Summer Program Fees

Jr. Explorers  2020 rates*: $225 / wk

$180 for Aug 4 short week

For children entering JK/SK in September

Sr. Adventurers 2020 rates*: $205 / wk

$164 for Aug 4 short week

For children entering Grade 1 – 3 in September

Mavericks 2020 rates* $205 / wk

$164 for Aug 4 short week

For children entering Grade 4 – 8 in September

Single Day Passes 2020:
Due to COVID-19 cohort grouping policies, we will not be offering Single Day Passes, part-time, nor call-in or last minute placements this year.

LOCATION & HOURS

Camp Hours of Operation: 8:30am-3:30pm

• Drop Off: 8:30am or 8:45am (as assigned by us)* (families must be present at their assigned time for pre-screening)
• Core Program Activities: 9 – 3pm
• Pick Up: 3:30pm or 3:45pm (as assigned by us)* (families must be present at their assigned time  for pickup)

Pickups and Drop offs are done at one of three designated Screening locations at the school, and every family will receive an assignment email in the week prior to each camp week with these details.

Location:  Guy B. Brown Elementary School (55 Braeheid Ave)

What to back: Peanut-free lunch***, weather appropriate clothing (clothes change and towel for wet activities), indoor running shoes, water bottle.  A Back Pack is required for storage of children’s items as lockers will not be provided. Families are also asked to send their child with their own pencil case or box with pencils, eraser, colour erasable markers and some printer paper.

Have Questions?

Please remember that some things may change or not be up-to-date due to COVID-19 procedures and policies that are constantly evolving.  It is IMPORTANT to review all of the Tabs on the left side before registering as refunds are not offered for voluntary cancellation of camp registrations after confirmation and payment has occurred.

Our current Parent / Guardian Handbook will answer some questions, but we will also issue all registrants a COVID-19 Parent Handbook Addendum to review before attending.

Update: Please consult our Camp Waterdown Summer Camp FAQ (PDF) for some detailed information while we wait for approval of the Addendum by Hamilton Public Health.

Otherwise please email info@campwaterdown.com for more information.

Priority Placement

• Registrants would join a Wait List, and then be assessed for placement according to our established priority protocol along with advice from the Ministries of Education, Health and Hamilton Public Health.
• Among those optional considerations are whether families have available to them care options at home, whether they live in the Hamilton Municipal Area (which includes Flamborough, Dundas and Ancaster), and whether they belong to an identified group of essential or front line workers as defined by the provincial government.

UPDATED JULY 15*

Families will be pre-screened daily (please review the screening questions below), and any child exhibiting a symptom (or absent due to a symptom) will be required to get a COVID-19 Test before returning to camp (or will be excluded for a 14 day period), unless otherwise authorized to return by Hamilton Public Health.

Here are the current daily screening requirements questions required, and the conditions that must be monitored for the entire day.

• We request that you not administer common illness medications (such as Tylenol and antihistamines) to children in the morning before prescreening that might mask screening symptoms, and if doing so, you will provide us a doctor’s note in advance before admittance.
• A child with seasonal allergies should arrange to provide us with medical proof of the condition in advance of first arrival in order not to be automatically excluded during the screening (proof of other medical conditions exhibiting chronic conditions consistent with these symptoms will be required and shared with Hamilton Public Health for determination of fitness to attend).
• Every child and family will be screened daily for signs of common illness (see below), including children’s temperatures.
• Should a child present ANY symptom below, they will be excluded from camp and asked to go for a COVID-19 Test (or need to wait 14 days symptom free) before returning to camp, unless otherwise authorized by Hamilton Public Health.
• Should a child within a cohort be suspected of or have a confirmed case of COVID-19, the child’s cohort group (children, siblings and staff) would be considered “close contacts” and will be required to be picked up (if present) and self isolate at home and not return to the program until advised by Hamilton Public Health.
• In the case of a declared “Outbreak” of COVID-19, it will be up to Hamilton Public Health to determine whether some or all of the camp groups will be sent home for isolation.
• In the case of closures or exclusions, we will refund unattended time after the first 24 hours.
• REVISED: After announcement of a Positive COVID-19 case (the names of affected persons will not be released), any family may voluntarily withdraw from the program and will be afforded a refund after the first 24 hours.

