Campers will be eligible to register for Junior, Senior and Tween Camps based on their school age, meaning campers must turn the eligible age by the end of the calendar year (December 31). Eligibility in our online system is done by birth year to allow campers to be with their school grade peers, so it will display the options based on the age the camper will be at the end of the calendar year.
For example, campers are eligible for Junior Camps (ages 6–7) if they turn six by December 31, or seven during the calendar year.
For Mini Camps (ages 4–5), as per the “Child Care and Early Years Act,” campers must be at least four years of age to attend camp. Campers must have already had their fourth birthday in order to attend camp. Four-year-old campers will be required to upload proof of age within seven days of completing registration. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of registration.
There will be some crossover of ages. For example, a seven-year old who turns eight in September will be Junior age during the summer and Senior age in September. In most cases, campers want to be with their grade peers so this is why eligibility in the online system is set to birth year. Parents/guardians with campers in the crossover years may decide in which age group their camper fits best – being one of the oldest in the younger age group or one of the youngest in the older age group. This is an individual choice, and parents should consider factors such as maturity of their camper, physical factors and with what age group their child integrates best. If you decide on the age group that does not align with their birth year, please call or email our Camp Office so we can provide details on how to register. Please note that campers need to be the minimum age of the group by the end of the calendar year, we don’t move campers into older age groups in consideration of what is best for the group as a whole.
Please call us if we can assist with age requirements or choices.
The maximum number of campers depends on the age group, as follows:
| Grouping | Ages | Staff:Camper Ratio | Maximum Campers Per Group |
| Mini | 4–5 years | 1:5 |
10 |
| Junior | 6–7 years |
1:6 |
12 |
| Senior | 8–10 years |
1:8 |
16 |
| Tween | 10–12 years | 1:8 |
16 |
Camp hours are weekdays from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (excluding statutory holidays—see camp dates for details)
Camp drop-off is from 8:30–9:00 a.m. and pick-up is from 4:00–4:30 p.m.
After Care supervision is available from 4:30–6:00 p.m.
The fee for our After Care program is $85 per week. A late charge of $25 is applied for pickup after 6:05 p.m.
Payment in full is required at the time of registration.
There are two payment method options: credit card and, new in 2024, eCheck.
If you wish to pay by credit card, a 2% processing fee will be applied. This helps to offset the rising costs of operating Camp. Please note that if you decide to cancel your registration, and you are eligible for a refund, the 2% processing fee is non-refundable.
eChecks, also known as electronic funds transfers (EFTs), are similar to an e-transfer and are a method of transferring funds directly from one bank account to another. They are cost effective, and as such, you will not be charged a processing fee.
If you are paying by eCheck you will be required to provide the following at checkout:
- bank account holder’s full name
- the bank account number and transit number
- the institution (bank) number
- select the type of account (chequing or savings)
These details can be found in your online bank account (look for the option to set-up direct deposits or pre-authorized payments), or obtained from your local bank branch.
Unlike credit cards, which are processed instantly, eChecks will take 3–5 business days to process and be withdrawn from your account. Your registration is only confirmed once fees have been received. Should an eCheck transaction be declined, a $30 fee will be charged and your registration may be cancelled if fees are not received in a timely manner. For more details about eChecks, please click here.
All cancellations must be made in writing to the Branksome Hall Day Camps office, by email to camps@branksome.on.ca
Cancellations Prior to March 31: A full refund will be issued for cancellations of up to two weeks per camper. If you are cancelling more than two weeks per camper (e.g. three or more weeks), a $25.00 administrative charge for each additional week cancelled will be applied.
Cancellations from April 1 to May 30: Cancellations received between April 1 and May 30 will receive a full refund minus an administration fee of $75.00 per week, per camper.
Cancellations from June 1 up to four weeks prior to the session start date: Cancellations received from June 1 up to four weeks prior to the session start date will receive a full refund minus an administration fee of $150.00 per week, per camper. The cancellation must be received in writing no later than the fourth Sunday prior to the start date. E.g. If the session you wish to cancel starts on July 29, your cancellation must be received by email no later than Sunday, June 30 in order to receive a partial refund as indicated above.
