FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HEALTH AND SAFETY RELATED QUESTIONS

Most camp families have questions about how we keep campers safe in our aquatic areas while they are at camp.  We encourage you to read more about aquatic safety on our Safety at Camp page of the website and also in our Parents Handbook.  If you are still left with questions after reviewing our information please email us at registration@kidsinc.ca

Kids Inc Camp is an outdoor camp program.  We ensure that our campers get the break from direct sunlight or rain that they need by providing tented areas, forested areas, and an indoor changeroom and washroom.  Our program will be modified to suit the weather in more extreme situations, however, in most cases we do participate in our outdoor program in lighter rain based events and always when the sun is shining!  Due to the fact that we are in Ontario we have to be ready for anything and we ask you to dress your camper and send them ready for that to the best of your ability.  FOR EXAMPLE: 

  • Rain ponchos are a great way to pack light but provide rain gear when needed.
  • Dressing in layers can help to keep your camper warm in the chill of the morning and allow them to unlayer as they get warm during the day.
  • Sun shirts and light weight ling pants can keep your campers safe from the sun with the need for less sunscreen to be applied to these areas of their person.  
  • ETC….

We are passionate about keeping the kids outdoors and showing them that the fun does not stop when the weather is not perfect.  Please ensure that you read our parents handbook to learn more about our policies around weather related issues.  

Please ensure that you fill in all forms related to any needs that your camper may have prior to completing your registration.  We need to know any and all details about your camper and their needs in order to take the best care of them possible.  Please read our Safety at Camp page of this website and also our Parents Handbook for policies and information related to this topic.  Please also email us if your camp has a high level of needs or if you have questions about how we will be providing care to your camper.  

SPECIAL NOTE – If your camper needs one on one support you must email us on or prior to March 1 2023 in order to begin the process of having support for your camper.  If you miss this deadline you will need to consider registration for 2024 rather than 2023.  Thank you.  

Please read the Support Page of this website and our Parents Handbook for information related to this topic.  

SPECIAL NOTE – If your camper needs one on one support you must email us on or prior to March 1 2023 in order to begin the process of having support for your camper.  If you miss this deadline you will need to consider registration for 2024 rather than 2023.  Thank you.  

Please visit the Safety at Camp page of our website and also be sure to review the Parents Handbook on the Forms and Documents page.

We understand that health related situations can come up quickly and that this could impact your campers ability to attend our program.  With this in mind we want to be sure that you register with a clear understanding of what registering with us means in the context of cancellations and refunds.  

We can only transfer your registration to a future week of the current camp season that has space available in it as we are not able to provide any kind of refund for a last minute change due to illness.  This kind of change to another week of the same camp year can only be done with a physician’s note as per our cancellation and refund policy.  

You can read our cancellation and refund policy in the Parents Handbook.  

Please read our cancellation and refund policies in the Parents Handbook and email us with any questions that you might have on this topic prior to registering. 

Thank you. 

Covid specific mandates have been lifted and public health will let us know if there are any communicable disease related issues we need to address at any given time. 

Our goal is to help our campers to enjoy the summer without the worries of these kinds of concerns interfering in their enjoyment of their camp experience.  We are aware that there are different comfort levels within each camp family’s household as we move forward past a time that has brought these issues to the forefront and we acknowledge that this can present challenges along the way.  At camp we will be working with our campers to help them to move forward with confidence and wisdom. Please review all of our materials prior to registration in order to ensure that we can work together as a team seamlessly in providing your camper with the best summer possible.  

Registration Questions

You must register online using our online registration system.  There are no other options with regards to registration methods.  Our office address is for mailing purposes only and we do not have the ability to help you to register in person.  Please email us if you need online registration assistance at registration@kidsinc.ca

Please go to the Registration Page of our website to learn more about our payment options.  

You are required to read our camp policies prior to registering your child for any of our programs. For more about our cancellation policy, code of conduct and please download the Parents Handbook from our Forms and Documents Page.

