(5-minute read)
January 2026
In the cold days of January, summer holidays can feel very far away. The majority of schools throughout Ontario are closed for July and August while many parents/caregivers continue to work. However, many camp registrations begin as early as January, and now is a good time to start thinking about your family’s summer plans.
Preparation
Family Care Office Student Advisor, Helen Reddy Katz, suggests starting with an overview of your summer plans. “Mark all of your summer plans out on a calendar (vacation days, family visits, etc). This can be a helpful way to figure out where there are gaps in your summer plans that can be filled with summer camp “ says Reddy Katz.
To begin researching camps, consider the temperament of your child/ren. Do they thrive on adventure and warm up easily to new friends and adults? It may be a good idea to register your child for a variety of camps. If your child is slow-to warm up and thrives on routine, you may want to consider registering for the same camp throughout the summer or find out what camps their friends are attending. How to find and choose the right camp for 2025/2026 offers tips on where to begin your search. Some camps are specific, focusing on one skill development (e.g. soccer camp) and others can be more generalized (e. g. multi-sports camps). Knowing what your child/ren are interested in can help narrow down the options of where to begin looking.
When visiting camp websites, pay attention to the operating hours of the camp. If it is a day camp, how long does the camp run, and does it offer pre- and post-camp supervision for additional costs? If they don’t, you may want to speak to your manager about temporary adjustments to your work hours to accommodate pick-ups and drop-offs.
Keep in mind, all ages of children can benefit from summer camp. While the typical camp age range is 7 – 12 years, younger children (ages 4-6 years old) may be eligible for licensed camps registered in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program. Children 12 and up may benefit from a cocurricular or Counselor in Training (CIT) program.
Where to look
On January 9, 2026, the FCO will be hosting Searching for Camps and Child Care during School Closures in the GTA workshop. This session is for anyone looking into care options for school-aged kids during school closures—summer break, March Break, and PA Days. We will go over what is available in the GTA and where to start your search. Check out the Family Care Office’s Camps page for links to camps offered on all three of U of T’s campuses.
Places to look for summer camps:
- Camps.ca (a search platform where you can find camps by type, location, or activity. Can also be used to find extra curricular activities)
- Municipality run camps (e.g. City of Toronto’s CampTo, City of Mississauga Camps)
- Child care centres and before and afterschool programs
- School boards/summer school (e.g. TDSB Summer Programs)
- Post
- Community centres or religious organizations (e.g. YMCA camps, etc)
- Cultural institutions (e.g. museums, music schools, sports, cultural institutions, theatres, etc.)
- Word-of-mouth (coworkers, friends and family, etc.)
- Overnight camps (e.g. Ontario Camps Association)
If you prefer an in-person event, Camp Expo, happening on February 21, 2026 at Roy Thomson Hall, can be a way to spend a cold winter afternoon (with free games, crafts, and face-painting) and ask questions and find out which camps best suit your family. Visit the website to register for a free family pass for the event. Do you have a teenager or college student looking for summer work? There will also be a t Work-at-Camp corner to apply for summer jobs.
Registering
When do camp registrations open? Some camps have already opened their registrations, and some have not, but most camps have registration opened by March. More popular summer camps can have competitive registration, so make sure to mark registrations dates and times.
If a registration date is not yet listed on a camp’s website or social media, one way to keep up to date is to join the mailing lists of your preferred camps. If you end up being late to the game and are scrambling to find a space, larger organizations may have a “with spaces still available” feature when filtering the type of camp you are looking for. In her article, Already Dreaming Of Summer? When To Start Planning Your Toronto Summer Camp 2026 Registrations, Julie Ann L. offers many tips on how to prepare for registering for City of Toronto run Camp TO. Many of the tips provided could be applied to registering for other camps, like setting up accounts before registration opens.
Children with Special Needs
For parents of children with special needs, the choice can be between a specialized camp or a camp that can accommodate children with special needs. Community Living Toronto, offers these considerations for Sending Your Child to Camp. If you have an older child looking for work experience, CampTO has an Adapted Counsellor in Training for 13 – 29 year olds program. Most camp websites will have a specific link on their page about Inclusion, and you may have to complete an additional registration form.
Financial Support
If your child will still be under 6 years old in the summer of 2026, look for a licensed summer camp participating in the Canada-Wide Early Learning & Child Care (CWELCC) program for reduced rates.
Ontario Camps Association has created this helpful General Financial Resources & Support for camps which lists a variety of agencies or camps where families can find financial support for camps. Don’t forget to check if you are eligible for the Recreation Fee Subsidy through the City of Toronto. This subsidy is can be used towards registered recreation camps such as lessons, camps and after-school care programs offered by the City of Toronto.