Camp FAQ

If your child is feeling ill, please keep them at home to reduce the spread of germs to the other campers, as well as the Camp staff and volunteers.

In general, hand sanitizing or washing is done before and after activities and dietary breaks. Camp staff will have access to a hand sanitizer spray and will sanitize frequently touched surfaces.

Camp staff and volunteers will do their best encourage proper hygiene and hand washing. We understand that children also have a role to play and ask for their cooperation, but that some children may need frequent reminders.

If your child will be absent during a camp day, please call us at (204) 451-7445 or email us at camps@assiniboinepark.ca.

• Depending on the weather and theme, the day may include visits to the Nature Playground, English & Leo Mol Gardens, Riley Family Duck Pond, Pavilion, Riparian spaces in the Park, and the Acorn Room in the Qualico Family Centre.
• During Zoo Camp, we try not to explore the entire Zoo in a single day. This is so we can utilize different parts of the Zoo throughout the week or season.

• Our camp programs are for children in grades 1-7.
• For summer camp, we have the following groupings:
  • Explorer: Age 6-7
  • Jr. Keeper: Age 8-10
  • Jr. Researcher Age 11-13
• Children must be self-sufficient in public washrooms and capable of a full day program.

Each year, our education team plans programs so that campers will enjoy their day at Assiniboine Park.

• They may create a “take home” crafts, or participate in an art-based project that may remain in the Park.
• They are involved with many games and hands-on activities that encourage learning based upon a theme.
• They may get a guided venue tour of our facilities.
• They will get to meet one of our education animal ambassadors (Zoo Camp) or expert gardener (Leaf Camp).
• They will have supervised free play in Nature Playground and forested areas.
• Planned activities may be altered depending on the weather and animal care schedules. Please send your child prepared for the day’s forecast. If the weather forces us indoors, we have great indoor programming so camp will run rain, snow, or shine!

We want all children to experience camp at Assiniboine Park!

• However, we currently do not have the capacity to provide staff that can work daily with your child as a one-on one.

• Campers are very welcome to bring a support worker to provide the assistance they require to experience our camp. Please contact us if you have further questions regarding bringing someone to support your child at camp.

• Our buildings and walking paths are wheelchair accessible, but our fields/open areas may not be accessible depending on the season.

• Lunch, morning snack, and afternoon snack.
• A refillable water bottle
• Please dress for the weather and bring extra clothes if you think it necessary for your child.
• Campers are active (walking, running, jumping, etc.) throughout the day. Please ensure that your child brings appropriate footwear, like running shoes or outdoor boots for cold or wet seasons.
• Please avoid bringing: Cash, music devices, handheld electronic games, cell phones, toys, or trading cards to avoid items becoming lost or damaged. Do not send items of large monetary or sentimental value. We are not responsible for items that are damaged or lost.

During Winter Camp:

• Weather permitting, campers will have time for sledding. We have a small collection of sleds for the campers to share. If campers would like to bring their own sled, they may do so, but we are not responsible for the item.
• Extra hat, mitts, and socks are beneficial if your child should get wet or cold.

During Spring Camp:

• Ensure your child is dressed appropriately for active play and the day’s weather, as we will spend part of our day outdoors. If necessary, send rain or snow boots. Ski or slush pants are also recommended. Running shoes are preferred for indoor play.
• Due to the nature of our spring weather, you may also wish to pack an extra change of clothes, especially pants, socks, and mitts, as they get soggy after playing outside.
• Pack appropriately and if necessary, pack extra socks and/or clothes. We will be outdoors throughout each day, and it is important that campers have warm mitts, toques, scarf or similar face covering, warm boots, and ski pants for playing outside.

During Summer Camp:

• Please apply sunscreen on your camper prior to camp. We will be re-applying sunscreen and bug spray throughout the day.
• Please ensure your camper brings closed toed shoes and a mask for behind-the-scenes opportunities.
• Swim wear and a towel are required for Friday, when the campers have their water games.

• Please do not send any nut products with your child.
• We promote a policy of no food sharing, as many of our campers have severe allergies to foods like peanuts, gluten, soy or milk products and we want to reduce the risk of exposure to these items.
• We take allergies seriously but cannot guarantee that the program is completely free of food or environmental allergens. Due to the nature of our facilities, we may expose your child to allergens like nuts, animals, dusts/pollens/grasses, or food allergens.
• Time will be scheduled for a morning snack, lunch break, and afternoon snack. Please ensure that your child has something to eat and drink for each of these breaks.
• Please pack a picnic style lunch: no heat up lunches, bring your own utensils, and a reusable water bottle. We do not have access to microwaves or eating utensils.
• Please help us reduce garbage by using refillable water bottles, reusable food containers, reducing packaging, and encouraging your child to recycle and compost.
• We do not provide regularly scheduled snacks, nor do we encourage children buying food at the Park restaurants. Zoo campers have the option to pre-order lunch when registering for camp.

• Camp leaders are not authorized to administer medication (in any form, with the exception of a camper’s personal epi-pen in the case of an emergency).
• We can remind your child to take their medication.
• Children who have been prescribed an epi-pen, puffer or inhaler for severe allergies MUST bring and carry it with them each day of the program. Please ensure that the date on the epi-pen, puffer or inhaler is still valid. We require that all epi-pens/puffers/inhalers be carried in a fanny pack and to be worn on the camper at all times. During the day, campers will be in various locations throughout the Park and may be without their backpacks. For safety reasons, epi-pens should not be carried-in pockets, backpacks or loose bags.

We want all children to have a fun, memorable experience at our day camps. On rare occasions, some children’s behaviour negatively impacts others.

• If a child is asked to leave camp, it will only be after we have contacted the child’s parents to discuss the situation.
• Reasons for dismissal include bullying or putting another person, property or animal at risk.
• No money will be refunded if a child is sent home for negative or dangerous behaviour.
• Children may be sent home for the day or for the balance of the week.

We will make every effort to place your child in the same group as their friends or siblings, but there may be instances where we cannot always accommodate this.

• Please include a note on each registration form with the name of the child you would like to keep with your child.
• We place children together that are in the same age group in order to plan a program that is appropriate for their age and to facilitate positive social interactions.

Your tax receipt is accessible through your Camp Brain account.