CANCELLATION POLICY 

If you wish to cancel we require 21 days advance notice of the cancellation prior to the start date of the session or sessions in question.  

Without this 21 day notice we are not able to provide you with any form of refund.  

With this 21 days notice or more there will be a refund minus a cancellation fee of $30 per week per child.  

If your cancellation does not provide us with 21 days notice but is approved by our administrative office and is accompanied by a doctor’s note that is able to be provided to us we can switch your registration to another session of the same camp season pending availability.

SWITCHING SESSIONS 

Switching of weeks can only be done with at least 21 days notice pending space in the week you would like to switch into and will be subject to a $10.00 admin fee.   If the week you are switching out is already full you will be subject to a full cancellation fee of $30.00 as we will have already turned others away from registering for the spot that you have been taking in the program.  

Yes – our program is 100% outdoors.  We do have shelters all around the camp facility but we are an outdoor program with no indoor program facility.  We do have a washroom/changeroom facility on site.

Please see more about our weather related policies and information on the Safety at Camp page of this site and in our Parents Handbook if you have any questions.  

We will do the swim check (swim test) when they come back to camp.  Please email us at registration@kidsinc.ca to ensure that your campers situation is brought to our attention and the test is able to take place.  

Yes – you can add and pay for anything you would like to add (as long as there is still space in that program or option) on your registration profile. Log in using the email and password that you entered upon registration. This must be done at least 1 week in advance, pending availability.  If you need to switch any details of of the registration for something you are already registered for like a transportation option or “switching” a week please email us at registration@kidsinc.ca as there is more to this transaction than you are able to affect via your online portal.  

Yes – you can add notes to your file for items such as this and we also encourage you to follow up with our office with an email to be sure that the notes and details are approved.  It is important to note details and policies that might impact the instructions that you wish to add to your file. 

For Example:  All campers must be signed in/out by a parent/guardian, unless written documentation has been given to the Kids Inc office in advance. Campers who sign themselves in/out of camp each day must be 10 years old.

Please see the previous point as the same instructions apply.  We can tell you that this kind of arrangement is allowed – however – only if they are listed as having permission to pick up the camper. If the adult is unlisted, we will not be able to release the child. As per previous instructions please send any notes, changes, or additions related to authorized adults well in advance to our office via e-mail.

No – we are sorry but registrations are not transferable.  

In most cases yes.  This is known as a “BUDDY REQUEST” and you will add this to your online registration in the camper form.    

Is the camper buddy request a fellow camper who is within 1 year of your campers age and are they registered in the same program on the same week?  If so – NO PROBLEM!

If you are requesting siblings be in the same group who have a large age difference or if you are looking to have your camper in a group with your older family member who is attending as an LIT camper we are sorry but these kinds of requests are not possible.

Finally we are very sorry but we can not ensure that your camper can be in the cabin group of one of our staff members who is known to you.  

If you have more questions about this item please email us at registration@kidsinc.ca

Junior General Camp Grades sk & grade 1

Simply add a buddy request on your campers “camper form” upon registration.  A follow up email to registration@kidsinc.ca is always a great idea too.  

If your children are entering grades that will put them into different programs at our camp there will be no option for them to be in the same group.  If they are both the correct age for the Jr Camp Program you can add them as a buddy request just like any other camper.  

All of our Junior General Campers wear Life jackets at all times. Life jackets will be provided and so we ask that you do not send your camper with floatation devices from home. Our pool is staffed by more Certified Lifeguards than required by Ontario Public Pool Regulations. All of our Lifeguards are Certified by the Canadian Lifesaving Society with their National Lifeguard Certificate, First Aid, and CPR Certificates. The staff of the Junior Camp program will be in the water with them, and they will be confined to a small area of the pond where they can splash, play, and swim together.

This camp program does not include a swimming lesson.  The children will get more comfortable in the water and learn to follow rules and stay safe in aquatic areas while they are with us simply by participating in the program.