ALL illness occurrences, even of minor symptoms, and absentees are reported to Hamilton Public Health DAILY for potential investigation.

You will see that many of the symptoms are the same as for many common childhood infections / sickness and therefore it is vital for you to keep a child at home who may not feel completely well for almost any reason and to then follow-up with Hamilton Public Health, as may be required, before returning to camp.

All occurrences (and absences) have to be reported by us to Hamilton Public Health for further advice and potential follow up for referral for COVID-19 screening and testing, if advised. (Testing is not mandatory, but refusal to do so would mean not being able to rejoin our camp for 14 days AFTER the absence of any symptoms and require a Doctor’s clearance note.)

If any of these symptoms occur during the day, we are required to separate a child from their cohort (with adult supervision in full Personal Protective Equipment: face shield gloves and gown), have them wear a face mask, teach them about self care, and call a family member to to pick them up from the program as soon as possible (as well as advise Hamilton Public Health for follow-up).

• Fever (temperature of 37.8°C or greater)
• New or worsening cough, or Croup
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• New olfactory or taste disorder(s) (Loss of taste or smell)
• Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
• Runny nose, or nasal congestion – in absence of underlying reason for these symptoms such as a seasonal allergy – which requires prior medical proof
• Unexplained fatigue (tiredness) / malaise (feeling ill) / myalgias (muscle aches)
• Lethargy / Difficulty Feeding (in infants)
• Chills
• Headaches
• Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Additionally you must automatically be excluded, and receive permission to return from Hamilton Public Health before entry, if:

• You have had contact with anyone with acute respiratory illness,
• You have had contact with anyone who have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days
• You have had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with or had a POSITIVE test result for COVID-19 (and not a health care worker who has done so wearing PPE)

*Subject to change as necessitated by Provincial Authorities and Hamilton Public Health requirements.

What will Drop Off (prescreening starting at 8:30am or 8:45am) and Pick Up (3:30pm or 3:45pm) look like?

• Families will all arrive at Guy Brown Elementary by their designated screening time each morning to line up in one of three assigned and clearly marked designated outdoor areas to begin a health prescreening. Social distancing cues will be available on the ground for reference and families should remain a minimum of 2 metres apart from each other while waiting to be screened.
• Families can choose to wear masks, but must NOT be seen closer than 2 metres to other families.  Do not allow your child to greet other children closer to this distance or they will need to be excluded from the program for the day.
• On rainy days, outdoor shelter for waiting families can not be provided with safe distancing, so be prepared with appropriate rain-wear and umbrellas if necessary.
• On the first day, it could take 15 – 30 minutes to process and screen all arrivals starting from 8:30am, so families should expect to be able to wait with their children each day (children cannot arrive or be dropped off alone and all must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or approved adult household member until screened and signed in). We will be working towards the most efficient drop-off process possible.
• Families may not “share” drop off and pick-up of children from different households, and all children must arrive accompanied by an adult caregiver who is a member of their household, and leave with an adult: parent/ guardian, predesignated caregiver or extended family (in this case they do not necessarily need to be a household member)
• Arriving families and children must distance themselves from others before and after camp as if we observe families or campers being closer than 2 metres without masks, then it may affect your ability to continue to attend camp.
• Families must be present and ready to pickup at their designated pick up time in the same outdoor designated screening areas.
• NEW: On pickup – Families will line up on the distance marks, and children will be brought out, one-by-one to their pick-up (please have Photo Identification ready to show).
• No extended care hours are offered due to COVID-19 cohort / staffing requirements and all children must be ready to screen and be picked up at these times.
• We can not accept late drop offs or early pickups except under exceptional prearranged conditions. Once the screening process is done for each cohort, entry doors would close and any late arrivers would need to be be turned away (as families cannot enter the building).
• We will provide detailed Drop-off and Pick-up instructions on the Thursday before your camp weeks (when you receive your group placement).
• Parents/Guardians and Visitors are NOT permitted to enter the school building to assist their child except under very exceptional and emergency circumstances – and will be required to don provided appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, such as a face mask, gloves and gown as needed.
• Families may not administer common illness medications (such as Tylenol and antihistamines) to children before prescreening that might mask screening symptoms, and if doing so, you will provide us a doctor’s note in advance before admittance or to arrange for us to administer those medications AFTER screening.

