Day Camps

View the 2024 Summer Day Camp Handbook below for day camp program information, policies, procedures, and more! 

Camp-wide rules and expectations have been developed in order to foster a safe and positive camp environment:

• recognize the rules for all games & activities;
• encourage others & show good sportsmanship;
• stay hands-free;
• participate & have a positive attitude;
• ensure a safe & clean environment;
• care & be kind to one another;
• take turns & play fair; and
• have fun!

All campers, volunteers, and staff are to be courteous and respectful; use appropriate language at all times; support and appreciate each other; solve problems in a fair and honest manner; include others in activities; and play without bullying or teasing others.

If a camper struggles with the rules, staff will have a one-on-one discussion to explain why the rules are in place. If the behaviour continues, the parent/guardian will be notified at sign-out and asked to review the rules with their camper at home. If the behaviour persists, a meeting with senior staff, the parent/guardian, and the camper will be arranged to discuss how staff can best support the camper moving forward.

If a camper becomes aggressive or physically violent, the Day Camp Supervisor will remove the camper from the program immediately. A parent/guardian or emergency contact will be called to pick up the camper and a meeting will be arranged with senior staff to further discuss the situation/options.

• Provide a safe, stimulating, child-centered summer camp experience by playing, laughing and enjoying nature.
• Deliver a variety of recreational, social, and ‘green’ activities, ensuring there is something of interest for everyone.
• Challenge staff in achieving the highest standard in positive, meaningful interactions with every single camper.
• Empower children and youth, and support their physical and mental health by providing them with opportunities to face challenges and be successful.
• Encourage and nurture personal growth by showing recognition, acceptance, and kindness.

Camp staff are post-secondary or senior high school students who share one thing in common: they are committed to providing each ‘ Tiny ’ camper with a positive and lasting camp experience.

The Township of Tiny has high expectations of every staff member and those are reflected in the Township’s hiring policies. Potential staff members, including those previously employed at the Township of Tiny, submit an application each year to join the staff team. Applicants who have qualifications in a variety of program areas (i.e. sports, crafts, music, drama) are hired to ensure the week is filled with a variety of high-quality programming. All staff members must also successfully complete a vulnerable sector police check.

Staff receive extensive training prior to the start of camp and hold many industry-standard certifications. All staff are Standard First Aid & CPR-C certified.

Each year, over 50% of staff members return to Tiny. This means that our staff are familiar with and support the Township’s camp philosophy, understand expectations, and are committed to providing the best experience for each 'Tiny' camper.

As a HIGH FIVE Registered Organization, the Township of Tiny is committed to ensuring every child and youth in its programs has a positive sport and recreation experience.

The Township creates a culture of quality by training all staff in HIGH FIVE principles of healthy childhood development, which encourages a holistic approach to quality assurance by involving everyone in recreation.

HIGH FIVE is Canada’s only comprehensive quality standard for children’s programs, offering a holistic approach to healthy child development based on years of research.

Quality matters because research shows people are more likely to stay active for life if they have positive experiences in sports, recreation, and physical activity as a child.

HIGH FIVE holds true to the following five Principles of healthy child development that the research indicates are essential for providing a positive experience for kids:

• A caring adult;
• the opportunity to make friends;
• the opportunity to play
• the opportunity to master skills; and
• the opportunity to participate.

The Counselor in Training (CIT) and Counselor in Training Plus (CIT Plus) programs run in conjunction with the Summer Day Camp program. These programs provide youth with opportunities to contribute to the community while developing leadership skills in a fun, safe and social environment.

CITs enhance the camp experience by being role models and friends to campers. They help shy campers break out of their shells, challenge active campers to master skills and talents, and encourage everyone to develop meaningful friendships. They greet campers, run games, assist campers with their belongings, help facilitate friendships, and much more!

On the first week of the summer, CITs attend a training week with various professional development opportunities that provide youth with the tools and knowledge needed to volunteer at Tiny’s Summer Day Camps.

Youth in the standard Counselor in Training program will learn the basics of camp and program planning, resume building, employability, and complete a Babysitting course. Youth in the graduated Counselor in Training Plus program will receive their HIGH FIVE Principles of Healthy Childhood Development and Standard First-Aid CPR-C/AED certifications, both required in order to join the Tiny Summer Day Camp staff team.

1. Navigate to the Play Portal and click the "Signup" button.
2. Complete all required fields and click the "Create Account" button at the bottom of the form.
   
    

   Primary Contact: The email address and name used to create the account will be assigned as the primary contact on the account. All correspondence will be sent to that email address.

