Y CITY CAMPS | Montreal

A new summer camp called the Y City Camp will be run out of the YM-YWHA this year, a re-branding of a former camp called Friendly Faces. It will include programming and services geared towards campers with disabilities and special needs.

The camp will offer a range of activities, including dance, arts, baking, music, sports, STEM and outdoor water games. There will be special events each week, including Tuesday competition days, Wednesday theme days, and Thursday fun days, when traditional field trip activities like laser tag or rock climbing will be brought to the camp.

“We’re just trying to create really exciting, engaging programming for the campers,” Director David Wallach said. He adds that there will be a Jewish aspect to the camp, but that it will be an inclusive environment regardless of religious background.

Campers will do activities in groups of 8-10 with two counsellors to every bubble. Each bubble will have its own large room in the Y building on Westbury Ave., plus access to an auditorium. Outdoor programming will take place at Mackenzie-King Park across the street.

COVID-19 safety precautions will include a daily morning survey for campers and counsellors, mask-wearing (the camp will follow governmental guidelines to determine the age cutoff for masks), and social distancing. “What we’re trying to do is create the most normal camp experience in spite of COVID,” Wallach said.

Deanna Little, director of Inclusion Services at the Y, said that accessibility is a major component of the new camp. A number of spots will be reserved specifically for campers with disabilities and all staff will receive inclusion training. Campers registered for the inclusion services will be paired with a shadow or special needs counsellor (a ratio of one counsellor to three campers will be determined based on the camper’s needs).

“The inclusion services team is also working closely with families to better understand their individual needs, best practices and strategies,” Little said. Accommodations will include a sensory break room and activities modified to suit different levels of ability. “We are working hard to create something special that everyone will enjoy.”

The camp is also offering a program called Small Steps, an occupational speech and therapy camp program for children between the ages of 6 to 12. It will run from July 5 to August 13.

Y City Camp will run from June 28 to Aug. 20, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Extended care is available in the morning at 8 a.m. and in the afternoon until 5:30 p.m. Sessions cost $215 per week, with subsidies available to those in need. The camp is open to children finishing kindergarten through Grade 6.

Details:

Who is camp for?
Camp is for anyone finishing Kindergarten – Grade 6.

What are the dates of camp?
Camp will run from June 28th-August 20th in one-week sessions.

What is the price of camp?
Camp is $215 per week. Subsidies available upon request and need.

What does an average day at camp look like? What activities will be offered at camp?
Camp will run from 9-4 pm every day, with options available for early drop off and late pick up. Throughout the day, campers will have activities including but not limited to the following: sports, art, swimming, drama, dance, baking, STEM. There will also be regular time spent outside in the wonderful park across the street, with access to water activities.

Will there be Jewish content in camp?
The Y City Camp is open to all, regardless of religion or religious observance. That being said, there will certainly be opportunities for Jewish related programming in camp such as weekly challah baking.

Where will camp be held?
Camp is being held at Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA, 5400 Westbury Ave, Montreal, Quebec H3W 2W8. We are blessed to have access to a huge, beautiful building which we will be using as “bunk rooms” and for specialty activities. We will also have access to the large park across the street, with access to water activities.

What is the counsellor/camper ratio?
In accordance with current Covid-19 rules and regulations, bunks will have approximately 10 campers to every 2 staff. This, along with all other COVID related policies is subject to changing government policies

What will be the COVID policies in camp?
Camp will respect all government rules and regulations, subject to change. Staff and campers will be required to wear masks indoors, and optional mask wearing outdoors. Campers will be kept in bunk “bubbles” whenever 2 metre distancing is not possible.

Will lunch be offered in camp?
There will be a kosher paid lunch option. More details TBA.