Grouping of Children (Cohorts)

• Siblings will be grouped together wherever possible to facilitate cohorting of close contacts, so that may mean that camp will be more appropriate for siblings close in age. Exceptions may be made if approved by Hamilton Public Health.
• We cannot accept friend requests although children will be grouped according to similar age ranges as usual.
• Children will be in groups of 13 or 15 with 2 leaders (called a cohort) and those groups may not be changed during the week for any reason.
• We will do our very best to accommodate children’s anxieties within their original cohort while adapting to the new environment, however withdrawal from the program, once started except where confirmed illness occurs after the first 24 hours, will not be refunded.
• Children are necessarily educated about COVID-19 as part of the program experience, with age appropriate methods, and information about COVID-19 and healthy practices such as hand washing, covering sneezes and coughs, distancing and why people wear masks. We will provide registered families some written guidance and talking points to help prepare their children in advance of attending.
• Cohorts will not interact or play with each other together as we must maintain a strict minimum distance of 2 metres between them.
• Outdoor time will be emphasized, but again, cohorts will be separated from each other with physical markers to maintain the 2 metres of distance between them.
• Children will not normally wear face masks (unless isolated for a discovered illness while awaiting pick up).
• Where desks and circle activities are used, children will have assigned seating and personal craft materials that are not shared (desks, seats and carpets are cleaned and disinfected daily).
• We may be able to accept children who have their own special needs resources (outside assistance is governed by certain Ministry of Education and Hamilton Public Health requirements and we would necessarily inform ALL registered families in advance if outside assistance for a child would be present).
• Personal items allowed to be brought to camp will be minimal and must all be labelled with names and must be kept in backpacks. A list of required and allowed items will be provided to families before camp begins, however we will provide materials and supplies.
• Soft personal comfort items such as stuffed toys may not be permitted (or must be stowed in backpacks for the day).
• Children will all bring their own nut free lunches and water bottles. Limited healthy snacks and water refills will be provided.
• Children will be guided to follow some age appropriate distancing requirements during play, washing, bathroom time, and eating at camp.
• Children will be required to wash hands upon arrival and at times throughout the day and will not have access to hand sanitizer unless we can not provide water washing (hand sanitizer MAY NOT be sent from home).
• Our staff are able to assist children with application of their own bottle of sunscreen only where necessary, but we would wear disposable gloves (which is how we do it normally), discarded between individual applications.

Our Staff Training and Requirements

• Our staff will have all undergone specific COVID-19 training and are screened daily and subject to exclusion just like the children.
• At this time there is no requirement for our Staff to be pre-tested for COVID-19, without symptoms present.
• Our staff group leaders will wear face masks at all times, and screeners will wear full personal protective equipment as required by Public Health. (Steps are taken to help children become used to this.)
• Group (cohort) leaders will remain with their group of children the entire week and would not rotate between rooms or be shared between groups at all.
• We have additional staff for duties such as administration, space organization, cleaning and disinfecting that will not interact with children directly unless maintaining a 2 metre distance and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.
• Touchable surfaces and washrooms are inspected, cleaned and sanitized at least twice daily (and between uses), and all toys cleaned daily or as required by Public Health.
• Our Program Plan and Facility is inspected regularly by the Ministry of Education and will be approved and/or inspected by Hamilton Public Health before opening and as required.

Payments

We are not taking payment until you have been approved for and offered a placement.  

We accept payment by INTERAC Email Payment, Credit Cards and Debit by Pay Pal only. We no longer accept Cash and won’t be accepting cheques this year.  All payments will be final except as noted.

Families require alternative payment options should contact our Executive Director, Shelley Bradaric upon registration at shelley.bradaric@wdcc.ca

Some families may be eligible for care subsidization through the City of Hamilton. (Daily Parental Contribution Fees for Subsidy are paid by INTERAC Email Payment, Credit Cards and Debit by Pay Pal only this year (no Pre-Authorized Debits)

Instructions for Payments will be sent to you by email upon placement and available in your Family Registration page.  All payments will be due in full upon acceptance of an offered placement.