Washroom breaks are conducted in groups with two or more Junior Camp staff members present. The female washroom is always used for washroom and change room purposes for all Junior Camp participants. The staff will be present outside of the washroom stalls to make sure that everyone is safe and that proper hand washing takes place after washroom use. We also have composting toilets and outhouses that can be used in areas of the facility that are not close to the main washroom. When Junior Campers are using this area as a change room for swim time it is used in a communal way so that we can help all of our campers with getting ready for swim and for the rest of the day most effectively.  We suggest that you send your camper dressed in their swim gear under their clothing so that we only have to help them change back into their clothing after swim time has been completed.

If your child has an accident once in a while, please be clear with this information upon registration so that we can be sure that our program is a good fit.  If there are issues in this regard you are approved to register and/or if this is your campers first time attending a recreational camp program please provide an extra change of clothes just in case. In the case of accidents happening on a frequent basis, we may be required to discuss alternative child care options if this is an issue that affects our level of care to the other children in the group.  Once again please note that if you have a child who is having accidents and you are not sure if they qualify for the program or if the issue is related to a medical diagnosis that you wish to discuss please email us at registration@kidsinc.ca

Please ensure that you add details about this in your registration and also follow up with an email to registration@kidsinc.ca – every situation needs to be assessed in order to ensure that we are able to accommodate within our ratio of care and scope of practice.

We do the very best that we can in this regard.  Please ensure that you send your camper already set for a successful morning with sunscreen and bug spray.  Please send a lunch and snacks that your camper will be able to enjoy with ease and label all of their belongings.  Items will get left behind so please be sure to email us when this happens and we will get your labeled items back to you asap!

No you may not send nuts as we are nut free.  

We are 100% outdoors!  We have a lot of shelter from the sun, forested areas and large tented areas, however – we are an outdoor program.  

Please view our virtual tour and check out the wealth of photos and images of our camp program and facility on this website and on our social media.  We do not have any visits scheduled at this time.  

General camp grades 2 to 8

Yes – please add a buddy request on the “camper form” upon registration.  

No – you may not send nuts as we are a nut free facility.

We do have a snack shack and so you are welcome to send money for a treat that we sell here on site.  Sending money is not mandatory and not all campers participate in this part of what we have to offer.  Please see our Snack and Pizza Day page of our website for more information. 

You must fill this information in upon registration.  Failure to inform us about an issue that we need to be aware of in order to take the best care of your camper that we can may result in the cancellation of any given registration.  Please ensure that we are aware and able to care best for your camper/s.

PLEASE LABEL ALL OF YOUR CAMPERS BELONGINGS! 

Email us at registration@kidsinc.ca and we will check our lost and found for your labeled items.

Please read our Parents Handbook for more details related to this point.

Early pick up must be arranged with our admin office at registration@kidsinc.ca

Please view our virtual tour and check out the wealth of photos and images of our camp program and facility on this website and on our social media.  We do not have any visits at this time.  

Most campers will get what we call a “swim check”.  This is a swim test, however, it takes that word TEST out of the conversation.  

Campers entering grade 2 do not get a check – they wear a lifejacket.  It is mandatory.

Campers entering grade 3 may do a “pool swim check” to see if they can use the pool without a lifejacket. 

Campers entering grade 4 and over may do a pool swim check as mentioned above and may also do a pond swim check to see if they will get to use the slide and deeper area of the pond. 

Campers who pass the pond swim check still wear a lifejacket in the pond. 

If you have more questions about swim checks and aquatics please email us.    

In most cases they may not take the swim check again in the same session.  We often times give campers a few chances during our swim check period to try again and so trying again on another day of the same session of camp is not an option.  We ask for your support with our decisions in this regard since all of our aquatic policies are for the safety of the children at our program.  If you feel an oversight of some kind has taken place and discussion is required please do email us at registration@kidsinc.ca  

Please email us and we will coordinate a swim check on a non-swim check day.  

