Camps

Winter Break, March Break, PA Day Camps:
(905)-953-5300 ext. 2823

Inclusion and Support Services:
(905)-953-5300 ext. 2821

• Camp Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (PA Days, Winter Break, March Break)

Camps are offered to children and youth between the ages of 4 to 19 years old (camp dependent). Due to the Child Care and Early Years Act, all campers must be four years old before they are permitted to attend Town of Newmarket Camps. For further information, please visit ontario.ca.

Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on the Thursday prior to camp start date.

During registration, you will be prompted to fill in a Camper Information Questionnaire (CIQ). This will only need to be filled out once during the registration process. Please fill in the CIQ fully, and with as much detail as possible, as any changes will need to be made on a weekly basis.

Please ensure you have the following information ready:

• Emergency Contact Name & Phone #
• Camper Details – physical limitations, allergies/dietary restrictions and medications (if necessary)

You will receive a Welcome Email the Friday prior to the start of the camp week with the following information:

• Weekly Forecasts – an outline of weekly activities
• Medical forms
  • Auto-Injector [PDF/65KB]
  • Medications [PDF/50KB]
  • Seizure [PDF/64KB]
• Safe Dismissal Consent From [PDF/50KB] – must be filled in and submitted to the Camp Director on a weekly basis
• List of what to bring to camp (see below) 

• Lunch & two snacks, all PEANUT/NUT FREE – no traces of nuts (e.g. Tim Hortons) or nut alternatives (e.g. soy butter)
• Refillable water bottle
• Sunscreen and hat
• Comfortable outdoor clothing & running shoes
• Labelled belongings
• Extra change of clothes for younger campers
• Camp-specific items – outlined in the camp description

Please do not bring valuable items to camp. The Town of Newmarket and its vendors are not responsible for lost, stolen or broken items. Electronics, toys, money are not permitted.

Authorized individuals are required to sign their camper in and out of camp daily. Only those listed on the Safe Dismissal Consent Form (SDC) are permitted to sign out campers. Photo ID is required at each pick-up.

You may provide consent on the SDC Form for your camper to sign themselves out at the end of the camp day. Please note, camp staff are not responsible for the supervision of campers once they have signed themselves out. The Town of Newmarket recommends that children under the age of nine are signed in and out by an authorized individual.

Written consent must also be provided on your SDC Form if you would like your camper to sign themselves out prior to the end of the camp day.

A $5.00 late fee will apply for every 5-minutes that your camper has not been signed out of camp. Late fee payments must be made within 48 hours at your nearest Customer Service Desk or online through your Xplor account to return to camp. Campers with an overdue payment on their account will not be permitted into camp until the late fee is paid. 

If your campers will be absent for the day or late for drop off, email Camp Central (camps@newmarket.ca) or call 905-953-5300 ext. 2823 with your child's full name and camp. If you plan on picking up your camper early, please inform the Camp Director on-site.

If your camper requires medication throughout the camp day or carries an epi-pen, please ensure the appropriate forms are completed and submitted to the Camp Director. 

All medication will be stored with the camp staff and returned at the end of each camp day. Medications must be in their original packaging, with the child’s name and dosage clearly indicated. Campers must be able to self-administer medication. 

Campers who require lifesaving medication (i.e. epi-pen, seizure medication, etc.) will not be permitted into camp without their medication. 

Food products that contain or may contain traces of nuts/peanuts (i.e. items from Tim Hortons), as well as soy butter (also known as ‘Wow Butter’) are not permitted at camp. Although soy butter it is peanut/nut-free, it looks and smells exactly like peanut butter, creating a stressor for those with a nut allergy. Staff are also unable to tell if it is peanut-free. 

Prohibited food products will be removed from the camp and returned to the parent/guardian at sign-out. 

Photos/videos are not permitted in camps, with the exception of Town of Newmarket staff for promotional purposes. In order for your camper to be featured, consent must be provided on the CIQ.

The Family and Child Services Act requires any suspicion or allegation of child abuse to be reported immediately to the Children's Aid Society. The Act recognizes that our staff have the responsibility to the welfare of children and youth in our care, and have the obligation to promptly report to the Children's Aid Society. Therefore, any evidence or suspicion of neglect, physical, and/or emotional abuse will be reported.

Our goal is to make camp enjoyable and safe for everyone! Inappropriate/coarse language, harassment, bullying, eloping and aggressive behaviours are not permitted at camp. These behaviours will be documented and reported. Serious or persistent challenging behaviours may require immediate attention from camp staff and parent/guardians, and may result in dismissal from program, as per our Just Play Policy.

Staff will review the following behaviour expectations with campers on the first day of camp, and throughout the camp program.

• Respect participants and staff, and care for the building, equipment and materials provided
• Follow staff direction and instructions and be open to trying new things and participating
• Use appropriate language and be kind to others (no bullying behaviour)
• Always remain with your assigned group and staff
• Keep your hands to yourself – no touching other participants or their belongings
• Have fun!

If your child has behavioural concerns, please contact our Inclusion & Support Services team to notify them of triggers and methods that are helpful for your camper.

• Discussing camp appropriate behaviours outlined above with your camper prior to the start of camp.
• Fully and accurately completing camper paperwork.
• Guaranteeing your camper is toilet trained and independent with toileting and changing. If your child has specific needs, you may contact our Inclusion & Support Services team.
• Sending your camper with sufficient food for the day, water, sunscreen, hat, running shoes, and other items outlined in the Welcome Email.
• Being on-site within 30 minutes, if needed.
• Following all policies and procedures outlined by staff.
• Respecting staff at all times.