How to Register

To register your child please download and complete the registration form below and email it along with your e-transfer payment to education@rvcc.ca. Alternatively you may call us at 416-282-8265 or email us at education@rvcc.ca for more information.

In Person Summer Day Camp Program Registration Form:
2024 RVCC Summer Day Camp Registration.pdf

Our in person educational Summer Day Camp program is a full day program for children ages 6 - 12. Space is limited to 20-25 children per week. The program will be 100% outdoors and will include daily nature lessons, hikes, activities and crafts. All participants must follow public health guidelines including respiratory etiquette, and frequent hand washing/sanitizing.

Program Dates and Themes:
Week 1 - July 2 - 5    Outdoor Survival
Week 2 - July 8 - 12    Amphibians and Reptiles
Week 3 - July 15 - 19    Aquatic Species
Week 4 - July 22 - 26    Be a Biologist (learn how to identify different plants and animals and the
                                      other skills you need to be a wildlife biologist) Recommended for 8-12 year
                                      olds but all ages are welcome.
Week 5 - July 29 - August 2    Diversity Week 1 (this week will include a variety of topics taken from
                                                 weeks 1-3)
Week 6 - August 6 - 9    Eco Hero (learn what a Botanist, Ornithologist, Entomologist and Herpetologist
                                       do to save and protect our natural world)
Week 7 - August 12 - 16    Be a Jr. Park Ranger (Learn all about the plants and animals in the Rouge
                                           and outdoor survival skills to navigate the outdoors)
Week 8 - August 19 - 23    Diversity Week 2 (this week will include a variety of topics taken from
                                           weeks 3, 6 and 7)

Ages: 6 - 12 years old

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Registration fees: $350/child/week

Extended Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., additional cost of $10/child/day

EARLY BIRD PRICE: $300/child/week if you register by May 21, 2024 for full week camps. $240/child/week if you register by May 21, 2024 for short weeks (July 2 - 5 and Aug 6 - 9)

NOTE: All programs are subject to change pending Public Health guidelines for COVID-19. Further health guidelines will be provided prior to attending camp.

Can’t afford to send your child to camp? Email us at education@rvcc.ca for information about financial assistance for families in priority areas.

FAQs

Ticks in the Rouge

Ticks have been in the Rouge for some time and they are actually everywhere, not just here (e.g. other Parks, Playgrounds and Backyards). Ticks are just a new reality of outdoor space in Ontario. Ticks do not fly or jump. They tend to "hang" on long grasses waiting to attach on to a passing animal or human. Some ticks can be found in leaf litter as well. Ticks are more likely to be found off trail where deer, mice and other animals roam as they are the main modes of transportation for the ticks. There is nothing we can do about the ticks in the park. All you can do is protect yourself:

1. • Do not walk off trail, stay in the centre of the trail
   

2. • Keep dogs on leash and on the trail
   

3. • Wear light coloured clothes consisting of long pants, long socks and long sleeves
   

4. • Wear running shoes or boots (no sandals, crocs or shoes with holes), a hat and bug spray with DEET
   

5. • When you are finished your hike, check your clothes, shoes, face, etc. for ticks before you head home
   

6. • When you get home, put all your clothes in the wash and wash in warm water or put clothes in the dryer on high heat (check clothing labels before doing this)
   

7. • Check your body for ticks and take a warm shower including washing your hair
   

If you do find a tick, remove it or go to the doctor to remove it. Make sure that you read up on how to properly remove a tick if you do it yourself. Keep the tick in a bottle and send it in to Toronto Health to have it checked for lyme disease. Ticks can take up to 24 or 36 hours to "bite" so it is important to shower and wash your clothes as well as do a tick check when you get home.

Summer Camp Tick Precautions

We require kids to wear long pants, long socks and running shoes or boots along with bug spray with DEET and a hat. Please make sure that shoes do not have any holes or openings. We never go off trail and we always check the children's clothes and exposed skin for ticks when we come back from our hikes. It is best to educate your children about ticks and proper hiking etiquette so that they are informed and not scared and so they know what to expect and how to behave on our hikes. We will review hike rules and go over what a tick is and precautions to take with the children in detail at the beginning of the hikes. We don't want people to be afraid of being outside. As long as you take the necessary precautions you can still enjoy the outdoors.

If you want more official information about ticks you can check out the City of Toronto's website here: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/lyme-disease/

COVID-19

What measures are you taking to ensure COVID safety during in-person sessions?

We are following guidelines set out by Toronto Public Health and the Province of Ontario. Any staff that are unwell will be sent home. Staff will be wearing masks for in-person sessions indoors and when physical distancing outdoors is difficult. Participants should self-screen before attending each day and masks are recommended when coming indoors. All in-person sessions will be held outdoors. All materials and equipment will be sanitized before and after each use.

When should I stay home?

To ensure the health and well-being of other participants and staff, if you or your child/children have any of the following symptoms we ask that you stay home:

- fever

- cough

- difficulty breathing

- sore throat or trouble swallowing

- runny nose or red eyes

- loss of taste or smell

- not feeling well, tired, sore muscles

- nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

- if you have been in close contact with someone who is sick or is confirmed to be COVID-19 positive in the past 14 days

What will your child do at camp?

Our educational nature program focuses on the local environment, providing your child with information about the species that live in their own community and the natural processes that they are connected to. Each day your child will learn about an aspect of the weekly theme in a morning lesson, go for a 1 - 1.5 hour hike, and do theme related crafts, games and activities.

Please make sure that your child wears light coloured long pants, long socks, running shoes or hiking boots and a hat each morning for our hikes and bring insect repellant as there is the possibility of ticks in the Rouge. Children can bring clothing (shorts and a t-shirt) to change into for the afternoon while at the Centre.

What to bring:

1. 1.Each child must bring his/her own lunch, 2 -3 snacks and drinks (please note, we are a nut-free facility). We have no food or drinks available for purchase at the Centre.
   

2. 2.Re-fillable water bottle
   

3. 3.Any medications (e.g. EPI pen, inhaler) and detailed instructions on administering them. We keep no medications on site.
   

4. 4.Running shoes, hiking boots or rain boots when needed (NO open toed shoes or Crocs)
   

5. 5.Sunscreen and insect repellant with DEET
   

6. 6.Hat and light jacket
   

7. 7.Extra set of clothes and socks
   

8. 8.Face masks to wear when indoors (pack 2-3 extras in case) - optional
   
   

Please leave the following at home:

1. 1.Cell phones, iPads, etc.
   

2. 2.Personal video game systems (e.g. Nintendo Switch)
   

3. 3.Toys and collector cards (e.g. Pokeman cards)