10 things you need to know for Toronto summer camp registration

Online registration for City of Toronto summer camps begins Saturday and the city is advising parents to register early, as programs can fill quickly.

“The sooner parents can register the better,” Costanza Allevato, a manager of community recreation at Toronto’s Park, Forestry and Recreation department, told CityNews.

“It really depends on the camp and the activity that’s popular, or what’s trendy in that community. We do have camps that fill up very very quickly but other camps will have spaces for longer,” she added.

The city offers close to 5,000 programs and spaces fill up quickly. There is often a frenzy in family homes on registration day, with multiple screens on in order to log on and try to register. One parent may have a tablet open, the other a mobile phone, the laptop and desktops all powered up.

Here’s what you need to know to get a good spot:

1) When can I register?
It depends on where you want to go to camp. Registration for Etobicoke-York begins Saturday, registration for Scarborough is Sunday, North York District is Tuesday and Toronto-East York district is Wednesday.

Click here to find a camp in your neighbourhood.

Children can attend camps in any district no matter where they live in the city, Allevato said.

Those coming from outside Toronto must wait until March 15 to register and there is an additional $38 fee on top of the camp fee.

2) What do I need to register?

  • Your Parks, Forestry and Recreation family and individual client numbers (used as your account codes)
  • credit card information for payment
  • top three program choices for each person you are registering so you have backup options at hand in case some programs are already filled to capacity when you are registering

Click here to find or create your client number. You can also call Parks, Forestry and Recreation at 416-338-4386.

3) Where do I register?
Click here to register online. You can also register by touchtone phone 416-338-0000 or 416-338-4386 to register with operator assistance.

4) What time can I register?
Registration online and by phone using voice prompts (TTR) is open from 7 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. On March 1, 2, 4 and 5, registration in person is open from 7 a.m. to noon and phone registration with operator assistance is open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After March 5, the hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

5) How much does it cost?
Camps range from free to $400.

“We have a wide variety, from community centre camps to adventure and specialty camps. Children are unique and we want to meet their various sports, culture, IT, drama needs – whatever their needs are,” Allevato said, adding the city offers close to 5,000 programs.

6) Are there subsidies?
Yes. If you are approved for the fee subsidy — called the Welcome Policy — the annual credit can be spent on any recreation program offered by the City throughout the year. The credit is $483 for children and youth (newborn to 24 years of age) and to $225 for adults and older adults (25 years and older).

7) I can’t pick my child up at 4 p.m. Is their after-camp child care?
Most of the city’s camps provide extended care for an additional fee. The care runs for an hour before and after camp – typically from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“Parents do have to register for that, because not everybody needs the extended care. It can cost from $10-13 a week, depending on the camp,” Allevato said.

8) I didn’t get into my camp – now what?
“Don’t despair if your camp is full – get yourself onto the waitlist,” Allevato said.

Many parents and children change their minds between March and the end of June when camp starts. The city sees peak registration in the early days of March and as the school year ends, but in the middle, there’s a lull, she explained.

There are hundreds of private camps across Ontario. Check out this map of camps across Canada.

9) My child has special needs
“We have adapted as well as integrated camps for children with special needs. However, it’s based on registration and numbers are limited. All of registrations – whether special needs or not – it’s on a first come, first served basis,” Allevato said.

10) Is my child too old – or too young – for camp?
The city has programs for children from ages three to 17, including preschool programs and leadership opportunities for youth.

And in terms of non-camp activities, the city’s pools, community centres, libraries, parks and trails are open all summer long.

Today’s Parent has a wealth of resources about summer camps.

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