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Home My WebLink AboutCSD-02-01 . v THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON REPORT Date: September 04, 2001 fJ/ File#/ Jj Res. tt&//!- Lf.J.-9-{)! Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee Report #: CSD-02-01 By-law # Subject: SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM 2001 Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that Council approve the following: 1. THAT Report No. CSD-02-01 be received for infonmation. 1.0 RACKGROIIND 1.1 For the past 24 years, the Community Services Department has provided a Summer Day Camp program for our residents. Community Services offers this program out of the Rickard Recreation Complex, the Courtice Community Complex and the newest location Newcastle Arena. This new and improved program included weekly themes with on-site activities. guest speakers, and off- site excursions. 1.2 The Summer Day Camp program is advertised in the Community Activity Guide, local newspapers and distributed to the public through local elementary and high schools with the assistance of the appropriate school boards. Also, due to the expansion of the Day Camp program into Newcastle the staff handed flyers out door to door in the Newcastle community to promote the program within the area. Registration for the camps began upon receipt of the activity guide and continued throughout the spring and summer. 804 , REPORT NO. CSD-02-01 PAGE 2 2.0 SIlMMFR DAY CAMP 2.1 The Courtice Complex location utilized the multi-purpose room, pool, tot pool, library and outside green space. At the Rickard Recreation complex the areas used were the multi-purpose rooms, arena floor space, ice surface, ball diamonds and green space. At the Newcastle Arena the day camp utilized the multipurpose room in the upper floor of the arena as well as the arena floor space and the green space around the arena. They also accessed the Newcastle Public Library and the Newcastle Lions Pool as part of their program. The Newcastle community has welcomed the program, which is evident by repeat enrolment of children in the Newcastle Day Camp Program. Due to facility limitations, we were not able to accommodate as many campers at Newcastle compared to the other locations. As registration exceeded expectations in the Newcastle area, the Community Services Department, will seek more suitable facilities for next year's camp. 2.2 The program format allowed specific activities to address the needs of each age group: 4 - 5 year olds (Kinder Camp 8:1 camper to staff ratio) 6 -8 year olds (Discovery Camp 10:1 camper to staff ratio) and 9 - 12 year olds (Adventure Camp 12:1 camper to staff ratio) The activities revolved around a central theme which changed each week of the summer. 2.3 This summer, participants were offered several trips during the camp that were tied into the theme of the week for the program. Trips included, the Bowmanville Zoo, Jungle Cat World, Cullen Gardens, Royal Ontario Museum, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Ontario Science Centre and Casa Loma. The number of trips followed last years model and will be reviewed prior to next session. 2.4 This summer, we partnered with Ontario Power Generation at Darlington to provide a weekly program for campers. Participants enjoyed attending nature walks and beaver pond studies, which were offered by Ganaraska Forest and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority. Other activities included nature crafts, hikes on the waterfront trails and use of the onsite obstacle course. The Darlington Information Centre also hosted indoor programming activities for the children and provided lunch for the staff along with Popsicles for all of the campers who attended each week. 2.5 This summer, we employed 25 Day Camp staff that held various roles within the camp: Supervisors, Lead Counsellors and Day Camp Counsellors. The staff was very dedicated and committed to children. The staff brought a wide range of knowledge, excitement and experiences to the program. 805 , REPORT NO. CSD-02-01 PAGE 3 2.6 The Day Camp staff received extensive pre camp training, which included a full day seminar hosted by the Ontario Camping Association, First Aid, CPR, and Child Abuse Training. In addition, guest speakers were brought in from Kinark Child & Family Services who provided a presentation on Behaviour Management and Grandview Children's Centre who provided a Disability Awareness presentation on Inclusion of Children with Special Needs into Day Camp Programs. The staff met bi weekly for entire camp staff meetings in order to host guest speakers and discuss issues that may be common to each respective site. In addition, staff from each individual camp met at least once a week to discuss internal issues and plan special events etc. 2.7 In addition, an end of summer "Day Camp Reunion" was hosted for all participants and their families at Rickard Recreation Complex for our Rickard & Newcastle Day Camps; and, at Courtice Community Complex for the Courtice Day Camp. Staff treated guests to a barbeque, games, skits and songs. Despite the rain, spirits were high and many children and their families enjoyed indoor activities until the rain subsided and then outdoor activities were the focus of many. These activities included, a dunk tank, pie throwing contest and a jumping castle. Many thanks go to our community partners who contributed to the success of this event; Enbridge Consumers Gas, McDonalds Restaurants, Rogers Cable T.V., and Alcatraz Skate Shop. At the end of the evening all unused refreshments were donated to Bethesda House. 2.8 In order to accommodate working parents, our extended hours service was provided again this year. Early drop off started at 7:30 a.m. and pick up ran as late as 5:30 p.m. We had 415 children in our extended care program throughout the summer, which shows that the extended hours have been widely accepted by working parents. 2.9 Participants were able to register for weekly sessions with a total of eight weeks of programming available. This time frame was increased last year (2000), from seven to eight weeks, to address the needs of parents. Many campers, after participating in one week, re registered for additional weeks, indicating a high level of satisfaction with the program. Numbers increased as a whole with the addition of a new site at Newcastle this summer. A number of camps filled quickly and staff were unable to accept further registrations. Statistics show that in 2001, day camp registrations continued to grow, with 1387 campers up from 1170 in 2000 and 927 in 1999. 806 . , REPORT NO. CSO-02-01 PAGE 4 ?nn1 !':IIMMFR nAY ~AMP RFGI!':TRATION Program Rickard Recreation Complex Courtice Commllnity Newcastle Arena Name Com lex 1998 1999 2000 2001 1998 1999 2000 2001 1998 1999 2000 2001 Kinder camp 66 88 143 94 109 37 Discovery 185 219 240 229 296 313 97 camo Adventure 166 238 195 204 257 253 55 camo SUB TOTAL 285 351 523 523 N/A 576 647 675 N/A N/A N/A 189 - Program Total 1999 = 927 Program Total 2000 = 1,170 Program Total 2001 = 1,387 CONCI lISION 3.1 The Community Services Department continues to provide the residents of the Municipality of Clarington a safe and innovative program during the summer. Parents have indicated their satisfaction regarding both the quality and success of the program. Staff are currently conducting a complete review of the 2001 Summer Day Camp program, including staff training, program content, trip policy & locations and facilities to ensure the future success of this popular program. Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, d~-~, Jo eph P. Caruana Di ctor of Community Services Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Chief Administrative Officer JPC/BT/SC 8Q7