Camps

PA day/Holiday camps

Throughout the school year we offer a variety of PA Day camp options. Campers will have a full day of crafts, games, sports and swimming. Please bring running shoes and wear clothes to be active in. Campers may go outside (Riverside Park, St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School soccer field or Clifford Sonny Belch Park) to play so please also wear temperature/weather appropriate outdoor clothing just in case.

No PA Day camps on September 2, 2025 and June 26, 2026.

Things to bring to camp

Please send your child to camp with:

• Healthy lunch and snacks

• Bathing suit and towel (All summer camps located at QSWC will swim daily unless stated otherwise during the registration process)

• Sunscreen (seasonal)

• Warm outdoor clothes (seasonal)

• Labelled water bottle

• Appropriate camp play attire & indoor running shoes

• Hat and sun glasses (seasonal)

• Lots of smiles, energy & enthusiasm!

Camp hours

Camp hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm! All campers must be picked up on time.

During the summer time, all camps at QSWC will have the option of extra hours from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. and/or 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. for an additional fee. This can be set up during registration time.

Sign in/out procedures

All campers must be signed in upon arrival, and signed out upon departure from camp by their parent or guardian. A child may only leave the premises without a parent or guardian if the appropriate section of the waiver was filled out with additional pick up options. Government issued ID will be checked at sign out time.

Accommodation

If your child(ren) have any accommodation requirements please notify staff two weeks prior to the start of camp. Please fill out our Accessibility Accommodation Plan so we can better learn how to support your child(ren).

Please note that we do not offer one-on-one support through the City of Belleville but support staff/volunteers provided by the family are always welcome at camp. Please fill out our Accessibility Volunteer Application if you are providing support for a camper. A current police check (valid within the last 6 months) will be require prior to the camp starting.

Recreation Fee Assistance

If you live in Belleville, you can apply for recreation subsidies and fee assistance. We have subsidies available for 25% to 75% off the cost of the program based on income. The subsidy expires on June 30 of each year.

Subsidy for Camps is available for qualified residents through the City of Belleville's Recreation Fee Assistance Program along with financial support from Kompa Law – Employment Lawyers. 

To apply to recreation fee assistance, please fill out our online form.

Families may also apply for Child Care Fee Subsidy through Hastings County.

Summer Camp Trips/Guests

Each week campers will go on a local trip or have a guest come to their location to present an activity. Local trips may include a City bus ride and/or walking. Camps at QSWC may also be regularly walking to St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School soccer fields, Riverside Park or Clifford Sonny Belch Park to play.

Allergy aware

We cannot ensure an allergen free environment. We are, however AWARE when we are notified that a child in camp has an allergy. During these weeks, we encourage parents to pack allergen-free snacks and lunches for the safety of all campers and/or share spaces as safely as possible to try and eliminate cross contamination.

High Five

HIGH FIVE® is a global quality standard for recreation and sport developed by Parks and Recreation Ontario with the support and endorsement of the Province of Ontario. Since its inception in 1994, the HIGH FIVE® standard and related tools, training materials and processes have been continually refined with input from sport and recreation professionals as well as experts in fields of healthy child development, quality assurance and quantitative and qualitative research.

HIGH FIVE® is Canada’s comprehensive quality standard for organizations that provide recreation and sport programs for children aged 4 to 12 and adults 55+.

HIGH FIVE® is based on five Principles of healthy child development and healthy aging essential for quality programs. This foundation comes from extensive research into what constitutes quality experiences for participants, and the practical application of our Principles in programs.

Today, HIGH FIVE® holds to the five Principles that the research indicates are essential for quality programs:

• A Caring Leader

• The opportunity to make Friends

• The opportunity to Play,

• The opportunity to Master Skills and

• The opportunity to Participate.

Camper Behaviour Protocol

Camper Behaviour Guidance Protocol

The goal of the City of Belleville Summer Camp program is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all campers, staff and volunteers. The Camper Behaviour Guidance Protocol establishes a clear framework to help staff respond to unpleasant or unsafe behaviour with confidence and consistency.

Green, Yellow, Red-Light Practice

The green, yellow and red-light steps outline our expectations for camper behaviour and ensure consistent responses to uncooperative or unsafe actions. City of Belleville Camp Staff work proactively with campers to reduce the likelihood of uncooperative behaviour and will address concerns appropriately when they arise.

Positive reinforcement strategies such as reward systems, stickers, behaviour reports, check-in chats and parental check-ins/meetings will be used to support campers and help them learn to regulate their own behaviour.

If a camper’s behaviour threatens the immediate safety of themselves, other campers, or staff, the guardian will be contacted and the camper will be sent home immediately. This will result in either a suspension or potential expulsion. Parents/Guardians are expected to pick up the child as soon as possible.

In some cases, despite preparation and accommodations for a camper with known behavioural challenges, we may determine that we cannot provide a successful or safe camp experience. In these cases, the camper may be required to leave the program. A credit will be applied for all remaining future camp days.

Green Light Behaviour

Campers should aim to have Green light behaviours, which support a positive camp environment for all.

Examples include:

• Following instruction from Leaders
• Honesty
• Caring for others
• Showing respect
• Sharing
• Being inclusive
• Acting responsibly
• Using kind Language

Green light behaviours will be positively reinforced through choices in activities, stickers, helper roles, and other rewards.

