Summer Camp 2024 Day Camp Information Package

Two children interact with an exhibit in Forest Lane.


We are excited to welcome you to Camp at the Ontario Science Centre

What to Expect

Expect lots of fun! Campers will visit Science Centre exhibits, participate in hands-on activities and create lasting memories.

General Camp Information

Camp Location

Camp will take place at the Ontario Science Centre, located at 770 Don Mills Road, Toronto. Each group of Campers will have a dedicated Camp-room that serves as home base. Campers will have an outdoor break each day after lunch, weather permitting.

Camp Access

Access to Camp is only available through the rear entrance. Parents/guardians will park in our upper lot and take our free shuttle (or walk) with their Campers to the rear entrance for sign-in and sign-out each day. Please see Sign-in and Sign-out Procedures below.

Holidays

Camp will not run on the Civic Holiday (Monday, August 5, 2024).

Camp Hours

Camp runs between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day. Campers should be signed in and out up to 15 minutes before and after Camp, respectively:

  • Sign-in time is between 8:45 and 9 a.m.
  • Sign-out time is between 4 and 4:15 p.m.

If your child is not signed out and picked up by 4:15 p.m., we will provide additional care in our Extended Care area. A charge of $15 per day will apply.

Sign-in and Sign-out Procedures

Each Camper’s parent/guardian or authorized pick-up person must sign the Camper in and out each day via the rear entrance.

Please allow yourself some extra time to park and take our shuttle (or walk) to the rear entrance. Please see our map and review the instructions below for more details:

If you are driving:

From Don Mills Rd., turn onto Gateway Blvd. west. Follow the signs and make an immediate right turn into our South Parking Lot, which has spaces designated specifically for Camp pick-up and drop-off. Please have the parking pass from your reminder email, which you will receive one week before Camp, ready (in digital or print format) to show Security upon entering the lot.

After parking, please shuttle or walk with your Camper(s) to the rear entrance for sign-in.

Note that due to the limited number of spaces, you may only park in this lot during sign-in and sign-out.

If you are walking or coming via TTC:

After arriving at the front of the building via Don Mills Rd., walk or shuttle with your Camper(s) to the rear entrance for sign-in.

Getting to the rear entrance:

The shuttle stop is located near the front entrance. Please follow the signs on site. Strollers and wagons can be accommodated by a regular shuttle if folded or by an accessible shuttle if not folded.

If you walk to the rear entrance, please follow the signs, use the sidewalk and be cautious of the steep incline. This walk should take about 10 to 15 minutes.

Shuttles are also available to take you back to the front entrance.

Photo ID Policy

All parents/guardians, authorized pick-up persons and emergency contacts will be required to present photo ID each day before Campers are released to their care. This ID must match the name provided on the Camper’s booking form. Please provide legal names, not preferred or chosen names (e.g., do not write “Mike” for “Michael”), on the booking form.

Proof of age will be required for 5-year-old Campers. Please have government-issued proof of age available for your child on the first day of Camp.

Late Sign-in and Early Check-out

If your Camper is going to arrive after 9 a.m. or leave before 4 p.m., please contact the Camp Office at 416-696-3256 or by email.

We kindly request that late drop-offs and early pick-ups not take place between 12 and 2 p.m. or 3:30 and 4 p.m., respectively, due to busy lunch-time activities and end-of-day preparations. We appreciate your cooperation.

We anticipate increased attendance at the Science Centre during the summer. Please expect lineups and delays due to traffic.

Extended Care

The Ontario Science Centre is happy to provide extended childcare before and after Camp. Morning Extended Care begins at 8 a.m. and ends when Camp begins. Afternoon Extended Care begins at 4:15 p.m. and ends at 6 p.m. Campers in Extended Care will enjoy supervised care and access to toys, board games and unstructured activities.

Please pre-register and pre-pay for Extended Care when completing your registration for Camp. The fee is $75 for the week. A minimum surcharge of $15 per day will apply if a Camper in Extended Care is picked up after 6 p.m. This will be at the manager’s discretion.

Communicating Absences

If your Camper will be absent, please contact the Camp Office at 416-696-3256 or by email before 8:45 a.m. to report their absence. Please see the Cancellation and Refunds section below for more details.

Parking

Parking for Camp families is free during designated sign-in and sign-out windows. Please park in the South Parking Lot off Gateway Blvd. west, which has spaces designated specifically for Camp families.

Please have the parking pass provided in your reminder email, which you will receive one week before Camp, ready (in digital or print format) to show Security upon entering the lot. Note that due to the limited number of spaces, you may only park in this lot during sign-in and sign-out.

At Camp

What to Bring at Camp

Campers should bring a bag or backpack containing the following items:

  1. A refillable water bottle
  2. A hat
  3. Broad spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) and insect repellent (to be self-applied)
  4. A sweater/sweatshirt
  5. Closed-toe shoes
  6. A packed lunch (see below), two snacks and three drinks
  7. 5-year-old Campers only: Birth certificate to show on the first day of Camp at sign-in

All belongings will be stored in the Camper’s Camp-room during the day. Please clearly label all belongings with the Camper’s full name.

Campers should not bring personal items such as electronics, cellular phones, toys or sports equipment to Camp. There are no lockers available for storage, and the Ontario Science Centre cannot be held responsible for lost or damaged items.

Please do not send money with your Camper, as there will be no opportunity for them to visit the vending machines or restaurant while at Camp.

Lunch

Campers who have not ordered lunch from our on-site provider should bring a packed lunch, two snacks and three drinks. Please note that refrigeration for lunches and snacks is not available. Campers will also not have access to microwaves or vending machines.

