Barrie day camps resume after challenging school year
After a challenging school year, with much of the time spent in isolation, children across Barrie can reunite with the kick-off of camping season.
Day camps run by the City of Barrie welcomed campers for the first time this season on Monday morning. The camps have been permitted to reopen since Step 1 of the province's reopening plan.
"We know that a lot of students, a lot of children have been doing a lot of online learning so this is their opportunity to really have some outdoor activity, have some fun outdoors and really connect with their friends again," says Jeddy Wong, City of Barrie recreation programmer.
This year Camp Barrie is running out of five different locations across the city to bring them close to as many people as possible.
The locations include:
- Barrie Community Sports Complex
- Dorian Parker Centre
- Tyndale Beach
- Lampman Lane Community Centre
- Parkview Community Centre
"We've already increased spaces compared to what we were planning on at the beginning of the summer," Wong says. "So it's nice to see that people are looking for camps, campers want to come to camp, and they do want to be out here, outdoors having fun with our great camp team."
Wong refers to Camp Barrie as a variety camp. Participants take part in several different activities ranging from arts and crafts to tag, all of them adapted to COVID-19 protocols.
"We modified them so that we can do it within 6 meters of each other," says Wong. "So we'll use pool noodles to make sure that we're staying away from each other, we'll make sure that we have craft supplies for each individual camper, and then there's an emphasis on cleaning, sanitizing and education for campers."
This year's camping season comes after a challenging school year, with students spending much of it learning remotely, isolated from their friends.
Many were happy to be back with each other.
"It's been quite cool," says camper Evelynne Johnston. "I am missing some of my friends because of the coronavirus, but good thing is it's summer, so even though we're wearing masks, we can go to summer camp and make new summer camp friends!"
The camps will be held primarily outdoors, with an option to move indoors at three of the camps in the event of inclement weather. If rain should strike campers at the Barrie Community Sports Complex and Tyndale Beach, where there is no indoor facility, campers will temporarily move to another location.
This is the second year that the camp is running with pandemic protocols in place. Officials say participation is up year-over-year, although fewer applicants are being accepted than prior to the pandemic.
While many of the camps are already full, there is space available at select locations. Complete information on the city's day camp programs is available here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.