Yellow Light Behaviour

Yellow Light behaviours will result in a check-in chats with staff to help the camper understand expectations and make better choices moving forward.

Examples include:

• Disruptive behaviours
• Unkind language (profanity or hurtful words)
• Teasing/Bullying (in person or online)
• Running away from group or activity area
• Not listening to others
• Refusal to participate
• Rough play or fighting
• Exclusive behaviour (deliberately leaving others out)

Campers will receive a behaviour report for yellow light behaviours. After three behaviour reports, the camper will receive a 1-day suspension. Suspensions are not refundable for the camp days attended.

Campers/Parent/Guardians will be given:

• Camper check-in chat
• Parent/Guardian check-in chat
• Behaviour report

Parents may be asked to provide:

• An Accommodation Plan before returning to camp
• A Support Worker (provided by the family) Support workers are required to provide a Criminal Record Check with vulnerable sector screening current within the last 6 months.

When three Behaviour Reports are given:

• 1 day suspension
• Note added to their account for future reference

Red Light Behaviour

Red light behaviours require immediate action, including parent/guardian meetings, behaviour reports and automatic suspension from camp. Return to camp will depend on the severity, safety considerations, and willingness of both camper and parent/guardian(s) to work toward improved behaviour.

Important: If a camper returns from suspension and engages in any Yellow Light or Red Light behaviours they will be removed from the camp for the remainder of the summer program weeks.

Examples of Red Light behaviour include:

• Fighting
• Intentional hitting, biting or physical aggression
• Inappropriate sexual behaviour
• Racism or discriminatory actions
• Possession of alcohol, drugs or vapes
• Repeated verbal aggression
• Fleeing or hiding with intent to avoid suspension
• Repeated yellow light behaviours
• Destructive behaviour (vandalism, breaking or destroying property)

Campers exhibiting Red Light Behaviour will receive:

• Behaviour Report
• A minimum, 1 week suspension with note added to account for future reference
• Requirement to submit an Accommodation Plan before returning

Parents may be asked to provide:

• A Support Worker (provided by the family) Support workers are required to provide a Criminal Record Check with vulnerable sector screening current within the last 6 months.

Return from Yellow/Red Light Suspension

If a camper returns from suspension and engages in any unwanted Yellow Light or
Red Light behaviour:

• Behaviour Report
• Immediate removal from the program for up to the remainder of the summer program weeks with note added to the account.

Permanent Removal from Camp

The decision to permanently remove a child from camp is not made lightly. Depending on the severity of the behaviour, the Camp Coordinators or the Child/Youth Coordinator may recommend permanent removal. Final approval rests with the Recreation Program Supervisor and/or the Manager of Recreation Programs

Ontario Child and Family Services Act

City of Belleville day camp staff and volunteers are legally obliged to observe the terms of the Ontario Child and Family Services Act and must report a child in need of protection.

Valuables

We ask that all valuables such as toys, electronics and sentimental items which could cause distraction or conflict amongst campers be left at home. We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged belongings.

Lost and found

We will have a designated area at each camp location that will contain any lost and found items. Please check this on a regular basis to ensure everything is returned to its owner. To help make this process easier, please label your child’s clothing clearly.

We share the air

Out of respect for those who work and use the recreational facilities, please avoid the use of perfume, cologne, scented hairspray and other scented products. Your help in keeping our environment safe is appreciated.

Camp Cancellations

Programs that do not meet the minimum participant registration numbers may have to be cancelled. If your camp program is cancelled, we will call the contact number listed on your registration form to notify you of the cancellations. You will have the option of transferring your registration to another week or program; keep a credit on your account for use at another time or a full refund (if requested). We hope you can assist us in preventing cancellations by encouraging your friends, family, and neighbors to come out and join our summer day camp programs!

Sunscreen

It is extremely important that campers come to camp wearing sunscreen with an extra bottle in their bag. In order to prevent sunburns, please encourage your child to continuously re-apply throughout each day. Campers are responsible for their own sunscreen application; however leaders will assist young campers who have difficulty applying their sunscreen appropriately as long as permission is given on the consent form.

Medication

If campers require medication they may leave their medication with our Day Camp Staff. Parents/caregivers are asked to provide Staff with special instruction prior to leaving the camp site. Staff will store medication in a safe location and remind campers when it is time to be taken; however, staff may not administer medication to campers (with the exception of epinephrine for emergency).

Contagious condition

If you suspect your child may have any contagious conditions such as; COVID-19, head lice, pink eye, severe poison oak etc., we ask that you do not send them to camp. Please call our customer service desk at 613-966-4632 to report if your child will be absent from camp for a medical reason. Please inform their leader in order to prevent infecting any other campers. We encourage you to remind your child not to share any personal items with other campers.

Visitation policy

Any person wishing to visit a City of Belleville Day Camp Site outside of regular drop off and pick-up hours MUST notify the City of Belleville Summer Camp Coordinator ahead of the visitation by contacting the City of Belleville’s Recreation, Culture & Community Services Department at 613-966-4632. Visitors are asked to keep their visits to a 15 minute maximum stay to help reduce disruption to the Children’s program time.

For individuals who wish to extend their visit beyond 15-minutes by volunteering at one of our programs, please note we will require all volunteers over the age of 18, to complete an application package, orientation and training session and submit a current (no older than 6 months) Criminal Reference Check including the vulnerable sector.