Halton Hills, ON
Staff will promote a sense of belonging by creating programming that is accessible to all campers, with consideration of the diversity in backgrounds, personalities, and abilities. Staff will foster positive camper group relationships by playing get-to-know-you games, creating individual value agreements, and engaging in team-building activities.
Y Day Camp utilizes Terra Cotta Conservation Area to deliver a variety of outdoor programs. This location has access to a pavilion, hiking and biking trails, and green space. Programs operate outdoors rain or shine!
9:00–9:30am: Opening Circle and Attendance — campers and staff participate in fun songs, games and camp traditions. 9:45–10:30am: Program Block 1. 11:00am–12:00pm: Program Block 2. 12:00–12:45pm: Lunch. 12:45–1:45pm: Program Block 3. 2:00–3:00pm: Program Block 4. 3:00–3:45pm: Closing Circle and Values Bead Ceremony — counsellors recognize campers who have demonstrated positive values throughout the day. At the end of the week, campers who have earned all 6 values beads are awarded their gold bead of excellence. On Fridays, the coveted camp spirit trophy is awarded to the camper group that earned the most spirit points.
Campers take on exciting challenges, grow their confidence, and earn Skill Buttons to celebrate their achievements, kind of like levelling up in a real-life video game but with more sunshine, fresh air, and campfires. Skill Buttons are a reminder that they developed these competencies through hard work, patience, and a whole lot of fun. Each Skill Button has three levels. As campers grow their skills, they unlock new challenges, build confidence, and collect badges along their way to mark their progress.
The Day Camp Accessibility and Inclusion program provides 1:1 support for children ages 4–12 years old who require additional assistance in order to participate in camp programming. For families that are new to YMCA Day Camp, we will work with you through an intake process to find a camp location, a camp program and camp weeks to match with a counsellor that will set your child up for a successful and fun summer!
Explore on the camp’s website ↗Value Beads play an important role as a sign of character and personal achievement. Beads at camp provide recognition and promote positive behaviour and are worn as a reminder of what we value in our camp community. Throughout the week, beads are awarded to individual campers for demonstrating our Y Day Camp values of kindness, inclusiveness, respect, integrity, optimism and well-being.
Explore on the camp’s website ↗If you or your camper feels uncomfortable about something that is going on at camp, please let the staff at your camp location know immediately so we can help. Our camp staff are trained to help campers through these types of situations, and will do their best to resolve the conflict. Our staff are also trained to identify more serious bullying behaviour, and work toward immediate resolution. All situations that involve bullying are treated on an individual basis, keeping the families of the campers informed.
Read more on the camp’s website ↗Getting to camp has never been easier with 10 bus routes across the GTA. Safety is always the top priority, followed by fun. Each bus is staffed with at least two counsellors, and campers are grouped by age to help build friendships right from the start. The bus ride is an extension of the camp experience, filled with songs, games, and excitement that set the tone for an amazing day.
Read more on the camp’s website ↗We are a nut-sensitive environment. Please keep in mind when packing your camper's snack and lunches that we have many campers with nut allergies. Please do not send any nuts or nut products to camp. Please pack a lunch that does not require a microwave or a refrigerator. Fresh drinking water is provided at all day camp locations — please send a refillable water bottle and we'll remind your camper to keep hydrated throughout the day.
Read more on the camp’s website ↗We communicate mainly through email. One week before your child's camp starts, we will send a Welcome to Camp email with day camp location-specific information, including drop-off and pick-up instructions and the Camp Director's name and contact information. You can also expect to receive an automated phone call from the Camp Director the Thursday before camp starts.
Read more on the camp’s website ↗