Today, Mayor Olivia Chow joined campers at York Recreation Centre as they enjoyed their daily snacks as part of the City of Toronto’s CampTO March Break recreation program that provides a nutritious daily snack for 115,000 children at 185 CampTO locations.
The City began funding snacks for children at select CampTO summer programs last year and expanded this program to a universal model as part of its commitment to food security and fighting the rising cost of living. This includes day camps during March Break and throughout the summer season. Every child, all 115,000 campers participating in this summer’s CampTO program, will receive a nutritious mid-morning meal.
The City’s CampTO program offers a variety of camp experiences for children ages four to 16 years in every neighbourhood across Toronto from late June through the end of August, children and youth can get active, learn new skills, build friendships and create positive memories.
CampTO programs are currently listed online, making it easier for families to plan for summer and build their wish lists ahead of registration later this month:
Parents and caregivers can check out programs, dates and locations on the City’s Online Registration and Booking System.
The City introduced Early Local Registration last year with a phased approach. Expansion is underway and Early Local Registration will be rolled out to all 33 Free Centre locations offering CampTO programs this summer.
Early Local Registration is a Toronto City Council-directed initiative that provides eligible residents living near Free Centres the opportunity to register for high-demand recreation programs one week ahead of general registration. The goal is to increase access for local residents, especially in lower-income neighbourhoods and reflects the City’s ongoing work to design and deliver programs that are responsive to the needs of local communities.
To confirm eligibility for the City’s CampTO summer programs through Early Local Registration on Tuesday, March 24, check the eligibility tool on the City's website.
Eligible residents can register online, by phone, or in-person where staff will be available to support Early Local Registration.
In addition, the City provides access to Welcome Policy, a recreation fee subsidy for eligible residents, to assist with affordability of CampTO programs at paid community centre locations. More information is available on the City’s website.
Summer camps run from late June to late August, with more than 30 types of programs at 185 locations across the city, including swimming, music, arts, dance, and sports. Each year, the City hires thousands of recreation workers to support CampTO and other recreation programs. More information is available on the City’s website.
“When you’re hungry, it’s hard to learn, play, or fully enjoy camp. That’s why I’m proud to continue advocating for families to have access to free recreation programs in their neighbourhood and to ensure every child enrolled in the City’s CampTO programs receives nutritious snacks. Every child this summer will have a fair shot at participating.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
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