Weekly Themes (Updated March 6, 2025)

*All activities and trips differ by age group, some are still being confirmed, and are subject to change without notice as needed. Spontaneous Community Walks can include going over to the Memorial Park Splash Pad so bathing suits, towels and spare clothes should be brought daily.

Week One: June 30 – July 4 (Closed July 1st) Oh Canada! Week (Closed Monday July 1)

Get ready for an incredible week of adventure and discovery at camp! Your children will dive headfirst into the captivating world on Indigenous culture and art. They’ll become intrepid researchers, uncovering the secrets and vibrant stories behind majestic totem poles, then unleash their creativity to design and paint their very own. They’ll also master the delicate art of dream catcher weaving, learning the legends and symbolism woven into each strand. Beyond these hands-on experiences, campers will explore the richness and diversity of Indigenous cultures, igniting a lifelong appreciation for these time-honoured traditions.

It’s a week guaranteed to spark imaginations, inspire creativity, and leave your children with unforgettable memories.

Special Activity: Community Walk to the Souharissen Natural Area *weather permitting*
(Activities vary by age and group choices.)
– Week One Activity Calendars (JR&SR)

Week Two: July 7 – 11 – Space Voyageurs Week

Prepare for blast-off! This week at Space Voyageurs camp, your children will embark on an intergalactic adventure!

They’ll test their cosmic knowledge in a thrilling game of Astronomy Jeopardy, invent a brand new language using symbols, sounds, and signs, and design futuristic cities that would make even the Jetsons jealous!

As a special treat, they’ll be visited by local amateur astronomer Mario Carr, who will share his expertise and passion for the stars. With hands-on activities, imaginative projects, and out-of-this-world fun, your campers will explore the vast universe and beyond, making this a week they’ll never forget!

Special guest: Mario Carr
Special Activity: Spontaneous Community Walk *weather permitting*
(Activities vary by age and group choices.)
– Week Two Activity Calendars (JR&SR)

Week Three: July 14 – 18 – Engineering the Future Week

Get ready for a week of epic engineering adventures! This week at camp, your children will become engineers of the future, tackling exciting challenges and building their way to innovation!

They’ll transform ordinary cardboard and paper into extraordinary structures, testing their ingenuity and design skills. They’ll push the limits and construction by experimenting with various loose parts to discover the secrets of bridge strength and stability.

And the ultimate test? A head-to-head skyscraper challenge that will put their teamwork and architectural prowess to the test! With hands-on projects and collaborative fun, your campers will unleash their inner engineers and discover the thrill of building the future, one incredible creation at a time!

Special Activity: Spontaneous Community Walks *weather permitting*
(Activities vary by age and group choices.)
– Week Three Activity Calendars (JR&SR)

Week Four: July 21 – 25 – Let the Games Begin! Week

Get ready for a week of playful pandemonium! Your children will dive headfirst into a whirlwind of exciting challenges and friendly competition. They’ll put their teamwork to the test by designing and building rafts, then launching them in a thrilling race. They’ll discover the power of collaboration and creativity as they use movement and cooperation to bring stories to life. They’ll also perfect their aim and strategy on the Disc Golf course, mastering the art of the perfect throw. To top it all off, a super splashy showdown on the Waterdown Warrior Obstacle Course, where they’ll conquer challenges and celebrate their victories.

It’s a week packed with fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories!

Special Activity: Spontaneous Community Walks *weather permitting*
(Activities vary by age and group choices.)
– Week Four Activity Calendars (JR&SR)

Week Five: July 28 – August 1 – Art Attack Week!

Prepare for a week bursting with creativity at Art Attack Camp! Your children will unleash their inner artists and dive into a world of colour and imagination.

They’ll explore the fascinating process of printmaking, experimenting with textures and techniques to create unique works of art. They’ll also discover the magic of mixed media, combining different materials to craft stunning masterpieces, and that’s not all! They’ll even become filmmakers, using technology to create stop-motion animations and bringing their puppet characters to life. A special visit from a local art will provide expert guidance and inspiration.

The grande finale? An Art Expo! Parents are invited to stroll through our Waterdown Art Exhibit, a vibrant showcase of their children’s incredible creations from the week. It’s a week guaranteed to spark imaginations and leave your children with a portfolio of artistic treasures!

Special Guest: Local Art Educator Sandy Greenblatt- Wednesday July 30th
Special Activity: Spontaneous Community Walks *weather permitting*
Art Expo: Friday August 1st, during pick up hours (family members welcome)!
(Activities vary by age and group choices.)
– Week Five Activity Calendars (JR&SR)

Week Six: August 4 – 8 (Closed August 4) – Mind, Body, & Bites, a Week of Wellness!

Get ready for a week of rejuvenation and healthy habits fun!

