, it must be in the original bottle and labelled with the child’s name, dosage required, name of medication and time that medication must be administered.
Medication will be stored at Camp Head Office until ready to be administered. Please inform the Camp Coordinator and/or Camp Director if your child needs medication administered throughout the camp day.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
EXPECTATIONS
Camp U of T Scarborough holds high expectations for our campers, staff and volunteers. All are expected to model the following behaviour:
- Show respect to others
- Tell the truth
- Include and welcome everyone
- Respect differences in people
- Treat everyone with respect, even when you do not agree
- Respect the property and belongings of Camp U of T Scarborough
- Tell a counsellor if there is a problem
- Do not use swear words
- Try your best in all activities
- Participate fully in the Camp programming
- Be a team player
- Keep hands and feet to yourselves
- Do not touch others’ belongings without asking
- Always let others know where you are and if you are leaving
ANTI-BULLYING ENVIRONMENT
Camp U of T Scarborough aims to provide an inclusive and fun environment where children feel safe to play and learn by encouraging fair play and cooperation, which ultimately results in positive interactions for all.
It is the mandate of camp administration and Camp Counsellors to educate children and Leadership youth on what constitutes bullying behaviour, and consequences to this behaviour.
In the case that a bullying incident occurs, camp staff and administration will intervene immediately to proactively diffuse situations.
All cases of bullying will be taken seriously; parents/guardians will be informed of incidents that occur where their child is exhibiting bullying behaviours or being bullied. Each incident will be documented and consequences of repeated bullying will be enforced as outlined on the Anti-Bullying Policy at Camp U of T Scarborough, which will be provided to parents/guardians at the registration desk on the first day of each session.
*Please note that Camp UTSC has a zero-tolerance policy for any acts that violate the rights and safety of fellow campers. Any misbehaviour that falls within this category (i.e. inappropriate and excessive physical contact, language, harassment, bullying, or violation of human rights) will result in immediate removal from our camp program, without prior warning.
CAMP REMOVAL PROCESS
Camp U of T puts the safety and well-being of our campers at the forefront of our programming. If a camper is demonstrating behaviours that threaten our commitment to camper safety and well-being, there is a multi-step removal process that we must follow. When a camper is removed from camp, he/she/they are not permitted to return for the remainder of the camp season and no refund will be issued.
Step 1: Warning
The camper will receive a verbal warning. An incident report is filed that details the steps taken to resolve the problem and the report is discussed with parents/guardians upon pick-up.
Step 2: Parent/ guardian is contacted
If the incident occurs again, another incident report is completed and sent to Camp Coordinator at the Head Office. The Camp Coordinator will contact parents and together they will discuss an appropriate behaviour strategy to eliminate behaviours or discuss the immediate removal of the camper, depending on the severity of the issue.
Step 3: Removal from camp
If the behaviours continue despite implementing the discussed behaviour strategy, a parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up their child and the child will be removed from camp.
Parking & drop-off/pick-up location
Campers 6-12yrs and Youth Leadership Participants are to meet in the Academic Resource Centre (AC-227), which is close to the Highland Hall Building, TTC/Go Bus loop and Visitor Parking Lot-A. (Address: 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4)
Note: Leadership Youth 13-15 years will meet directly in their program homeroom each morning following the first day of camp. This meeting spot will be indicated via email before programming begins. However, on the first day of the Leadership program, youth will go to the Academic Resource Centre (AC-227). One of the Leadership Counsellors will always be present to greet them and escort them to their homeroom.
Parents/Guardians that park temporarily in designated visitor’s parking lot A as outlined on the Camp Drop-off/Pick-up Parking Pass, are required to display the pass on the driver’s dashboard of their vehicle. Failure to do so will result in a $30 fine.
Parking Passes will be provided to parents/ guardians on the first day of each camp week at the registration desk.
SIGNING IN AND OUT
Please sign your child in at the sign-in table so that we can keep track of camper attendance. During this time, we will pair campers with their counsellors. At the end of the day, camp staff will bring the campers to the regular drop/off pick up location and parents/guardians will be required to sign out their camper(s). Parents/guardians must have a government-issued photo ID ready to present every time they sign out their child.
We do understand that many campers may have pre-arranged appointments (i.e. medical) that are scheduled during the camp day and that unforeseen emergencies may arise, but we strongly advise parents not to get in the habit of picking their child/ren up early. Please ensure that activities you register your child/ren for over the summer do not conflict or overlap with the camp program schedule. If you need to pick up your child/ren early, please email camp.utsc@utoronto.ca. Camp Directors will respond to emails every hour of the camp day between 8:30am-12pm and 1pm-4pm Monday through Friday.
REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY
REFUNDS
In the event that your child/youth is unable to attend a session for which they’re registered; you will be entitled to the full refund minus a 25% cancellation admin fee upon written notice prior to June 30. No refunds will be processed after June 30 unless a doctor’s certificate is presented.
CAMP SESSION CANCELLATIONS
In the unlikely event that the weekly camp or bi-weekly Youth Leadership Program session you registered for is cancelled, a full refund will be provided. Registrants will be notified of cancellations 2-weeks in advance.
CHILDREN’S CAMP AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP SESSION TRANSFERS
| Transfers to camp sessions of a different week(s) for the same value | No charge |
| Transfers to camp sessions of increased price (e.g. 9 day to 10 day programs) | Pay difference |
| Transfers to camp sessions of decreased price (e.g. 10 day to 9 day programs | Prior to June 30 we refund the difference. |
*No refund for payment differences after June 30.
WAITLISTS
Camps sessions can fill up quickly. If the camp session you wish to register for is full, you will need to contact our office during the months of July and August (416-287-7420) to be added to the waitlist. You will be notified when a vacancy presents itself.
In the event that you are wait-listed and find another camp to register your child/youth for, as a courtesy to others please contact our office to remove yourself from the list.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CAMPER GROUPING REQUESTS
Requests for children to be paired with a friend/s must be submitted during the registration process on our website. Due to the number of grouping requests, we can’t promise that all requests will be granted, however, we will try to pair your child with at least one friend.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Clothing, towels, shoes and backpacks that children bring to camp should be labelled with their full names or, at the very least, their first name and last name initial. Items lost during the camp day will be turned over to the designated lost and found bin, conveniently located at the entrance of the day-end pick-up location.
CAMPER PHOTOS
Each week, our team will be taking photos of campers to show families how much fun they are having! If you do not feel comfortable with your child’s photo being taken, please indicate this during the registration process. Children who do not wish to be photographed will wear a coloured bracelet to let our camp photographers know that they should not be photographed.
For more details, please refer to the handbook