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Our camp programs focus on building a environment that is safe, welcoming and engaging for all children. A wide variety of activities are offered during school breaks and throughout summer at our recreation facilities and the Cambridge Centre for the Arts.
Summer Camps 2023
Registration for summer camp 2023 opened on February 1, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. on our CORAL registration system.
Open spaces are still available for this summer, including a new camp location in Preston!
Please note City of Cambridge camps are currently at full capacity for additional inclusion support at camp. If your child requires additional support to be successful at camp, please email camps@cambridge.ca to be added to our waitlist, as well as receive additional information regarding alternative resources and supports.
Recreation Summer Camps 2023
| June 28 - 30 |
| Theme: Colour Craze John Dolson Centre:
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| July 3 - 7 (Full week, Mon-Fri) |
| Theme: O Canada Dickson Centre:
Hespeler Arena:
John Dolson Centre:
W.G. Johnson Centre:
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| July 10 - 14 |
| Theme: Superhero Showdown 637 King St (Xplore Preston):
Dickson Arena:
Hespeler Arena:
John Dolson Centre:
W.G. Johnson Centre:
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| July 17 - 21 |
| Theme: Blast from the Past (Decades and Dinosaurs) 637 King St (Xplore Preston):
Dickson Arena:
Hespeler Arena:
John Dolson Centre:
W.G. Johnson Centre:
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| July 24 - 28 |
| Theme: Ooey Gooey Messy 637 King St (Xplore Preston):
Dickson Arena:
Hespeler Arena:
John Dolson Centre:
W.G. Johnson Centre:
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| July 31 - August 4 |
| Theme: Calling All Sports Fans 637 King St (Xplore Preston):
Dickson Arena:
Hespeler Arena:
John Dolson Centre:
W.G. Johnson Centre:
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| August 8 - 11 (Short week, Tues-Fri) |
| Theme: Movie Mayhem 637 King St (Xplore Preston):
Dickson Arena:
Hespeler Arena:
John Dolson Centre:
W.G. Johnson Centre:
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| August 14 - 18 |
| Theme: Carnival 637 King St (Xplore Preston):
Dickson Arena:
Hespeler Arena:
John Dolson Centre:
W.G. Johnson Centre:
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| August 21 - 25 |
| Theme: Mission Impossible 637 King St (Xplore Preston):
Dickson Arena:
Hespeler Arena:
John Dolson Centre:
W.G. Johnson Centre:
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| August 28 - September 1 |
| Theme: Wet and Wild 637 King St (Xplore Preston):
Dickson Arena:
Hespeler Arena:
John Dolson Centre:
W.G. Johnson Centre:
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Cambridge Centre for the Arts Summer Camps 2023
| July 4 - 7 (Short week, Tues-Fri) |
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| July 10 - 14 |
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| July 17 - 21 |
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| July 24 - 28 |
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| July 31 - August 4 |
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| August 8 - 11 (Short week, Tues-Fri) |
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| August 14 - 18 |
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| August 21 - 25 |
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| August 28 - Sept 1 |
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Camp ready?
If you're unsure whether your child is ready for camp, please complete the Program Ready Form to help determine your child's readiness to participate.
City of Cambridge camps are currently at full capacity for additional inclusion support at camp. If your child requires additional support to be successful at camp, please email camps@cambridge.ca to be added to our waitlist, as well as receive additional information regarding alternative resources and supports.
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding City of Cambridge camp programs, please reach out today.
Recreation camp - Recreation Coordinator, Child & Youth at camps@cambridge.ca
Cambridge Centre for the Arts camp - Arts Coordinator at mccanns@cambridge.ca
More Information
| Hours and Before & After Care |
Regular camp hours: 8:30 a.m – 4:30 p.m
Before and after care hours: 7:30-8:30 a.m & 4:30-5:30 p.m
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| Day Camp Leader Qualifications |
| City of Cambridge Recreation Day Camp staff are certified in Standard First Aid and CPR C & AED, HIGH FIVE Principles of Healthy Child Development, Behaviour Management Techniques and receive training on emergency procedures, safety and program planning. They are normally high school and university students who have an interest in working with children. Specialty camp activities are led by trained specialists and partnering organizations. For more details on the instructors for specialty camps please read the activity description carefully.
Centre for the Arts camps are developed and lead by artists, performers and arts educators with education in their arts specialty, experience delivering programs for children and HIGH 5 PHCD training. University or college students with arts backgrounds and children’s programming experience, assist the artists and children in camp, and supervise extended care and lunch times. They have Standard First Aid and CPR/AED, PHCD training and participate in behaviour management, emergency and safety procedures training. |
| Leader In Training Camp |
| Leader in Training camp is a registered camp program for youth ages 13-16, where participants will spend 1 week in classroom training and 2 weeks in placement. Participants have the opportunity to receive two certifications: HIGH FIVE Principles of Healthy Child Development, and Standard First Aid with CPR C.
This is an excellent opportunity for our Youth as not only are they receiving the hands-on experience, they are now also receiving two certifications, which are also mandatory when applying for Aquatic or Camp positions. This program is designed to assist in succession planning, and really help our “up and coming youth” to excel!