Your children will embark on a journey to discover the secrets of wellness, nourishing both their minds and bodies. They’ll dive into a fun and interactive nutrition workshop, learning about healthy eating and even developing their own delicious recipes. All food allergies, sensitivities, and restrictions will be taken into consideration to ensure everyone can participate safely and enjoyably. Outdoors, they’ll get their bodies moving with exciting exercises and activities designed to boost energy and promote physical well-being. To cultivate inner peace and focus, they’ll explore the calming world of mindfulness, learning techniques to manage stress and enhance their overall sense of calm.

It’s a week of delicious discoveries, invigorating activities, and mindful moments, leaving your children feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the world!

Special Activity: Spontaneous Community Walks & visit to local grocery store *weather permitting*
(Activities vary by age and group choices.)
– Week Six Activity Calendars (JR&SR)

Week Seven: August 11 – 15 – The Great Outdoors

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in the wild during “The Great Outdoors!” Your children will become true explorers, embracing the beauty and wonder of nature. They’ll put their resourcefulness to the test using materials found in the great outdoors to build impressive shelters.

A thrilling scavenger hunt will lead them on a quest for hidden treasures and natural wonders. They’ll even become budding botanists, dissecting flowers to uncover their intricate secrets. Looking up in the sky, they’ll learn about the clouds and then bring their imaginations to life, sculpting fluffy cloud creations out of clay. And the ultimate challenge awaits! A fun and challenging Survivor Camp, where they’ll use all their newfound skills to conquer exciting outdoor obstacles and challenges! It’s a week packed with fresh air, hands-on-learning, and unforgettable outdoor experiences!

Special Activity: Spontaneous Community Walk *weather permitting*
(Activities vary by age and group choices.)
– Week Seven Activity Calendars (JR&SR)

Week Eight: August 18 – 22 – Beyond the Classroom Walls! Week

Are you ready for a week of collaborative craziness? If so, then you will love participating in a week of fun during “Beyond the Classroom Walls!”

Your children will discover the power of teamwork and cooperation as they tackle a week packed with fun and engaging challenges. From hilarious three-legged races to strategic Action Jenga. They’ll learn to work together, communicate effectively and cheer each other on. They’ll build friendships, develop problem-solving skills, and discover the joy of achieving goals as a team.

The week culminates in an epic Field Day, a celebration of all their newfound skills and camaraderie, filled with exciting games and friendly competition. It’s a week of laughter, learning, and unforgettable moments outside the traditional classroom!

Special Activity: Spontaneous Community Walks *weather permitting*
(Activities vary by age and group choices.)
– Week Eight Activity Calendars (JR&SR)

Scroll or click back to the top of the page to see the other tabs.

Anaphylaxis and Medication Forms

Does your child require an Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan and/or Epi-Pen* or other Medical Forms?

If Yes, Please download and prepare a new Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan (will open in a separate window) – or contact us regarding Medical Needs – and submit to us 2 weeks or more in advance of your child’s attendance. Provision of your child’s own prescribed Epi-Pen labelled by the pharmacy with the child’s name will be required upon first day of attendance. [All our staff are required to review, and it is posted in all our serving and food preparation areas.]
DOWNLOAD NOW

If applicable, attendance is not permitted until we receive and review your plan.

If your plan includes prescription and non-prescription medications or procedures in addition to an Epi-Pen, then we will also require an original Medical Practitioner signed instruction note (otherwise our staff cannot administer additional measures).
Scroll or click back to the top of the page to see the other tabs.

Policy Summary

• • • Only Canadian residents with up-to-date compulsory immunizations, or a certified exemption, can be accepted at our program.
    • Children, families and staff can choose to wear medical masks at any time.  We do encourage children who are ill to be kept at home to help prevent the spread of infections.
    • If a full camp week is cancelled before starting due to requirement by the City of Hamilton Health Unit or the Province of Ontario, full payment for the week will be refunded.
    • We can not refund for any illness, voluntary absences, cancellations or withdrawals.
    • Families may not “trade” weeks with other registrants due to the no refund and Wait List prioritization policy.
    • We may offer children a space in a closely-aged mixed grouping (either younger or more senior to their usual age group). This normally means that Grade 1 – 2’s can be grouped in a Junior Explorer Program group, or Senior Kindergarteners can be grouped in a younger Senior Adventurers group if required to fill our capacity or to meet educator to child ratios. 
    • Our experienced adult leaders ensure that all children are appropriately placed and engaged in the programming at their level.
    • We are unable to offer “friend” or “staff leader” placement requests except in very limited circumstances dictated by a needs assessment. 
    • We have established guidelines for behavioural conduct of staff, parents and children with specific remedies that may include required withrawal from the program. These can be found in our Parent Handbook.

Payments

Payment is required in full upon registration and in advance of attendance.

Payments will be accepted by PayPal (Credit or VISA Debit cards) or INTERAC eMail Money Transfer.

