{"id":8216,"date":"2025-12-17T10:48:36","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T15:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/?p=8216"},"modified":"2025-12-17T10:48:38","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T15:48:38","slug":"preparing-for-camp-registration-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/2025\/12\/17\/preparing-for-camp-registration-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing for camp registration 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>(5-minute read)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>January 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the\u00a0cold days\u00a0of January, summer holidays can feel\u00a0very far\u00a0away.\u00a0The majority of\u00a0schools throughout Ontario are closed for July and August while many parents\/caregivers continue to work.\u00a0However,\u00a0many camp registrations begin\u00a0as early as\u00a0January, and\u00a0now\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0good time\u00a0to start thinking about\u00a0your family\u2019s summer plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/files\/2025\/12\/Financial-Planning.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/files\/2025\/12\/Financial-Planning.png\" alt=\"Hand-painted white sign reading \u201cCAMP\u201d with an arrow pointing right, set along a grassy path with tents visible in the background under a clear blue sky.\" class=\"wp-image-8218\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/files\/2025\/12\/Financial-Planning.png 800w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/files\/2025\/12\/Financial-Planning-300x225.png 300w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/files\/2025\/12\/Financial-Planning-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preparation\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Family Care Office&nbsp;Student&nbsp;Advisor, Helen Reddy&nbsp;Katz, suggests starting with an overview of your summer plans.&nbsp;\u201cMark&nbsp;all of&nbsp;your summer plans&nbsp;out on a calendar&nbsp;(vacation days,&nbsp;family visits,&nbsp;etc). This can be a helpful way to figure out&nbsp;where there are gaps&nbsp;in your summer&nbsp;plans&nbsp;that can be filled with summer camp&nbsp;\u201c&nbsp;says&nbsp;Reddy Katz.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To begin researching camps, consider the temperament of your child\/ren. Do they thrive on adventure and&nbsp;warm up easily to new friends and adults? It may be&nbsp;a good idea&nbsp;to register your child for a variety of camps. If your child is&nbsp;slow-to warm up&nbsp;and&nbsp;thrives on routine, you may want to consider registering for the same camp&nbsp;throughout the summer&nbsp;or find out what camps their friends are&nbsp;attending.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.camps.ca\/choosing_a_camp.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to find and choose the right camp for 2025\/2026<\/a>&nbsp;offers tips on&nbsp;where&nbsp;to begin your search.&nbsp;Some camps are&nbsp;specific, focusing on one skill development (e.g.&nbsp;soccer camp) and others can be more generalized&nbsp;(e. g.&nbsp;multi-sports camps).&nbsp;Knowing what your child\/ren are interested in can help narrow down the options of where to begin looking.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When&nbsp;visiting camp websites,&nbsp;pay attention to the operating hours of the camp. If it is a day camp, how long does the camp run,&nbsp;and&nbsp;does it offer&nbsp;pre- and post-camp supervision for&nbsp;additional&nbsp;costs?&nbsp;If they&nbsp;don\u2019t, you may want to speak to your manager about&nbsp;temporary&nbsp;adjustments to your work hours to accommodate pick-ups and drop-offs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind,\u00a0all ages of children can\u00a0benefit\u00a0from summer camp.\u00a0While the typical camp age range\u00a0is\u00a07\u00a0\u2013\u00a012\u00a0years, younger children (ages 4-6 years old) may be eligible for\u00a0licensed camps registered in\u00a0the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care\u00a0(CWELCC) program. Children 12 and up may\u00a0benefit\u00a0from a cocurricular or Counselor in Training (CIT) program.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to look\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On January 9, 2026,&nbsp;the FCO&nbsp;will be hosting&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/familycare.utoronto.ca\/stec_event\/searching-for-camps-and-child-care-during-school-closures-in-the-gta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Searching for\u202fCamps and Child Care during School Closures in the GTA<\/a>&nbsp;workshop.&nbsp;&nbsp;This session is for anyone looking into care options for school-aged kids during school closures\u2014summer break, March Break, and PA Days.\u202fWe will\u202fgo over\u202fwhat is\u202favailable in the GTA and where to start your search.\u202fCheck out the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/familycare.utoronto.ca\/schools-and-programming\/camps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Family Care Office\u2019s Camps page<\/a>&nbsp;for links to camps offered on all three&nbsp;of U of T\u2019s&nbsp;campuses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Places to look for summer camps:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.camps.ca\/toronto_camps.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Camps.ca<\/a>\u00a0(a search platform where you can\u00a0find camps by type, location, or activity. Can also be used to find\u00a0extra curricular\u00a0activities)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Municipality run\u00a0camps\u00a0(e.g.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.toronto.ca\/explore-enjoy\/parks-recreation\/program-activities\/camps-after-school\/campto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">City of Toronto\u2019s CampTo<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mississauga.ca\/recreation-and-sports\/camps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">City of Mississauga Camps<\/a>)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Child care\u00a0centres and before and\u00a0afterschool\u00a0programs\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>School boards\/summer school\u00a0(e.g.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tdsb.on.ca\/About-Us\/Innovation\/Summer-Programs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TDSB Summer Programs<\/a>)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Post<s>\u00a0<\/s>secondary\u00a0educational institutions (e. g.