For more information please visit our Cambridge Online Registration for Activities & Leisure (CORAL) site |
| Volunteer |
| If your child is between the ages of 13-16 and would like to volunteer for camp, they are welcome to email youth@cambridge.ca to apply. Successful candidates will then be able to volunteer for weeks throughout the summer pending a successful evaluation. |
Frequently Asked Questions
| Will I be able to get a refund? |
| Should the City of Cambridge cancel camps due to COVID-19, a full refund will be provided. If you are choosing to withdrawal your child from camp programming, 5 business days must be provided to be eligible for a full refund. For more information on our refund policy, please review our refund policy. |
| Will my child be attending trips or travel off-site? |
| Yes! Our recreation camps have many exciting opportunities off site, in addition to many guests and presentations on site. Some include the Idea Exchange, Core Climbing Gym, Wedges and Woods, Riverside Park and more. Cambridge Centre for the Arts camps do not participate in offsite trips |
| Will my child be participating in swimming activities? |
| Yes! Private camp only swims will be available to recreation campers 6 to 12 years old. Campers aged 4 and 5 do not swim due to ratio requirements, but will participate in water-based games and activities throughout the week. Cambridge Centre for the Arts camps do not participate in swimming. |
| Can I request support and accommodation? |
| City of Cambridge camps are currently at full capacity for additional inclusion support at camp. If your child requires additional support to be successful at camp, please email camps@cambridge.ca to be added to our waitlist, as well as receive additional information regarding alternative resources and supports. We offer 3:1, 2:1, and 1:1 support in an integrated camp environment. Staff will assist in selecting the appropriate level of support for your child including 3:1, 2:1, or 1:1 support, and/or Sunblast/Imagination Station camp. Please note: every effort is made to provide additional support, however availability is based on limited staff availability and is offered on a first come first serve basis. For more information on support and accommodation, please visit our support and accommodation page or email camps@cambridge.ca
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| What can I expect for drop off and pick up? |
| Drop off: You are welcome to drop off your child between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at each facility. Your drop off location is identified in your welcome to camp email received on the Wednesday before each week. Staff will be ready to welcome your child to camp in a well labelled area. Parents/Guardians will not be permitted into programming space. Pick up: Pick up is always the same location as drop off between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. If you are arriving early for pick up, staff will be onsite to assist. In addition, if the camp is off site, a phone number will be listed on the outside of each facility for you to call prior to arrival indicating the camp is on an adventure. During pick up a staff will ensure your child has all their belongings, and escort them outside of program areas to meet you. Photo ID is required daily to pick up your child, in addition anyone picking up must be listed as a contact on City of Cambridge registration information. To update this please email camps@cambridge.ca or call (519) 623-1340 ext. 4554. For Arts Centre camps please email mccanns@cambridge.ca |
| I didn't receive a welcome email? |
| Welcome emails are normally sent to families on the Wednesday before each camp week. Please ensure you have updated your email address, as well as added your families email to your child’s account in our CORAL system. If you have not received an email by the Friday before the start of the camp week, please reach out to camps@cambridge.ca for recreation camps, and mccanns@cambridge.ca for Cambridge Center for the Arts Camps for the email to be sent to you. |
| Can I request an age exemption? |
| In compliance with new legislation, all children must be a minimum of four years old or a program's specified minimum age requirement by the first day of the program. |
| What is your policy on allergies, inhalers and other medical conditions? |
| Please provide any relevant medical information when you register your child for a program. If your child has a severe allergy or must use an inhaler during program hours, you must submit the Emergency Participant Allergy Alert form and an EpiPen Release form. These forms provide information needed to ensure you child is well cared for. If your child needs to take any oral medications during program hours, a Medication Administration Form must be completed and submitted prior to the first day of camp. Please be aware that we are a nut free camp. |
| Can I get fee assistance for the cost of camp? |
| The City of Cambridge is committed to providing assistance for the cost of City-run recreation programs for families and individuals who can't afford to participate in these activities. The Camp Payment Plan is designed to provide families affordable access to recreation and is available for all camps. During the registration process checkout, the camp payment plan can be selected. Monthly equal payments based on the registration total will then be deducted from the credit card provided. Activities for Less The Activities for Less Program is for permanent Cambridge residents only. Eligibility is based on total household income. Fee assistance must be approved before registering and may not be applied after, apply now. We handle all inquiries confidentially. If you have any questions or require assistance in completing the application, please contact Recreation and Culture Department at (519) 623-1340 ext.4531. JumpStart Program To learn more about the Jumpstart program, apply for funding, or make a donation Jumpstart or call 1-844-YES-PLAY Region of Waterloo - Childcare Subsidy Programs available for camps The Region of Waterloo offers a camp subsidy program which families can apply through the Region of Waterloo website. Once completed and submitted, ROW staff will evaluate and determine approval on a case-by-case scenario. For more information or to apply, please visit www.regionofwaterloo.ca |
HIGH FIVE Quality of Play
The City of Cambridge is a committed member of HIGH FIVE and we are ecstatic to announce that we have become an accredited organization. HIGH FIVE is a province-wide quality assurance program designed to support the safety, well-being, and healthy development of children in sport and recreation programs.