   Seasonal Residents: If you are a seasonal resident, enter the address of your property located in the Township of Tiny in the address field to qualify for resident registration dates.

3. Check your email for your temporary password and use this to log in to your Play Portal account. You will be prompted to change your password to one you can more easily remember.
   
    

   The temporary password email will be sent from our software provider Xplor Recreation (communications@xplorrecreation.com).

Once changed, you will be logged in to your Play Portal account and be able to browse current programs and activities using the menu.

1. Navigate to the Play Portal and click the "Forgot password?" button.
2. Enter the email address associated with your account and click the "Reset password" button.
3. Check your email for your temporary password and use this to log in to your Play Portal account. You will be prompted to change your password to one you can more easily remember.
   
    

   The temporary password email will be sent from our software provider Xplor Recreation (communications@xplorrecreation.com).

While our recommended tips can help increase your odds of successful registration, we cannot guarantee that you will secure a spot in your desired program or activity.

1. Check that you can log in to your online account in advance of the registration date.
2. Review your account and make sure that the personal information listed for all family members is correct. Add your credit card information to the "Financial Information" section of your account to allow for a quicker checkout process.
3. Plan ahead and browse available courses at www.tiny.ca/playportal and make a list of your top choices. Check back before registration opens to note any potential added courses or course changes.

If your registration attempt is unsuccessful, we strongly encourage you to join a waitlist as soon as possible.

New this year, we have implemented a virtual waiting room to ensure an equitable and fair registration process. The virtual waiting room is a static web page that displays the user’s place in the queue in real-time and provides an estimate for when the user will reach the front of the queue. When it is the user’s turn to access the site, they will then be able to enter the registration system and complete their transaction. You can browse programs in the Play Portal until 11:45am on registration day. After 11:45am, the Play Portal will automatically enter all users into the virtual waiting room. On registration day, please visit www.tiny.ca/playportal to enter the virtual waiting room.

Image

1. Navigate to the Play Portal and log in using your account credentials.
2. Search for a day camp program by using the menu bar and selecting within the 'camp' drop down menu.
3. Once you've found a program, click the blue “Register” button to review the program details page.
   
    

   If the button says "Closed" registration is no longer being accepted for this program. If the button says "Waitlist" the program is at capacity, but you may register for the waitlist.

4. After confirming the information is correct, click the blue “Register Now” button to hold a spot in the program. You can hold a spot in your checkout cart for up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the spot will be released if the checkout process has not been completed.
   
    

   If there is no "Register Now" button, this probably means registration has not yet opened for this program.

5. Select the family member(s) you wish to register by checking the box next to their name and clicking “Next”.
6. You may be asked a series of program-specific questions and waivers to review. Complete all required fields and click "Next".
7. You will see a summary of program fees, including required and optional extras. At this step, you may choose to enter into a payment plan to defer your payment until two weeks before the start date of the program (if applicable). After reviewing, click "Next".
   
    

   Processing fee: A 5% processing fee is collected on all online transactions.

   Deferred payments that are declined or returned as NSF (non-sufficient funds) may be subject to a $25 processing fee.

8. When you are ready to check out, select your payment method. You can add a credit card or pay with your credit card on file. If you have Account Credit, you may choose to use it towards your cart balance.
9. Review that all information is correct and click the “Place My Order” button, or "Continue Shopping" if you plan to purchase additional items before checking out. Reminder: each spot can be held in the cart for up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the spot will be released if the checkout process has not been completed. Do not refresh the page while your payment is being processed.

You will automatically be sent a registration confirmation and transaction receipt to the email on file.

1. Navigate to the Play Portal and log in using your account credentials.
2. Select the applicable family member registered in the program you want the registration confirmation for.
3. Scroll down and select the “Schedules” dropdown.
4. For additional details, select the “Switch to List View” button to display all current registrations for the client.

If your registration attempt is unsuccessful, we strongly encourage you to join a waitlist as soon as possible. Payment will be taken only if a space becomes available and you confirm your spot within 36 hours.

If you are unable to add yourself to a program waitlist, it is because the waitlist for the program is currently full. In this case, the program will be displayed with a “More Info” button.​

Forms and payment (debit, cheque, or cash) can be submitted during regular office hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM) at the Municipal Office.

Cheques that are returned as NSF (non-sufficient funds) are subject to a $25 processing fee. Make all cheques payable to "Township of Tiny".

Forms and payment (cheque or exact cash) can be submitted outside of regular office hours using the drop-box located beside the front door at the Municipal Office.

Cheques that are returned as NSF (non-sufficient funds) are subject to a $25 processing fee. Make all cheques payable to "Township of Tiny".