Winter Break Camp 2024 Information Package
We are excited to welcome you to Camp at the Ontario Science Centre.
What to Expect
Expect lots of fun! Campers will be able to visit Science Centre exhibits, participate in hands-on activities and create lasting memories.
Camp Location
Camp will take place in the Ontario Science Centre with scheduled outdoor time each day on the property or adjacent parklands. Each group of Campers will have a dedicated Camp-room that serves as their home base. Campers will have access to key exhibits at the start of each day, prior to regular public hours, before beginning programming and hands-on activities in their Camp-rooms. Due to required maintenance, access to Camp is only available through the rear entrance.
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. Additional fees may apply.
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 morning and/or afternoon Extended Care when completing your registration for Camp. The fee is $15 per day. A minimum surcharge of $15 may apply if a Camper in Extended Care is picked up after 6 p.m. This will be at the manager’s discretion.
Drop-off and Pick-up Information
Due to required maintenance at the Ontario Science Centre, Camp is not currently accessible from the front entrance. All Campers and their families need to enter through the rear Camp Entrance. Please follow the signage or speak to staff on site for guidance on parking and entering the building. Please allow yourself some extra time when picking up and dropping off your Camper(s).
Although Camp pick-up and drop-off looks a little different right now, the same great Science Centre experience awaits! Here’s what you need to know:
If you are driving:
From Don Mills Rd., turn onto Gateway Blvd. west. Follow the signs and turn right into the parking lot near the rear entrance, which has spaces designated specifically for Camp pick-up and drop-off. Please have the parking pass from your reminder email 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 for 15 minutes.
If you are walking or coming via TTC:
After arriving at the front of the building via Don Mills Rd., you may walk or shuttle down to the rear entrance. If taking the shuttle, please follow the signs in front of the building to find the shuttle service. Strollers and wagons can be accommodated by a regular shuttle if folded or by an accessible shuttle if not folded. Shuttles are also available to take you back to the front entrance after drop-off or pick-up.
Sign-in and Sign-out Procedures
Campers must be signed in and out each morning and afternoon, respectively, by their parent/legal guardian or an authorized pick-up person assigned at time of booking. Self-sign privileges will not be assigned at this Camp.
Proof of age will be required for 5-year-old Campers, as we are unable to accept children under 5 into our care. Please have government-issued proof of age available for your child on the first day of Camp.
All parents/legal 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 application. Please provide legal names, not preferred or chosen names (e.g., do not write “Mike” for “Michael”), on the application.
At Camp
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 will be considered. Violent behaviour or actions 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.
What to Wear to Camp
Campers must be dressed comfortably and appropriately. They must also wear the Camp T-shirt provided. Please note that Campers will not be keeping their T-shirts. Weather permitting, we will be going outside for outdoor recess. Please ensure Campers bring boots and dress warm for the weather. Indoor shoes are also required.
For health and safety reasons, open-toe shoes, roller shoes and Crocs are not considered safe for Camp.
What to Bring to Camp
Campers should bring a bag or backpack containing the following items:
- A water bottle
- A sweater/sweatshirt
- Closed-toe indoor shoes
- Two snacks and three drinks
- Lunch (see below)
- 5-year-old Campers only: Birth certificate to show at sign-in
Belongings must be labelled clearly with the Camper’s full name. They will be stored in the Camper’s Camp-room during the day.
Campers should not bring personal items such as iPods, electronic games, 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 goods.
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.
If you would like to order lunch from our on-site food service provider for any days of Camp, please complete and submit the Meal Plan Form (see form for details). Campers should still bring a morning snack on days they have ordered lunch, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get there?
Please find driving directions, TTC instructions and map links for getting to the Ontario Science Centre here. All Campers and their families need to enter through the rear Camp Entrance. Please follow the signage and/or speak to staff on site for guidance on parking and entering the building. Please allow yourself some extra time when picking up and dropping off your Camper(s).
What if we need to arrive late or leave early?
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.
How do I report an absence?
If your Camper cannot attend Camp, please contact the Camp Office at 416-696-3256 or by email before 8:45 a.m. to report their absence.
What is the cancellation/refund policy?
Cancellations received before and on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, and all modifications are subject to a $15 administration fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations made after Wednesday, December 27, 2023.
Please note that the Ontario Science Centre reserves the right to terminate the registration 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, a refund will be considered.
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 by email.
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 will be taken to the Centre’s main lost and found, which can be reached by calling 416-696-1000.
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 members include 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® 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 special 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 special 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 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 December 27, 2023.
Please submit your form in person or via mail or fax. Do not email personal or private medical information.
Contact Info
Address
Ontario Science Centre
770 Don Mills Road, North York, M3C 1T3
Contact Centre
Phone: 416-696-3256
Email
Camp Office
Winter Break Camp Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., January 2, 3, 4 and 5, 2024.
Phone: 416-696-3256