No – we do not use our electronics at camp.  If your camper brings a device from home and is not able to leave it alone during the camp day we will ask for your support by asking you not to send the device.  

LIT PROGRAM GRADES 8 and 9

Yes for some aspects of the camp day they can be with their friends – LIT’s will be together at times that allow them to be with their LIT friends and to be with others their own age – however – much of the program will see them interacting with younger campers and not with their peers.  

LIT’s will have an LIT Supervisor who will help them to learn and provide them with guidance.  All of our staff will help the LITs become an important part of their group and to become involved with helping during activities. We also want the LITs to take the initiative to ask questions and ask how they can be of assistance as the week goes on.

No. The staff will always be responsible for the group of children and the LIT within the group.

The LITs choose what activities they would like to attend throughout the day. They may opt to be participants who are leading by example or helpers during this time. There are some activities that are specifically for LITs to get to know one another and have fun together. Leisure time will also be available for LITs during free swim and during free time after snack and lunch.

Participants will get a white T-shirt on the first day of the program that they will turn into an LIT shirt that is fun and colourful and expresses a little about themselves to all of our campers and staff!  LIT’s will learn more about the T-shirt decorating process on the first day of the program.

The shirts we provide to LIT’s are white adult sizes and you will select the appropriate size when registering.  Only one T-shirt per session they are registered for will be provided by us on the first day of camp.  If having more than one LIT shirt per week is important to your camper they are welcome to make more LIT shirts at home from another white T-shirt of their own.  If they are registered for a number of weeks by week 2 they will have 2 shirts from us to work with.  

We ask that participants wear the LIT T-shirt they create and clean shorts or pants to camp every day.

If warm clothes are required we ask that you bring a solid colour sweatshirt or jacket.

We ask that participants wear the LIT T-shirt they create and clean shorts or pants to camp every day.

If warm clothes are required we ask that you bring a solid colour sweatshirt or jacket.

We do not guarantee employment in the future, however, being an LIT at Kids Inc does give the youth in your family the chance to learn, grow, and get to know us at Kids Inc to see if they would like to apply in the future.  

No – we are not able to accommodate this kind of request.

Some campers who are going into grades 8, and 9 are not sure that they will enjoy the LIT program.  If you think your child is better suited for the General Camp program, please call us at the registration office. If the camper registered in the LIT program is deemed disruptive to their peers or the program, we will ask that you find an alternate program for them.

Bus Camper Questions

Please check out the 2023 Bus Schedule on the forms and document page.  

Any camper who wishes to walk home from the bus stop without supervision must be communicated to the Kids Inc office in advance. Campers who will be walking to or from the bus without a parent must be 10 years or older, or have a sibling that is 10 years or older who can sign them in/out.

No – sorry, all campers must be signed in/out of the bus by a parent/guardian, unless written documentation has been given to the Kids Inc office in advance and age requirements have been met.

If you are late to drop off your camper for the bus you must head to the next bus stop or you are responsible for driving your camper to camp. If you are late picking up your camper from the bus stop the camper will continue to move through the stops and will be held at the final stop, where you are to pick your camper up. The bus will only wait for 2 minutes past the scheduled stop time in both the morning and afternoon.

CAR TO CAMP QUESTIONS

REGULAR HOURS CAR TO CAMP – Hours range from 8:00AM to 5:00PM and your specific 10 minute time block with be confirmed with you after you have registered – This options is included in the fees for our program.

A specific 10 minute window of time will be alloted to you for both AM and PM and you will need to be in the driveway and follow our pick up and drop off procedures within that 10 minute window each day.  Your exact times and the specific procedures will be confirmed with you after registration has taken place. 

FLEX HOURS ADD ON – Hours range from as early as 7:00AM to as late as 6:00PM – We will discuss your expected arrival time for AM and PM pick up and drop off after you have registered.

This option has an additional fee of $50.00 PER WEEK PER CHILD

We are sorry.  In most cases this is not possible.  If further discussion is something you would like to organize on this matter please email us.

Early registration is recommended!