March Break and Holiday Camps

March Break and Winter Holiday Camps

Flip through the activeOshawa Fall Winter Recreation Guide to see available camps.

Winter Holiday Camps are available on December 23, 27, 30, and January 2 and 3.

Registration for March Break Camps will begin November 21 at 9 a.m.

Camp registration

Online registration - easy and convenient!

Register at Register.Oshawa.ca
Payment confirmation may take up to five hours. This will not affect your spot in the program.
Don't forget to complete your Camp Forms (listed below) before your camper's first week at camp.

In-person registration - confirmation is immediate!

In-person registration is available at:

Complete the Course Registration Form when registering for a camp in person. Download or print the Course Registration Form or request a copy at a City recreation facility. Please note, the Course Registration Form is not required when registering online.

Get tips and assistance on registering for activeOshawa programs.
activeOshawa Online Help

Camp forms

Completed forms must be submitted the Thursday before your camp starts. Submissions after this time will not provide staff enough time to review.

Emergency Contact and Consent Form (coming soon)
Medication Administration Request Form (coming soon)
Consent for Assistance in Administering an EpiPen Form (coming soon)
Inclusion Services Forms (if required)

Camp lunch program

Most of our camps offer lunches for an additional fee. Select one of the following March Break camp lunch options:

Camp Lunch Order forms will be available here before the first day of camp

Preparing for your week at camp

Camp staff will call and email parents/guardians before their camper's first day at camp. Please ensure staff have your most up-to-date email address.

Inclusion support

Campers requesting inclusion support must register for their preferred camp course and the Inclusion Services course. Campers must also complete the relevant Inclusion Services Forms before camp begins.

Requests are processed in the order they are received and based on the availability of inclusion staff. Participants may provide their own external support workers to assist if desired.

Visit Inclusion Services for more information.

Camp placement requests for friends and siblings

Parents/guardians can request their camper be placed in the same camp group as a friend or sibling. Please note that while we do our best to accommodate these requests, camp assignments are primarily based on age.

To submit your request, contact the camp location your camper will be attending.

Age requirements

Each camp program has specific age requirements. Campers must be the required minimum age before the start of camp.

Swim requirements

Camps that offer swimming have rules in place to keep your campers safe:

Campers seven to nine years of age who are non-swimmers must wear a lifejacket and be accompanied by a camp counsellor who is responsible for their direct supervision. Maximum four children per counsellor.
Campers seven to nine years of age who are able to pass a swim test may be admitted to the pool unaccompanied without direct supervision of a camp counsellor.
Children 10 years and older may be admitted to the pool without direct supervision by a camp counsellor. To enter the deep end of a pool campers must pass the swim test.

If your camper has passed the swim test and has a swim test card, please bring it on the first day of camp.

Campers can get a free swim test at a City pool before camp begins. Swim tests are available at:

Camp Samac Outdoor Pool (seasonal), Centennial Pool and Donevan Recreation Complex Pool during fun swims and public swims
Delpark Homes Centre Pool and South Oshawa Community Centre Pool during fun swims only

Attendance and absences

Attendance takes place each day as campers arrive and leave. A parent or guardian must sign in each camper at the designated camp location at 9 a.m. Campers must be picked up between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Please notify camp staff if a camper needs to be picked up earlier.

Please notify camp staff if your camper will not be attending the program. If a camper is absent or late and staff have not been notified, attempts will be made to contact the parent/guardian. Please email the Camp Director to report a late drop off, early pick up or absent camper.

Extended supervision

Most camp locations offer extended supervision before and after camp for an additional fee. Please register for both the summer camp course ID and extended supervision course ID.

Financial assistance

Assistance programs are available to Oshawa residents wishing to access camps. These include the Durham Region Social Services, Canadian Tire Jumpstart and the Recreation Fee Assistance Program. Visit Assistance and Support for more information.

Toileting

Campers must be fully toilet-trained to attend all programs.

Camper responsibilities

All campers and staff are expected to show respect for all people and property while attending City of Oshawa recreation facilities. Please report any incidents and concerns to staff. Coarse language, bullying, non-compliance, aggressive or inappropriate behaviour are not permitted at camp. These behaviours will be documented and reported and may result in removing a participant from camp.

What to bring to camp

Government issued ID

All parents/guardians picking up campers must have government-issued photo identification with them and be listed on the Emergency Contact and Consent Form with permission to sign-out the camper. Government-issued identification is required every time you pick up your camper.

Camp essentials

Each day, pack a nut-free lunch, snacks, drinks and reusable water bottle. Ensure your child is dressed for the weather and camp activities, including appropriate footwear (indoor shoes and appropriate seasonal outdoor footwear), hat, mittens/gloves and sunscreen.

All items should be clearly labelled with the camper’s name. Leave toys, electronic devices and valuables at home. The City of Oshawa is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

The Camp Lunch Program is available for an additional fee at most camps. To place your order, complete the Camp Lunch Order Form.

Swim/water play packing list

For camps that offer swimming and/or water play:

Campers must bring a towel and bathing suit
Campers must bring appropriate shoes for the pool deck and/or outdoor water play
All items must be kept in a labelled reusable bag

Hockey packing list

For Hockey camps:

Campers are required to bring the following equipment in a hockey bag
- CSA approved hockey helmet with a full face mask
- Hockey skates (figure skates are not permitted)
- Shin pads
- Hockey socks
- Jock/jill
- Hockey pants
- Shoulder pads
- Elbow pads
- Neck guard
- Hockey gloves
- Jersey
- Hockey stick

Skate packing list

For camps that offer ice skating:

Campers must bring their own skates
Campers must wear warm clothes, mittens or gloves
Campers are required to wear CSA approved hockey helmets
- CSA approved hockey helmets with a full face mask are strongly encouraged
- Bicycle and skateboarding helmets are not allowed

Medications

Camp staff will hold prescription medication only as directed on the label. Complete the Medication Administration Request Form and submit it the week before camp with the other required camp forms.

Campers will be required to administer the medication themselves.

Anaphylaxis and EpiPens

If a camper requires an EpiPen, please indicate this on the Emergency Contact and Consent Form. Complete and submit the form the week before camp starts, with the other required camp forms.

Campers who may require EpiPens are responsible for bringing two EpiPens to camp each day. The camper must carry one EpiPen in an easily identifiable waist pack. Staff will store the second EpiPen in a secured location in case of an emergency. Campers must take their EpiPens home each day.

Cancellations

Register early to help ensure you will get your first choice of camps. If we do not have enough registrants for a camp, it will be cancelled. If a camp is cancelled, you will be contacted to choose a different camp (if space is available) or receive a full refund.

Waitlists

If your preferred camp is full, we recommend adding your name to the waitlist. If a space becomes available campers will be contacted in order of being placed on the waitlist and offered the available space. There is no charge to be added to the waitlist. If you are already registered in a camp and wish to transfer to the now available waitlisted camp, you may do so for no additional charge.

Refunds

To withdraw from a registered camp, complete the Refund Request Form.

Participants will receive a full refund when the City of Oshawa cancels the program before the program start date or when a participant submits a Refund Request Form seven or more days before the program starts.

Participants will receive a partial refund when the participant submits a Refund Request Form less than seven days before the start date and before the start of the second class. Program refunds are subject to an $12 administration fee. Partial refunds are pro-rated based on the number of classes remaining at the time of the refund.

Refund requests will not be accepted after the start of the second class of a program unless for a medical reason. In the case of a medical reason, a doctor's note must be submitted when the Refund Request Form is received.