No. Before & After Care is not available for camps located at heritage homes, parks, Vaughan Studios & Event Space, the City Playhouse Theatre, or for any half-day camp. 

The camp day runs from 8:30am to 4:30pm, with programming scheduled from 9am to 4pm. Drop-off is available between 8:30am and 9am, and pick-up is available between 4pm and 4:30pm.

Oradaca is an outdoor program and campers ‘weather’ the elements. However, if inclement weather compromises campers’ safety or negatively impacts the quality of programming, the camp may temporarily be relocated indoors to Al Palladini Community Centre. In these rare circumstances, parents/guardians will be notified prior to the start of the camp day to drop-off their child at the community centre.

The overnight experience takes place on Thursday during the second week of each session. Overnight programming may be cancelled at any time. Due to safety reasons, campers who receive support during the day are required to be accompanied by their support worker (see eligibility criteria) for the overnight experience or may stay for the barbecue, night hike and campfire before being picked up and may return for breakfast. 

To minimize personal items, campers should bring only recommended items in a clearly labelled backpack.

Everyday requirements:

• Peanut- and nut-free, individually packaged lunch and snacks (am/pm); no sharing
• Refillable water bottle and extra drinks
• Sun hat, sunscreen, and bug spray (campers must be able to self-apply)
• Closed-toe shoes worn daily
• Hand sanitizer (provided; campers may bring their own)

Outdoor Adventures Camps

These camps operate fully outdoors, and campers should be dressed appropriately to enjoy the entire day outside. If inclement weather impacts safety or programming quality, camps may temporarily relocate indoors to a nearby City facility. Parents will be advised as soon as possible of alternate drop-off locations.

For significant weather events, parents may be contacted to pick up their child in a timely manner. Updates are also available via the Weather Hotline at 905.832.8500 ext. 7610.

Bicycles (Camp Oradaca: Hawks)

Campers must bring their own bicycle on the first day of camp. Bikes will be labelled and stored onsite for the week and used during camp programming. A properly fitted helmet is required and must be worn at all times.

Option 1

Payment in full at time of registration.
 

Option 2

50% of payment is required at time of registration. Remaining payment in two equal installments due April 14, 2026 and May 14, 2026. Payment by credit card (preferred) is accepted online or in-person. 
Cheque(s) are accepted at any community centre.

What if I need to cancel?
Cancellation & Withdrawal: We recognize that sometimes plans change. You can cancel up to two weeks prior to the start of the summer camp session and a full credit/refund will be issued without penalty. Cancellations may be made online. A $25 administration fee may apply if this criteria is not met.

No. Campers must bring their own individually packaged peanut/nut-free lunches and snacks for both the morning and afternoon. A no-sharing policy will be enforced. Don't forget to pack a refillable water bottle and extra drinks to keep hydrated throughout the day. 

Guidelines on food allergies

• Campers must not share food.
• The City of Vaughan is “nut aware.” All parents are asked to diligently check ingredients and avoid known allergens. The ingredients to look out
  for include, but are not limited to, nuts of any type, eggs, milk, etc.
• Staff will monitor snacks and lunches if there are known allergies in the camp group.
• All parents share in a responsibility to read food labels and to not send products that contain/may contain traces of peanuts/nuts, or that do not
  carry a complete list of ingredients (i.e. bulk food, from on-site bakeries, etc.). Where there is a life-threatening allergy to nuts or other allergens (confirmed by a family physician note), parents will be notified by letter, and requested to avoid sending the identified food. Special lunch screening is conducted.
• Campers with items known to cause life-threatening reactions, will be moved to a private area to eat their food. Staff will instruct campers on
  proper hand washing techniques for before and after meals.

Medical information & medication
Ensure all medical information is up to date on your PerfectMind client profile. Campers requiring medication at camp must affix a recent photo to a
signed Medication Dispensing Form. Medication must be stored in original containers only and will be kept securely in the camp office. Please note
that camp staff can assist campers with dispensing medication; however staff cannot administer medication. Note: Recreation Services staff are
not responsible for lost or damaged medications left in the campers’ care.