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kpe.utoronto.ca\/child-youth\/welcome-camp-u-t\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Camp\u00a0U of T<\/a>)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Community&nbsp;centres or&nbsp;religious organizations&nbsp;(e.g.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ymcagta.org\/camps-and-outdoor-education\/day-camp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YMCA camps<\/a>,&nbsp;etc)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cultural institutions&nbsp;(e.g.&nbsp;museums, music schools, sports, cultural institutions, theatres, etc.)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Word-of-mouth&nbsp;(coworkers,&nbsp;friends&nbsp;and family, etc.)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overnight camps (e.g.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ontariocampsassociation.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ontario Camps Association<\/a>)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you prefer an in-person event,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourkids.net\/campexpo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Camp Expo<\/a>, happening on February 21,\u00a02026\u00a0at Roy Thomson Hall, can be a way to spend\u00a0a cold winter\u00a0afternoon (with free games, crafts, and face-painting)\u00a0and ask questions and find out which camps best suit your family.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourkids.net\/campexpo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Visit the website to register for a free family pass<\/a>\u00a0for the event. Do you have a teenager or college student looking for summer work? There will also be a\u00a0<s>t\u00a0<\/s>Work-at-Camp corner\u00a0to\u00a0apply for summer jobs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Registering\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When do camp registrations open?&nbsp;Some camps have already opened their registrations, and some have not, but most camps have registration opened by March.&nbsp;&nbsp;More popular summer camps can&nbsp;have competitive registration, so make sure to mark registrations dates and times.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\u00a0a registration date\u00a0is not yet listed on\u00a0a camp\u2019s\u00a0website or social media,\u00a0one way to keep up to date is to join the mailing lists of your preferred camps.\u00a0If you end up being late to the game and are scrambling to find a space, larger organizations may have a \u201cwith spaces still available\u201d\u00a0feature\u00a0when filtering the type of camp you are looking for.\u00a0In her article,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.overheretoronto.com\/toronto-summer-camp-registration-2026-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Already Dreaming Of Summer? When To Start Planning Your Toronto Summer Camp 2026 Registrations,<\/a>\u00a0Julie Ann L. offers many tips on how to prepare for registering for City of Toronto run\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.toronto.ca\/explore-enjoy\/parks-recreation\/program-activities\/camps-after-school\/campto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Camp TO<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Many of the tips provided could be applied to registering for\u00a0other\u00a0camps, like setting up accounts before\u00a0registration opens.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Children with Special Needs\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For parents of children with special needs, the choice can be between a\u00a0specialized\u00a0camp\u00a0or\u00a0a camp that can accommodate children with special needs.\u00a0Community Living Toronto,\u00a0offers these considerations for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cltoronto.ca\/sending-your-child-to-camp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sending Your Child to Camp<\/a>.\u00a0If you have an older child looking for work experience,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.toronto.ca\/explore-enjoy\/parks-recreation\/program-activities\/camps-after-school\/campto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CampTO<\/a>\u00a0has an\u00a0Adapted Counsellor in Training for 13 \u2013\u00a029 year olds\u00a0program.\u00a0Most camp websites will have a specific link on their page about Inclusion, and you may have to complete an\u00a0additional\u00a0registration form.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Financial Support\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your child&nbsp;will still be under 6 years old in the summer of 2026, look for a licensed summer camp participating in&nbsp;the Canada-Wide Early Learning &amp; Child Care&nbsp;(CWELCC) program for reduced rates.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ontario Camps Association&nbsp;has created this&nbsp;helpful&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ontariocampsassociation.ca\/resources\/campers\/subsidies-and-funding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">General Financial Resources &amp; Support for camps<\/a>&nbsp;which&nbsp;lists a variety of agencies&nbsp;or camps where families can find financial support for camps.&nbsp;Don\u2019t&nbsp;forget to check if you are eligible for&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.toronto.ca\/community-people\/employment-social-support\/child-family-support\/welcome-policy-recreation-fee-subsidy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Recreation Fee Subsidy<\/a>&nbsp;through the City of Toronto. This subsidy&nbsp;is can be&nbsp;used towards registered recreation camps such as lessons, camps and after-school care programs offered by the City of Toronto.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(5-minute read) January 2026 In the\u00a0cold days\u00a0of January, summer holidays can feel\u00a0very far\u00a0away.\u00a0The majority of\u00a0schools throughout Ontario are closed for&#8230;  <a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/2025\/12\/17\/preparing-for-camp-registration-2026\/\" title=\"Read Preparing for camp registration 2026\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":347,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13800],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8216"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/347"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8216"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8216\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8219,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8216\/revisions\/8219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}