Camps

PA Day and holiday camps run on scheduled school closure days throughout the year.

Activities may include:

• Arts and crafts
• Group games
• Sports and gym activities
• Swimming

Dates and availability vary by school calendar and staff/facility availability.

Summer day camps operate during July and August. Programs change weekly and are based on age group.

The Summer Camp Guide is released each spring and includes full program details, dates and fees. Find more information on our Recreation Guide webpage.

A parent or guardian must sign campers in and out each day. Only individuals listed on the camper’s registration form may pick up a child. Government-issued identification may be required.

Campers should leave valuables at home. Lost items are placed in the designated lost and found area. Unclaimed items may be donated or discarded.

Allergies

We cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment. Please notify staff of any allergies during registration and provide appropriate food and supplies.

Medication

Medication is stored securely. Staff will remind campers when medication is required but do not administer medication, except emergency epinephrine.

Illness

If your child has a contagious illness, please keep them home and notify the Customer Service Desk. Campers must be symptom-free before returning.

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.

Campers are expected to follow staff instructions and treat others with respect. Behaviour that puts campers or staff at risk may result in removal from the program.

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.

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.

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.

The Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre is committed to inclusive programming.

If your child requires accommodations or support, please contact staff at least two weeks before camp begins. Completing an Accessibility Accommodation Plan helps staff prepare appropriate supports.

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.