Camp Inclusion Services

How do I know if additional support is required?  

• A physical, development, and or learning disability exists.  
• Extra support is required at school in the classroom such as resource assistant or the child attends a community classroom.
• Extra support is needed at home for basic care e.g. toileting, feeding, changing, etc.
• Camper has a safety plan in place at their school  
• There are behaviours that need to be managed that could affect the safety of the participant or other participants, such as biting, pinching, slapping, or running.  

If support is required, campers must register for summer camp inclusion support.  

Inclusion Support Staff

Summer camp inclusion support is offered by a specially trained inclusion camp counsellor to work one-to-one with a camper throughout the camp day.  

Staff are:

• Minimum 16 years of age and older
• Have experience working with children with disabilities
• Trained in:
  • Standard First Aid with CPR Level ‘C’
  • HIGH FIVE
  • Behaviour Management Systems Training

Staff can assist campers by:

• Providing individualized support: This may include modifications to program instruction, movement activities, equipment, and communication methods.
• Fostering social interaction: Staff will encourage and support campers in socializing with their peers.
• Assisting with personal care: Staff can provide support with basic care needs such as feeding and toileting as required.

Cost:

• 5 days camp week - $633.15
• 4 days camp week - $506.52

If a family registers for inclusion support, there are no additional camp fees for that week of camp. Some specialty camps may require additional material fees. Material fees are charged at a later time.

How to register for Inclusion Support & Camps:  

The deadline to register for inclusion support is May 19.  

1. Review camp opportunities and select the weeks you’re interested in. Make note of the camp’s start date, name, location, barcode, and Inclusion Support – Summer Camps barcode. Use the sample chart to assist you:

Camp Start Date

Camp Name

Camp Location

Camp Barcode

Inclusion Support Barcode

2. Register online for Inclusion Support – Summer Camps. This will first confirm the support staff. If registration is full, join the waitlist.
3. Email Plee@Markham.ca (the Recreation Coordinator – Programs and Outreach) and indicate camp’s start date, name, location, and barcode that your child is interested in attending.
4. Intake Meeting - After May 19, the inclusion support team will contact families to book an intake meeting and ask families to complete an intake form. During the meeting, staff will review the intake form, discuss strategies for success and confirm camps.

Registering before the deadline provides ample time for the city to hire and train specialized staff. After the deadline has passed, families can still register and will do our best to find support staff, but it is not guaranteed.  

Bring your own support worker

Families can choose to register for camps and provide their own external support workers. There is no cost to provide your own support workers, but campers must pay the camp fees. External support workers also need to complete a form and provide a satisfactory police vulnerable sector check.

How to register for camps & bring your own support worker

1. Review camp opportunities and select the weeks you’re interested in. Make note of the camp’s start date, name, location, barcode  
2. Register for the camps. This will guarantee the camper’s spot at camp.
3. Email Recreation Coordinator – Programs and Outreach and indicate that you are interested in attending camp with your own support worker.  
4. Families will be provided with a form for the support worker and directed to have the support worker obtain a satisfactory police vulnerable sector check
5. Intake Meeting - After May 19, the inclusion support team will contact families to book an intake meeting and ask families to complete an intake form. During the meeting, staff will review the intake form, discuss strategies for success and verify the external support worker documents.