SPARK Day Camp 2024

SPARK DAY CAMP is for kids entering Grades 3-8 this coming September 2024.

*Please note: The registration says "free ticket" because we do not need eventbrite to process payment for us. Payment in full is required via e-transfer to finalize registration.

Because of the Canada Day Holiday, this camp will be a four day camp that includes trips to..

Tuesday, July 2nd: Valens Conservation Area,

Wednesday July 3rd: Canada's Wonderland,

Thursday July 4th: the Ontario Science Centre,

Friday July 5th: Wet 'n' Wild Waterpark in Toronto.

Where is the drop off and pickup location?

Coronation Park in Oakville, located at 1426 Lakeshore Rd W, Oakville. We will be meeting on the lawn in front of the music stage inside the parking lot loop. Campers need their parents to check them in and out each day, and will enjoy some recreation time on the lawn with their leaders before we load the bus at 9:10am and return by 5pm daily.

What is the earliest drop off time each day, and what is the latest pickup time?

Our leaders will be ready to check students in by 8:30 am daily (no earlier). Parents are asked to be ready to pick up their campers at 5pm sharp, as we often arrive back early.

What if the bus returns later than 5pm?

Our experienced camp director builds lots of margin into our departure times to help cover delayed groups returning to the bus or any unexpected traffic. We will be creating a whats app group for parents so we can communicate timely information should we be running late.

Who is in charge of SPARK Day Camp?

SPARK Day Camp is led by Catalyst Network Lead Pastor, Mike Hauser. Mike has directed camps like this for more than 15 years since 2002, and has over 10 years of experience in full time youth work.

What is the leader-camper ratio?

We staff one leader for every 5 campers. (4 Adults, and 4 High School Leaders for 40 campers)

Who are the leaders?

Our adult and high school leaders are all experienced in leading kids and youth ministries at Catalyst and have completed police background checks and an application process with references. Only those experienced in working with children aged 8-13 years old were selected and each is known for being responsible, fun, kind, friendly, and respected.

Will my child be supervised at all times?

Yes! Campers will help us create groups of 4-6 (based on friendships, siblings, age, etc.) and are expected to remain in that group with their leader at all times. For the days we are swimming, parents can decide whether they want their child to be supervised at all times with their group, or if they will allow their child to use the buddy system with check in times throughout the day.

What is the method of transportation for the day trips?

Campers and leaders will travel together by school bus, chartered through Attridge Transportation.

Can I register my child for single days?

Not at this time, sorry!

Is lunch included in the price?

Only Wednesday's lunch at Canada’s Wonderland is included in the price. A bagged lunch must be sent with your child for our day at Valens Conservation area as there is no place for them to purchase their lunch there. Lunches can be purchased at the Ontario Science Centre and Wet 'n' Wild Toronto should your child wish to bring their own money to buy lunch there.

What does my child need to bring each day?

-SPARK Day Camp T Shirt (included in the day camp fees)

-Comfortable footwear

-Weather appropriate clothing

-Bagged lunch (or lunch money on all days except on Tuesday at Valens, where lunches cannot be purchased)

-Water bottle/Juice Boxes (If desired)

-Bathing suit and towel on Tuesday and Friday for day trips to Valens Conservation Area and Wet ’n’ Wild Waterpark.

Is the registration cost for the camp lower if my child has a season's pass to Canada's Wonderland or another attraction?

Yes. $35 can be deducted from the registration fee, making the camp $240 for the week for those who already have a Canada's Wonderland Season pass. Please indicate on your registration form which attraction your child has a season's pass for and we will discount you the amount we would have paid for your child otherwise minus the cost of the lunch we are paying for at Canada's Wonderland.

What happens if my child is in a group that has a different comfort level with rides at Canada's Wonderland?

For our day at Canada's Wonderland, we do our best to group campers based on their age/height and their comfort level with rides. This increases the chances of your camper having a fun and comfortable day. Groups will decide which rides to go on based on group votes. Leaders will also make every effort to (but cannot guarantee) allow each camper to choose at least one activity/ride to go on. Campers will not have to go on any rides they do not want to go on. In the event a camper does not want to go on a ride with the others in the group, they will be expected to go through the line with their group (thus being supervised at all times), but may walk through the ride with their leader once at the front of the line and wait for the rest of their group at the exit.

What happens in the event of a poor weather forecast?

We do have some freedom with the order we do our day trips. If necessary, we will swap our indoor day at the Ontario Science Centre with an outdoor day. We will communicate any changes via email or printed letter the day before any such changes.

Can campers bring electronic devices?

Yes. However, we also stand behind each parent's discretion on this one....so campers.....please listen to your parents! Although students are allowed to bring an electronic device if they choose to do so, SPARK Day Camp and it's leaders are not responsible for the loss, damage, or theft of any property brought with the camper.

What is the zero tolerance policy?

Our zero tolerance policy exists to protect our campers against bullying, name calling, teasing, etc. At SPARK Day Camp, we do not want to see any student dismissed for behavioural reasons. We make every effort to work with day campers and allow them the opportunity to change their behaviour if they are misbehaving. However, we enforce zero tolerance policy for campers committing excessive verbal or physical abuse towards campers or leaders. This behaviour would include:hitting, punching, kicking, or other forms of fighting, verbal threats of violence, and excessive name calling and swearing. Furthermore, any camper caught stealing or damaging another persons property will also be subject to our zero tolerance policy.

The previously mentioned behaviours will result in expulsion for the remaining week of day camp with no refund provided.

Is there a religious component to this day camp?

We want to be up front about our desire for your camper to hear that they are loved by God and that God wants to be their friend, but we also want to assure you that SPARK Day Camp welcomes, values, and respects the diversity and backgrounds of each camper. On Tuesday morning at Valens Conservation area, we have a two hour program that rotates between a craft station, a games station, and a story station. At the story station, our leaders will share their story about how they experienced God's love and presence in their life and how being a part of a local church has made a positive difference in their life. Apart from the story station Tuesday morning, there is nothing else planned from a religious perspective. We encourage you to contact our camp director directly should you have any questions or concerns about this ([email protected], 289.427.5959).

How are you able to do all of this for such a low price?

We take great pride in providing kids with the best possible day camp experience at the lowest possible price. The reason we are able to do this is that our only expenses are the group rate admission expenses and the bus costs to travel. Our day camp leader is a paid staff member of Catalyst, and the remaining staff are volunteers. We believe you will find our prices to be of great value and invite you to compare our day camp prices with other day camps in the area.

Host or Publisher MIKE HAUSER