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Home My WebLink AboutCS-02-97THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON Subject: 1997 MARCH BREAK BONANZA Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report No. CS -02 -97 be received for information. 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 1997 marks the 14th year of the March Break Bonanza program as planned, organized and implemented by the Community Services Department. The program schedule has incorporated both structured (pre - registered) as well as unstructured activities and the Community Services Department continued to incorporate the services of a Durham College placement student (Ms. Sarah Pinney) to assist in the overall planning and implementation. 1.2 The program format of the pre - registered portion allows for greater variety in planned activities and to accommodate increased participation by local children between the ages of 6 and 13 years. Interested participants could choose to register in either the Day Camp or the Day Trip programs. For reference, a copy of the 1997 program information is attached (Attachment #1) to this report. 1.3 Approximately 10,000 program information flyers and registration forms were distributed to the public through local elementary schools. The registration period started with the distribution of these flyers and continued until either the first Friday in March or until the program achieved maximum capacity (whichever occurred first). Please note that the majority of 1997 March Break Bonanza programs were at their established maximum capacity. ../2 -C - ECYCLt 001 THIS4 PRIMED M RECYCLED PAPER REPORT CS -02 -97 - 2 - APRIL 21, 1997 2.0 DAY CAMP 2.1 The March Break Day Camp operated at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, utilizing the Multi- Purpose Room. The participants took part in a variety of activities including arts & crafts, games, special events, swimming and skating. Interested participants could register for the full week (Monday through Friday) or they could choose to participate on a daily basis. The combined registration (full week plus daily) was limited to 40 participants in order to allow the supervision ratio of 10 participants per program leader to be maintained. This ratio has been established in order to ensure parents that participants are provided with adequate supervision providing maximum safety and enjoyment. 2.3 In order to accommodate working parents, an extended hours service was provided by the Department allowing parents to drop their children off at the Recreation Complex as early as 8:00 am and pick them up as late as 5 :00 pin each day. Program Leaders were scheduled to provide on site supervision of children accessing this service. 3.0 DAY TRIPS 3.1 As with the Day Camp program, interested participants could choose to participate in these activities for either the full week or on a daily basis. Staff worked diligently to include trips to facilities that were new and provided a unique opportunity for program participants. All of the Day Trips started and ended at the Complex and parents were also able to access the extended hours service if required. ./3 OWN REPORT CS -02 -97 -3 - APRIL 21,1997 3.2 The registered participation in this program is recorded on the table below. 3.3 It should be noted that due to the late winter storm on Friday, March 14th the day trip to the C.N. Tower and Wheelies was changed to a visit to the Clarington Fire Department and Odeon Cinemas to watch the Disney movie Jungle 2 Jungle. 4.0 TOTAL MARCH BREAK PARTICIPATION 4.1 In addition to the pre- registered programs previously discussed, the Community Services Department also provided a special Much Music Pre -Teen Dance which was held on the Thursday of March Break (Thursday March 13, 1997), in cooperation with the Clarington Youth Committee. 4.2 In summary, total participation in the 1997 March Break Bonanza is recorded as: .. /4 - I >:::::>::::»:::>::>:........... ..................... ............................... 1996.......................... DAY CAMP 199 202 DAY TRIPS 202 165 PRE -TEEN DANCE 233 230 TOTAL 634 597 .. /4 - I REPORT CS -02 -97 - 4 - APRIL 21,1997 5.0 COMMENTS 5.1 The Community Services Department has been able to put together a comprehensive package of activities that is intended to build on the successes of the past. The Department has incorporated new and innovative opportunities (eg.) Sega City, in addition to the popular activities from past program operations (eg. Wheelies /Hockey Hall of Fame). The underlying goal is to provide program participants with the best and most varied schedule of activities that can be made available. It is possible that some participants would not have been able to visit some of the events and /or facilities without the Day Trip program. 5.2 Due to the change in the Friday Day Trips, many children did not attend the camp and the Community Services Department received many requests for refunds. Staff offered these parents a 10 ticket Family Swimming Pass as compensation and all but 2 families accepted. 5.3 In the future, the program will accommodate as many individuals as possible without losing sight of the break -even concept that these programs are based on. Staff have already begun to investigate new and unique opportunities that might be available for the 15th March Break Bonanza in 1998. Respectfully submitted, �h P. Caruana, Director munity Services Department JPC:SR:SP:dm Attachment Reviewed by, w W. H. Stockwell, Chief Administrative Officer - 1 004 r 2 14 Annual ATTACHMENT #1 TO REPORT CS -02 -97 DAY TRIP PROGRAM MONDAY - Ontario Science Centre and Skating TUESDAY - Sega City and Metro Toronto Zoo WEDNESDAY - Royal Ontario Museum and Liberty Bowl THURSDAY - Hockey Hall of Fame and Kortright Conservation Area FRIDAY - CN Tower (Observation Deck & Qzar) and Wheelies * PLEASE NOTE TRIPS MAY CHANGE * Program runs from 8:30am - 4:30pm with extended hours from 8:00am - 5:00pm at no additional charge. Participants are required to bring a lunch and drink as well as to dress appropriately for the weather and activities. FEE'S: Weekly - $126.50 Daily: - $44.00 PRO GRAM CODES: Weekly - MB 1200411 Daily - Mon. MB 1010411 Tues. MB 1020421 Wed. MB 103 0431 Thurs. MB 1040441 Fri. MB 1050451 To register see page 38 of the Community Guide. For more info contact Community Services (905)623-3379 ext 330 1005 COAM9UNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT 100 ,g A NA .n MARCH 10 - MARCH 14, 1997 AGES 6 - 13 Are you trying to find something fun and exciting for your children to do over March Break? Why not try the March Break Bonanza, we offer 2 different programs to meet your needs!! DAY CAMP - GARNET B. RICKARD RECREATION COMPLEX Enjoy activities such as Arts and Crafts, Swimming, Skating, Sports, Games, Movies & Guests. MONDAY: Sports Day WEDNESDAY: Winter Fest Day TUESDAY: Fairy Tale /Drama Day THURSDAY: Hawaiian Day FRIDAY: St. Patricks Day Program runs from 8:30am - 4:30pm with extended hours from 8:00am - 5:00pm at no additional charge. Participants are required to bring a lunch and drink as well as to dress appropriately for the weather and activities. FEE'S: Weekly - $77.00 Daily: - $27.50 PROGRAM CODES: Weekly - MB 1000411 Daily - Mon. MB 1060411 Tues. MB 1070421 Wed. MB 1080431 Thurs. MB 1090441 Fri. MB 1100451 To register see page 38 of the Community Guide. For more info contact Community Services (905) 623 -3379 ext 330