Camps

We want your little campers to have the best time at camp. Please review the following policies prior to registering for camps to ensure a positive experience:

Installment Plan 

An installment plan is available for families registering for 2 or more camps throughout the summer, upon approval. This plan allows families to pay portions of the overall camp balance at their discretion, up to the annual June deadline. At the time of the deadline, fees must be paid in full. The Program Coordinator will engage families to schedule payments in the months leading up to the deadline so that a large purchase is not required in June. If an outstanding amount remains when the deadline is reached, it will warrant full removal from the camp programs where applicable.

Withdrawal and Transfer 

Withdrawal and transfer requests for PA Day, Holiday and March Break camps are permitted prior to program start, and will incur a 10% or $5 minimum administration fee. Withdrawals are not permitted after program start, unless a medical note is provided, and the withdrawal is approved by the program coordinator. 

Withdrawal and transfer requests for Centre summer day camps are as follows:

• Prior to June 15, summer campers can be transferred from one week of day camp to another pending program space availability. After June 15 requests for camp registration transfers are subject to a 10% administrative fee and are dependent on program space availability.
• After June 15, refund requests will be accepted up to 14 calendar days before the first day of the camp in question and are subject to a 25% administration fee on each event registration as applicable. Refunds will not be provided if a refund request is received less than 14 days before the start of the summer camp, unless it is medically related. The client is required to provide a doctor’s note to the attention of the Program Coordinator, and it will be up to the discretion of the coordinator as to whether a refund will be approved. 

Camper Information Form 

Prior to participating in any day camp with the City of Peterborough, camper families must complete a camper information form in the online database. Fill out the Information Form now. 

Camper Age Requirements

Camp participants are expected to be able to navigate the camp day and its associated activities independently (i.e. eating, toileting, dressing, etc.). If you feel your camper requires additional support, please review the campers with special needs section, below. 

Age requirements are set for our camps in order to provide a successful experience for all of our campers. The age limits set out in registration must be met in order to participate. 

Camp Supervision Ratios 

Supervision ratios for school-term day camp programs are 1 staff to 10 participants. Ratios for summer camp programs range from 1:8 through to 1:12 depending upon ages and camps. Supervision of day camps is provided by trained day camp personnel with the support of student volunteers. Centre volunteers do not count in supervision ratios.

Sign-in and Sign-Out 

• The PSWC day camp sign-in is located at the gymnasium entrance way, between 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Sign-out is in the same area anytime between 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. It is preferred that families use the parking lot and entrance at the gymnasium-end of the building.
• Adults are required to sign their children into camp in person upon arrival in the morning, and children are released into adult care by camp staff during sign-out at the end of the day. Adults must be listed on an approved sign-out list for the children to be released into their care.
• Supervision is provided to day camp participants from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Day camp programming takes place from 9:00 am to 4:00 p.m.
• Late Arrival: Campers arriving after 9 a.m. are considered a late arrival. If arriving after 9 a.m., please visit the Front Desk of the Centre.
• Early Sign-out: Campers leaving before 4 p.m. are considered an early sign-out. If looking to sign your child out before 4 p.m., please visit the Front Desk of the Centre.

Late Sign-Out (after 5:30 p.m.)

If day camp participants are picked up from their camp program after 5:30 p.m., a late fee will be charged per child to the guardian signing out the child(ren). Payment will be made at the Centre’s reception desk the same day, at the time of pick-up. The receipt of payment must be provided to the Centre camp staff in order to release the child(ren) from their care. Alternatively, the fee will be placed against the family’s client account as an outstanding balance.

If day camp participants are not collected within a reasonable amount of time, or if Centre staff are not contacted with details surrounding the reason for guardian’s late arrival, a call will be made to the child(ren)’s emergency contacts or the necessary authorities.

Camper Illness or Absence

In the event of camper illness or absence, families are asked to contact the facility to advise. If a call has not been received and children have not arrived by 9 a.m., camp personnel will contact families to check in.

If a camper misses camp program time due to illness, a refund is not automatically provided. The family is required to submit a medical document to the attention of the Program Coordinator to request a partial or full refund of the camp fee. A refund will be granted once the request has been received, pending approval.

Campers with Special Needs

Families and campers that require additional support to promote their success at camp are asked to contact the program coordinator directly to obtain information on 1:1 support roles and the required submission of a successful vulnerable sector and police screen to attend the program with the child or youth.

Behaviour expectations while at camp are clearly defined within camper groups at the start of the day camp program. Centre staff reserve the right to remove campers from programs as required. Families may be contacted for support with behaviour needs where applicable.

Camper Lunch Program – Summer Only

Lunch program options are available for summer day camp participants at the Centre. Lunch registrations are non-refundable and are required to be completed before the weekly deadline to be included in the weekly order.

Day Camp Swim

• Day Camp programs swim daily for all camps offered at the Centre.
• For single-day camps (PA Day camps and Holiday camps) a screening of swimming ability is provided by the aquatic staff whereby the campers are assigned to water wings or life jackets where applicable for the duration of the swim.
• For week-long day camps (March Break Camps and Summer Day Camps) a screening is completed on the first day of the camp, documented by camp staff and a wristband is provided to wear for the duration of the program, or water wings or a life jacket are assigned.
• Swim screenings are required at the start of camp every week, even if campers are attending multiple weeks of camp.
• Aquatic staff are the authority within the Aquatic Centre and day camp personnel support with supervision. All Aquatic Centre rules are enforced within the Centre’s day camp programs.
• Centre day camp participants access the facility’s varsity change rooms at the west end of the building to prepare for swimming.  Showers upon arrival at the aquatic centre are required before entering the pool and after departing the pool.

What to Bring

• Day campers are required to bring a backpack with indoor running shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, a nut sensitive lunch that includes a morning and an afternoon snack, a refillable water bottle, a hat and sunscreen, and swim gear that includes a bathing suit and a towel.
• Campers are asked to please leave personal devices, valuable items such as stuffed animals, and toys, at home. It is recommended that clothing and items be labelled.