Summer is on its way and soon you will be helping your child prepare for camp. We have put together these resources and FAQs to help you and your child get the most from the camp experience.
Please take a few moments to read through this information carefully. A well-prepared camper is a happy camper!
Virtual Information Sessions
The Y Neighbourhood Summer Day Camps team will be hosting pre-registration information sessions where camper families will have the opportunity to learn more about Y Camps and the programs we offer.
A pre-Registration sessions will be held over Zoom on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. |
Please call or email the camp office for details at 613-832-1234 or day.camps@ymcaottawa.ca.
Our camper information sessions will provide registered campers and their families a chance to learn more about what to expect at camp, ask questions and interact with a camp staff who they will likely see during their week at camp!
A camper information session will be held over Zoom on Tuesday, May 13, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Please call or email the camp office for details at 613-832-1234 or day.camps@ymcaottawa.ca.
Important Things to Know
Please note that camp locations operating in schools are subject to change based on site availability with our school partners. These locations will be confirmed in April.
The goal of our Y camps is to provide children and youth with a positive camp experience leading to personal growth in a safe and welcoming environment. We expect campers and their families to act respectfully while at camp and have a firm policy against all types of bullying.
Please read our Camper Code of Conduct (PDF) with your camper before camp to ensure that all participants get the most out of their Y camp experience.
Whether on a field trip, at the park, in a gym, or at the splash pad, our staff members emphasize safety in all activities. Camp Counsellors are trained in Standard First Aid and CPR.
The safety of our campers and staff is our top priority, and Y Neighbourhood Day Camp regularly reviews its policies to ensure they align with YMCA Canada. The Y Neighbourhood Summer Day Camps Team is committed to reviewing practices on an ongoing basis, and reserves the right to adjust its programs accordingly for the health and well-being of the camp community.
All parents/guardians picking campers up from camp will be required to show government issued photo identification every day upon pick up. The full legal name of the person picking up the camper must be included on the authorized pick up list that you submitted on the camp registration form, and must have appropriate identification and must be over the age of 16Y.
Please note that only the person listed as “Main Contact” on the camper registration form can make changes to the authorized pick up list, and must do so in writing to day.camps@ymcaottawa.ca.
Please fill in the Absent Camper Form or contact us at 613-832-1234 or day.camps@ymcaottawa.ca to let us know if your child will be absent from camp. A phone call or email takes only a minute and is a great help to the staff. If you know in advance your child will be absent during their time at camp, please notify the camp office.
Please use a permanent marker and print first and last names on everything, including clothing. A phone number is also helpful should the writing fade. This will help us make sure any “found” items can be returned to your camper.
At each Y Neighbourhood Day Camp sign in and out table, there will be a spot that is for all Lost and Found Items, please feel free to check here if your camper lost something. At the end of the summer all left lost and found items will be posted on the Y Camps Ottawa Facebook Page. We encourage you to reference this page if you lost an item.
Additionally, you can always email the camp office at day.camps@ymcaottawa.ca if you are missing something.
What to Bring to Camp
- Lunch, two drinks and snacks (*We ask campers not to bring nuts or products containing nuts (or nut oils) to camp due to allergies).
- Swimsuit
- Rain coat (rain pants are optional, though highly encouraged!). Camp continues rain or shine, so good rain gear is a must. Make sure your raincoat, pants, and boots are waterproof.
- Sport sandals with a back strap or running shoes
- Hat
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more is strongly recommended (please check to make sure the sunscreen has not expired). Sun hats and sunscreen will be worn by everyone and counsellors will ensure campers are applying sunscreen regularly.
- Towel
- Reusable water bottle for those hot days and for walks to the local park
- Extra set of dry clothes
- Clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty while playing outdoors
- Money
- Knives
- Lighters
- iPods, MP3 players
- Cell phones
- Toys (i.e. Pokémon Cards, stuffed animals, etc.)
- Portable gaming devices
Camper Drop off and Pick up
Drop Off Hours: 8:30AM-9:00AM
Pick Up Hours: 4:00PM-4:15PM
Please arrive on time – we will issue one reminder and then a charge of $5 for every additional 15 minutes of care will apply. If you require additional care to accommodate your schedule, please check out our Extended Day Camp rates and hours.
Campers will not be ready for pick up before 4:00PM unless arrangements were made with the camp office before the day of pick up.
All guardian(s) must walk their camper(s) into the camp and physically sign them in. There will be a sign in table inside near the front entrance of the camp.
Those picking up campers at the end of the day must have their full name on our approved pickup list and provide government-issued photo ID (this does not include a health card, student ID, or credit card) that matches the name on the pick-up list in order to sign out the camper.
If you have any concerns about who is on your approved pickup, please email day.camps@ymcaottawa.ca. To ensure camper safety, we are not able to release a camper to anyone who isn’t on the approved pickup list or anyone under the age of 16. If your camper is 12 years old or above and you would like them to walk home on their own, you can email day.camps@ymcaottawa.ca to complete the sign out permission request.
Anyone that is not listed on the camper’s approved pick up list that is arriving to pick up a child without advance written notification will not be permitted to collect the child. To make special arrangements we require written permission from the CampBrain Main Contact person at least one day in advance. Please understand this precaution ensures the safety of your child.
Identification Policy
All parents/guardians picking campers up from camp will be required to show government issued photo identification every day upon pick up. The full legal name of the person picking up the camper must be included on the authorized pick up list that you submitted on the camp registration form, and must have appropriate identification and must be over the age of 16.