All registrations (paid or not) are tentative pending program approval by the Ministry of Education, HWDSB, and other authorities due to COVID-19 policies.

Changes

Want to make a change or cancellation?

You can either email us the change (make sure to mention the child’s name and program) at register@campwaterdown.com OR you can use the Change Request link found under each Registration in your Family Registration page.  Please be aware that restrictions, additional fees and refund policy may apply.

Refunds

• Should a Full Program Week be cancelled in advance due to a requirement by the Minister of Education, the Hamilton-Wentworth School Board or Hamilton Public Health, then we will refund your paid fee for that week in full.
• Should you be required to be excluded from camp for any reason by Hamilton Public Health, or suspicion of COVID-19, or choose to withdraw from camp after disclosure of a confirmed Positive test for COVID-19 (which will be disclosed to all families) or be excluded from camp for 14 days, then we will refund any full days missed after the first 24 hours.
• Should you choose for your child not to be tested for COVID-19 upon request or are absent without a verified reason, you will be required to be excluded from the program for 14 days unless otherwise authorized to return by Hamilton Public Health (we will afford families excluded for more than 24 hours a refund for full days missed).
• All accepted registrations and payments are final. No refund or credit of paid fees is given for voluntary cancellation or withdrawal.
• Credits or refunds are not given for late cancellations, late arrival, early departure, illness, absences, dismissal, or program / facility closures due to emergency, weather, except as noted.
• Credits or refunds are not given for absence due to any personal occurrence of communicable illnesses or parasites (cold, flu, chicken pox, mumps, lice, etc.), elective or scheduled medical/dental reasons, except as noted.
• Cancellations due to serious and unexpected emergency medical reason (requiring hospitalization or affecting ambulatory mobility and ability to participate) for all programs are subject to the Executive Director’s approval and receipt of an original and verifiable doctor’s letter, except as noted.
• Insufficient Funds Returns are subject to a $50 administrative fee.
• Any refunds granted will be returned within 4 weeks time.

 Please understand that the financial obligations of Camp Waterdown / WDCC are fixed for each program and the withdrawal of a camper does not lessen our operating expenses.

Wait List Policy

Space in our programs is limited (and we adhere to Ministry guidelines for safe and effective Adult/Child ratios, as well as ratios imposed by COVID-19 guidance). We reserve the right to refund and cancel enrolments as need if an accidental overbooking or program cancellation occurs.

Wait List

Wait List priority is not guaranteed as we do not take deposits until space if offered for acceptance. Our Wait List is reviewed using our existing Priority Placement Protocol (that favours existing client families) among other considerations, as well as any optional considerations provided by the Ministry of Education or Hamilton Public Health.

Registration Process

For Prior Camp Waterdown Registrants / Members

You will be familiar with our system from past program enrolments, and all are started from your Family Registration page.

Your prior registration information from the past year is held in our system to make registration for multiple programs easier.

For Safety, we DO require that you review both your Parent Record information and your Child’s Record information at least once a year.

We also now require Registering Parent / Guardians (as identified by their principal email address or sign-on to our system) to give explicit written permission for additional Parent / Guardian to access this information and to make changes on their behalf. A permission option is included in each registration as well as your Parent Record Update.

 For New Registrants

Our process is a little different than a standard Online Cart system as we collect the entire registration and safety information in a series of three steps.

The registration process consists of these steps:

1. Login or Create a New Membership (using the form at the very bottom of this tab).
2. Create or Review and submit a Parent Record and then add Child Record(s) from your Family Registration page
3. Use the Program Registration links that will appear next to your child’s name in your Family Registration page.

If you want to make changes, submit a Change Request from the links in your Family Registration page (best way) or email register@campwaterdown.com

Start Your Online Registration

LOGIN  TO REGISTER

1. IMPORTANT: Review the Program Information tabs (to the left) FIRST before logging in and registering.
2. Login using the Member Menu Item top right of the web site.
3. Review your Parent Record and Child Record(s) (Special Invitation Members may need to Create a Parent Record and Child Record(s).
4. Use the Program Registration links on your Family Registration page (in the Child Record and Registration Tab) to register.