No refunds will be offered for cancellations after payment (special circumstances can be reviewed by request).

Split payments can only be received by INTERAC Email Money transfer and must be fully memoed with Child Name and Program Name. We will only issue separate receipts to payees if arranged in advance and only where a child resides at more than one location during the period of care. All payments will be final except as noted.

Families require alternative payment options should contact our registration team at register@campwaterdown.com

Some families may be eligible for care subsidization through the City of Hamilton.

Instructions for Payments will also be sent to you by email upon placement and available in your Family Registration page.

All registrations (paid or not) are tentative pending changes to program approval by the Ministry of Education, HWDSB, The City of Hamilton and other related authorities.

Changes

Email us the change request (make sure to mention the child’s name and program) at register@campwaterdown.com OR you can use the Change Request link found under each Registration in your Family Registration page.  Please be aware that restrictions, additional fees and no-refund policy will apply.  Camp Staff will not be able to make changes for you although they must be contacted by phone for any daily absences or questions or information sharing needed that may affect your child’s well-being at camp.  We require written instructions in advance for any new alternative pick-up arrangements not noted in your registration as per our Safe Arrivals Policy. Camp Staff will report on your child’s day when asked by phone or upon pickup. We do not accept absence notifications by email but they should be texted or called in to our Location Phone (905) 902-1261.

Refunds

• • • Should a Full Program Week be cancelled in advance due to a requirement by the Minister of Education, the Hamilton-Wentworth School Board or Hamilton Public Health, then we will refund your paid fee for that week in full.
    • You must pay the balance of your fee upon registration, addition, or after offer of placement from our Wait List.
    • No refunds are offered for voluntary cancellation of your registration unless approved by the Executive Director of the program for limited reasons.
    • No discount or refund is given for partial week attendance.
    • Credits or refunds are not given for late cancellations, late arrival, early departure, illness, absences, dismissal, or program / facility closures due to emergency, weather.
    • Credits or refunds are not given for absence due to any personal occurrence of communicable illnesses or parasites (cold, flu, chicken pox, mumps, lice, etc.), elective or scheduled medical/dental reasons.
    • Cancellations due to serious and unexpected emergency medical reason (requiring hospitalization or affecting ambulatory mobility and ability to participate) for all programs are subject to the Executive Director’s approval and receipt of an original and verifiable doctor’s letter.
    • Insufficient Funds Returns are subject to a $50 administrative fee.
    • Any refunds granted will be returned within 4 weeks time.

Please understand that the financial obligations of Camp Waterdown / WDCC (a registered charity and not-for-profit organization, are fixed for each program and the withdrawal of a camper does not lessen our operating expenses.

Camp Waterdown (WDCC) reserves the right to terminate the registration of or to withdraw a child from program participation at any time, at the Program Director or Executive Director’s discretion, in the interest of the child and / or the Camp Waterdown (WDCC) program. In the case of temporary withdrawal or permanent termination of a registrant’s participation, an affected child in attendance will remain in care until safely discharged to the designated parent or guardian. In such cases, a proportional refund for full days terminated will be considered.
Scroll or click back to the top of the page to see the other tabs.

Wait List Policy

Space in our programs is limited (and we adhere to Ministry guidelines for safe and effective Adult/Child ratios, as well as any restrictions imposed by Hamilton City Health Department guidance).

We reserve the right to cancel and refund paid enrolments if an accidental overbooking or program cancellation occurs.

Wait List priority is not guaranteed as we do not take deposits until space if offered for acceptance. Our Wait List is reviewed using our existing Priority Placement Protocol (that favours existing client families) among other considerations, as well as any optional considerations provided by the Ministry of Education or Hamilton Public Health. We will only contact you when we are able to offer you a space but that can occur right up to the Friday before the start of the Camp Week in some cases.

Registration Process

Prior Camp Waterdown Registrants / Members

You will be familiar with our system from past program enrolments, and all are started from the Child Records & Program Registration Tab in your Family Registration page.

Your prior registration information from the past year is held in our system to make registration for multiple programs easier but must be reviewed annually and you may receive a warning asking you to do so before completing your registration.

 New Registrants

Our process is a little different than a standard Online Cart system as we collect the entire registration and safety information in a series of three steps.

The registration process consists of these steps:

• • 1. Login or Create a New Membership (using the last Tab on this page).
    2. Create or Review and submit a Parent Record and then add Child Record(s) from your Family Registration page
    3. Use the Program Registration links that will appear next to your child’s name in your Family Registration page.

If you have any questions email register@campwaterdown.com

Scroll or click back to the top of the page to see the other tabs.

Start Your Online Registration

Use this form to begin your registration if you do not already have a Parent Record and Child Record in a Family Registration page (this would normally be WDCC Pre-School Graduating Families who DO NOT have older children in one of our School Age programs). If confused or stuck, please email register@campwaterdown.com for further guidance.