Please note that only the person listed as “Main Contact” on the camper’s account can make changes to the authorized pick-up list, and must do so in writing to day.camps@ymcaottawa.ca.
Extreme Weather and Air Quality Protocols
The health and safety of our campers are our first priority. In the event of extreme heat warnings during camp, the following practices will be adopted by all camp programs.
- Programs will be adapted to focus on low energy activities and/or water-based programs –i.e. quiet games in the shade, crafts, drama programming, and swimming.
- Daily swim/waterfront time frequency for all campers and staff will be increased whenever available
- Counsellors will encourage and ensure that all campers are regularly drinking water (staying hydrated), applying sunscreen, limiting their sun exposure and participating in low energy programs.
- All staff will monitor camper health – watching for signs of sunburns, heat exhaustion or dehydration. First Aid will be given for any signs of the above and parents/guardians will be notified.
- Staff will work with our third-party providers (i.e. bus company) to ensure our extreme heat practices are consistent.
- When Ottawa Public Health issues an alert, the YMCA will forward this information to all camp locations. On days where we receive the Ottawa Public Health Heat Warning (Humidex of 40 or more for two consecutive days) or Heat Emergency (Humidex of 45 or more or situational factors), all camp sites are encouraged to keep campers indoors for camp-based activities.
In the event that a camper becomes sick from heat exposure while at camp, they will be brought to a cool space to recover and will be monitored by staff. Parents/guardians will be phoned. Should a camper become sick from heat exposure when they return home from camp, we request that parents inform the camp of their child’s absence and illness.
We respect the decision of parents to keep their children at home or withdraw their children from programs due to extreme heat. We will happily work with camper families to arrange another camp experience (where space is available). Please note that the existing Y refund policies will remain in effect.
The health and safety of our campers is always our top priority. In the event of severe weather, such as a tornado, the following practices will be adopted by all camp programs (YMCA Camp Otonabee and Y Neighbourhood Summer Day Camps):
- Programs will move indoors for the entirety of the severe weather event. Campers will be offered colouring pages, engage in small groups games or play boardgames during this time.
- Campers will be kept away from windows and doors leading to the outdoors
- All staff will monitor campers’ emotional state, and camp counsellors will do their best to keep campers calm and feeling safe
- Staff will work with our third-party providers (i.e. bus company, field trip partners) to ensure risks are minimize as much as possible during the severe weather event
- Camper families may be contacted to pick their campers up early, should it be safe to do so
- Evacuations from the camp sites will be at the discretion of emergency services alongside the Y Camps Ottawa management team
- The camp team will do their best to provide updates to the Y Camps Ottawa Facebook Page as well as communicate via email through the Camp Brain Registration System
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the camp office, directly. We look forward to sharing the summer with your children.
The health and safety of our campers is our priority. In the event of air quality warnings during camp, the following practices will be adopted by all camp programs (Camp Otonabee and Neighbourhood Summer Day Camps):
- Programs will be adapted to focus on low energy activities
- Counsellors will encourage and ensure that all campers are regularly drinking water (staying hydrated), limiting their outside exposure as much as possible and participating in low energy programs.
- All staff will monitor camper health – watching for signs of shortness of breath, eye irritation, wheezing, coughing and aggravation of existing asthma. First Aid will be given for any signs of the above and parents/guardians will be notified.
- Staff will work with our third-party providers (i.e. bus company, field trip partners) to ensure our Smog and Smoke Practices are consistent.
- When Health Canada issues an alert for poor air quality for 8 or above, the YMCA will forward this information to all camp locations.
- Camper families will be encouraged to keep their camper’s home should they feel that spending extended periods of time outside would be harmful for their campers
In the event that a camper becomes sick from smog or smoke exposure while at camp, they will be brought to a cool space to recover and will be monitored by staff. Parents/guardians will be phoned. Should a camper become sick from smog or smoke exposure when they return home from camp, we request that parents inform the camp of their child’s absence and illness.
We respect the decision of parents to keep their children at home or withdraw their children from programs due to smog or smoke. Please note that the existing Y refund policies will remain in effect.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the camp office or your regional day camp site, directly. We look forward to sharing the summer with your children.
If your child is bringing medication to camp (prescription or non-prescription), it must be in its original container and clearly labeled with the child’s name and instructions for use. Please give the medication to the bus monitor in the morning and they will give the medication to senior camp staff upon arrival at camp. The senior staff will oversee the administration of all medication at camp. Please send enough medication for the entire time your child is at camp.
If your child requires a Ventolin inhaler, an Ana kit, EpiPen or other special medication for allergies which must be kept with them at all times, we suggest you bring two to camp. This will allow us to have the camper carry one at all times and a second safely stored in the event the other is lost.
Should you have any specific instructions, please do not hesitate to call the camp office. Please note that you are responsible for providing us with written notification of any changes to the child’s health after you have submitted a registration form to our office and prior to the start of camp.
All camp staff are Standard First Aid and CPR certified. If any child needs minor first aid, the staff are fully trained and equipped to care for the child. If a child becomes overtired, or just needs some TLC, we have a quiet rest area supervised by our camp staff. If a child takes ill or has a serious problem, they may be required to be picked up from camp before the end of the day. We will ensure the best possible care until you arrive.
In the event a child requires immediate medical treatment, apart from injuries of a minor or routine nature, senior camp staff will ensure immediate transportation to a local hospital. We will make every effort to contact you as soon as possible. A camp staff member will stay with the child until the emergency is over and you arrive.