At the Y, we believe that every child should have the opportunity to experience camp. Thanks to the generous support of donors and various fundraising initiatives year-round, we are able to provide financial assistance for families who otherwise could not afford the experience for their children.
Please note: the application for Y Camps Financial Assistance must be submitted to your CampBrain profile or to the camp office.
How to apply for Y Financial Assistance
- Go to our CampBrain registration portal
- Create your CampBrain account or use your 2024 log in credentials.
- Create camper profiles for each of the campers you’d like to register.
- Complete all person forms and medical forms for each camper.
- Register for the camps of your choosing and complete the checkout process.
- Pay the deposit. Deposits for camps range from $65 to $75 depending on the camp program.
- In the Camper Paperwork section, read through the financial assistance document that is linked in the description.
- Upload all required paperwork as one document in the Camper Paperwork section of CampBrain.
If you are a Y Member (i.e. you pay a monthly membership fee for use of the gym/pool), you are eligible for a 10% discount. Include this information on your financial assistance form or email us at day.camps@ymcaottawa.ca for your discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once we receive your completed application form and required documents, we calculate your camp discounts based on a review of your household income.
No. Everyone must pay some portion of the camp fee. At a minimum you will be responsible for paying for 25% of the total camp fees. The remainder will be calculated based on your total household income.
Up to two weeks of camp can be partially funded through the Y Camps Financial Assistance Program.
Yes, payment plan options are available during the checkout process via the CampBrain portal.
We reserve a limited number of spots at YMCA Camp Otonabee and Y Neighbourhood Summer Day Camps for families accessing Y Financial Assistance. Spots are limited overall, so register as early as possible for the best chance of securing your preferred camp.
Applications are processed weekly on Wednesdays and only once all application documents have been uploaded to the Camper Paperwork section of your account. Please allow 14 business days before following up with our team. Please note that our team cannot begin to process an application until all documents have been uploaded.
If your family has been approved for subsidy by the City of Ottawa, we can apply this to your registration at our Y Neighbourhood Day Camps only. Please complete your registration on CampBrain, and once you reach the payment portion, select the City of Ottawa Child Care Subsidy option.
Please note that we act only as an intermediary for the City of Ottawa’s subsidy program.
We do not influence or determine the outcome of any eligibility or approval decisions. For more information about the status of your subsidy application, please visit the City of Ottawa: Child Care Fee Subsidy website.