Life-threatening allergies
Campers with a life-threatening allergy are required to complete the Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan early to ensure the camp site is well prepared for the camper’s needs. When complete, upload it to your PerfectMind client profile, under the documents section.

What you need to know
This guide will help you and your child prepare for camp. When registering in PerfectMind, ensure all personal information is up to date, including emergency contacts, adult(s) who are permitted to pick up your child(ren) from the camp site, medical history, and dietary restrictions. For children with disabilities, please ensure that the required documentation is uploaded to the client profile.

Pre-camp communication
Camp staff will contact parents or guardians if the personal information contained in your client profile is not up to date. This information will be verified at least once during the camp calendar year.

Inclusion support request deadlines
Weeks 1–4: April 26

Weeks 5–9: May 10

Recreation Services attempts to accommodate requests for additional support for children with a disability. However, due to the number of requests, support cannot be guaranteed or may not be available during the session(s) of your choice. Cancellation and withdrawal information for 1:1 Inclusion Assistant support can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions.

Campers with disabilities

If your child has a disability or requires 1-on-1 support, please email inclusion@vaughan.ca.

Age requirements

Camps for Ages 4–6:
Children are required to be 4 years old by the start of camp. No age overrides are allowed.

Camps for Ages 7+:
Children are required to be of age by the end of the calendar year (December 31, 2026). No age override is needed.

Age considerations and exemptions
 Although age is not always indicative of a child’s ability level, our camps are designed to be age appropriate. This includes consideration of cognitive, social, and physical developmental milestones. While some camps may have broad age ranges, we recognize that inherent age differences exist. Therefore, in most cases and where appropriate, participants will be grouped by age and/or skill level.

Age overrides are considered on a case-by-case basis. If your child does not meet the minimum age and you would like them to be considered for an age exemption, email rec@vaughan.ca or contact your local community centre and ask to speak with a Recreation Lead. Guarantees for age exemptions cannot be made.

Illness

If your child is sick, they must stay home, and parents or guardians must inform the Camp Director.

Code of Conduct

The City of Vaughan is committed to ensuring a respectful environment, free from harassment and discrimination, throughout all recreation facilities and programs. The City will not tolerate or condone discrimination, harassment, violence, verbal abuse, or vandalism. All patrons, visitors, participants, contractors, volunteers, and employees using City-operated recreation facilities are expected to act in a manner that supports a safe, healthy, and respectful environment. This includes respecting staff and other patrons, following facility rules, and refraining from actions contrary to the Safe Recreation Policy.

In support of a safe community
The City of Vaughan promotes safety, respect, and civility for all users of City-operated recreation facilities and will take appropriate steps to address inappropriate behaviour as outlined in the Safe Recreation Policy (PDF).

Inappropriate behaviour
Conduct that is unwarranted and reasonably interpreted as demeaning or offensive. Persistent or repeated inappropriate behaviour may constitute harassment and become disruptive.

Offence levels

• Level 1 Offence: Minor offences, including inappropriate behaviour, harassment, smoking or vaping in facilities, foul language, rough or boisterous play, minor scuffles, misuse of emergency exits, non-threatening obscene gestures, and failure to follow facility rules.
• Level 2 Offence: Escalated or repeated Level 1 incidents, including verbal assault, discrimination, sexual harassment, threatening behaviour, deliberate damage to facilities, and trespassing.
• Level 3 Offence: Serious violations such as criminal activity, including hate crimes, physical or sexual violence, robbery, drug- and alcohol-related infractions, and possession of weapons.

Camper group requests

Unless otherwise stated, campers are grouped according to chronological age and/or skill level. In some circumstances, parents may request that a child be grouped with a friend or family member of a similar age in the same program. Requests must be indicated at the time of registration and can apply to no more than two campers of the same age. All parties involved must request grouping at registration. Requests cannot be guaranteed.