We encourage litterless lunches.

Details about ordering lunch from the Science Centre’s on-site food service provider will be available closer to your Camp date. Note that Campers who order lunch should still bring a morning snack, as lunches will be delivered at noon..

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Please DO NOT send food containing nuts to Camp, as many Campers have severe, life-threatening allergies to nut products. The Ontario Science Centre cannot guarantee a nut-free environment.

Camper Code of Conduct

We expect all Campers to respect each other, their counsellors and supervisors, as well as their environment while at Camp. We also expect that no Campers will exhibit behaviour that is harmful to themselves or others.

If a Camper does not adhere to our Camper Code of Conduct or behaves in an unsuitable or unsafe manner, we will notify their registering parent/legal guardian. If it becomes necessary to remove the Camper, a partial refund may be considered. Violent behaviour or language jeopardizing the safety of others will not be tolerated and will result in termination of the enrolment.

Camper Code of Conduct

  • Respect fellow Campers, volunteers, staff and other visitors. 
  • Treat people the way I would like to be treated.
  • Cooperate with Camp staff and follow their instructions. 
  • Stay with my group, unless I have special permission not to be with them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should my Camper wear?

Campers should dress in comfortable clothing that is suited to physical activity. Each Camper will receive a Camp T-shirt on the first day of Camp, which they must wear every day while at Camp.

For health and safety reasons, open-toed shoes, roller shoes and Crocs are not considered safe for Camp.

Every Friday is Pajama Day. Campers and staff can wear pajamas along with their Camp T-shirts, which must still be visible with their PJs.

How will my Camper spend their Camp day?

Campers will spend their time exploring exhibit halls and participating in hands-on science activities.

What happens to lost items?

Any lost items will be placed in the Camp’s lost and found, located in the Camp Office. Any unclaimed items from the week will be taken to the Centre’s main lost and found, which can be reached by calling 416-696-1000.

How do I get there?

Please visit our website for driving directions, TTC instructions and map links for getting to the Ontario Science Centre.

How do I change my contact information?

Only a parent/legal guardian can register a Camper. This individual (the “Registering Adult”) is the only person permitted to make changes to the Camper’s booking and contact information before or during Camp.

If you are the Registering Adult and wish to make changes, including changes to your contact information or to the list of authorized pick-up persons, please contact our Camp Office with your confirmation number at 416-696-3256 or email.

My child has a friend attending Camp. Can they be grouped together?

If the children are less than one year apart in age, we can try to place them in the same group. Both parties must contact our Camp Office at 416-696-3256 or by email for the request to be considered.

Please note that we cannot guarantee we will be able to accommodate your request, and we reserve the right to group Campers as needed.

Cancellations and Refunds

Cancellations and modifications received prior to and on June 7, 2024, are subject to a $70 administration fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations made after June 7, 2024.

Please note that the Ontario Science Centre reserves the right to terminate the registration or enrolment of any Camper if, in the opinion of the manager, it is in the best interest of the Camper and/or Camp. If the Ontario Science Centre terminates a Camper’s registration or enrolment, a full or partial refund will be considered depending on the circumstances of the termination.

Safety and Security

Camper Care

Camper safety and supervision is of the utmost importance. Camp programs are delivered by responsible, enthusiastic and caring counsellors with a broad range of expertise and experience working with children in an educational and/or recreational environment. Our diverse staff includes teachers, science educators and university and high school students with a science or education-related background. All Camp staff have valid Vulnerable Sector Screening Checks.

Visitor Access to Camp

Ontario Science Centre visitors, including Camper parents/legal guardians, are not permitted to enter Camp-rooms or to join in Camp activities. If you would like to visit the Ontario Science Centre and/or the OMNIMAX® Theatre while your Camper is busy at Camp, regular admission fees will apply.

First Aid and Medical Intervention

All members of the Ontario Science Centre’s protective services staff, as well as all Camp staff, are trained in First Aid and CPR-C.

Ontario Science Centre staff cannot administer medication to Campers. If your Camper must take medication during their Camp day, please see a Camp supervisor or your Camper’s counsellor to discuss options. While we will do our best to remind Campers to take their medications, we cannot guarantee this.

Because Camp activities take place throughout the Ontario Science Centre, we require Campers with EpiPens, inhalers and other life-saving medication to carry them at all times while at Camp.

Medical and Camper Support

The Ontario Science Centre recognizes the individual needs of Campers. To help us accommodate your Camper’s specific individual needs, we recommend that you complete this optional form in advance of Camp. After receiving your form, we may reach out for more information or to discuss if/how we are able to support your Camper’s needs.

The Science Centre does not provide one-on-one supervision or specific medical support. However, Campers with specific needs may have an adult support person accompany them free of charge. Please inform us of your plan to provide a Camper with a support person in advance so we may prepare accordingly.

If applicable, please provide a completed Medical and Camper Support Form in person or via mail, or telephone us to arrange a conversation no later than one week before the Camp start date. Please do not email personal or private medical information.

Privacy

If there is information you want to share with us about your Camper that will help us support them medically or behaviourally, please send us a completed Medical and Camper Support Form or telephone us to arrange a conversation no later than the week prior to Camp.

Please submit your form in person or via mail or fax. Do not email personal or private medical information.

Contact Us

Address

Ontario Science Centre
770 Don Mills Road
Toronto, ON
M3C 1T3

Camp Office

Phone: 416-696-3256
Email: Recreational Programs
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.