Cancellations within four weeks of the session start date: No refund is available for cancellations within four weeks of the commencement of the camp session, unless the cancellation is related to medical reasons and accompanied by a doctor’s note, at which point a partial refund of up to 50% may be granted, at the discretion of the Camp Director. Please reach out to our Camp Office about the information required in a doctor’s note supporting a refund request. These partial medical refunds are only available for campers who must miss three or more consecutive days of camp. If the full week must be missed due to a medical reason, you can choose to transfer your camper’s registration to a future week during the SAME summer, pending availability. A $25.00 transfer fee will apply. No refund is available for full or partial day absences due to inclement weather or any camp activities not fully utilized.
Aftercare Cancellations: The fee for Aftercare only will be fully refunded if cancelled by the Wednesday at 12 noon in the week prior to the Aftercare in question. This only applies to Aftercare and the camp registration must be maintained. No refund will be provided for Aftercare cancellations received after Wednesday 12 noon of the week prior to the Aftercare in question.
We will make our best effort to accommodate transfers between camps throughout the course of the summer, space permitting. If you wish to transfer camp programs and/or camp weeks, please email or call the Camp Office for assistance. Please note a transfer fee of $25.00 per camp session will be applied to the account.
Please note that should you cancel a session and you are eligible for a refund, the 2% processing fee for credit card payments is not refundable at any time for any reason.
In the event that Branksome Hall is required to cancel a camp program, you will be notified by email and provided a full refund of all fees paid for that week.
Each day, campers will receive a nutritious and delicious hot lunch prepared by our in-house food service staff, as well as a morning and afternoon snack. We also provide an additional snack for campers registered for Aftercare. We suggest reviewing a copy of our menu for the week your camper is registered to ensure that your camper will enjoy the meals. For those with concerns, packing an alternative lunch and snacks is recommended. If packing alternative or additional lunch/snacks, please keep in mind that the Branksome Hall campus is a nut-free and scent-free environment. Vegetarian, gluten-free and options addressing other food limitations will be made available to those with allergies/restrictions noted in the initial camp application. Lunch is included in the camp fee and there is no reduction in fee for providing your own alternative meals or snacks.
Please note the menus below are subject to change.
View the camp menu for Summer 2023 here. Our 2024 menu will be available closer to the summer and emailed to all registered camp families.
Campers will have two lessons per day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) by a certified Lifesaving Society Swim Instructor. The remainder of the day will be comprised of camp-style games and activities, and outdoor play.
Due to high demand, campers will only be permitted to register for a maximum of two weeks of Swim Camp (one session). Participants who are registered for more than one session (two weeks) of Swim Camp will have their registration cancelled and will be subject to all applicable cancellation fees.
For safety reasons, it is very important that you select the correct level based on your child’s swim skills. Swim Camp is designed on group lessons, and therefore we are not able to offer one-to-one support for campers who don’t have the prerequisite swim skills for the level in which they are registered. Since it’s not possible to make a switch once camp begins, all campers registered for Swim Camp will be required to upload their latest swim progress report or attend an in-water assessment at Branksome before March 3rd. Your swim camp registration may be cancelled if we don’t receive a recent progress report or the results of a swim assessment by this date. While we will do our best to accommodate switches into other levels if needed, this is not a guarantee as switches are based on availability, so it is best to know your swimmer’s level prior to registration. For further details, please visit our Swim Camp page or email our Camps team for assistance.
All lost and found items are kept in our lost and found bins located on the lower level of the Athletics and Wellness Centre. Campers are welcome to visit any time, with staff supervision, to see if we have their lost item(s). Parents are welcome to contact the front desk or the staff of their camper’s group to report/inquire about an item at any time. Please note, any items left at camp at the end of the summer will be kept until August 30 and any items left beyond that date will be donated to charity.
We encourage you to label EVERY ITEM you send to camp. If you take the time to label it, we will take the time to return it to your camper or contact you for pick up.
We try to encourage campers to stay with their age groups so that they can enjoy age-appropriate activities with new friends. If a camper is having difficulty being separated from their sibling, we can arrange for the older sibling to visit the younger sibling’s program, and consider a transfer if requested and appropriate. A transfer fee may apply.
Recreational swimming is offered for every camper, no matter the program, in one of our two saltwater pools. Recreational swim is supervised by lifeguards and staff who accompany the swimmers. The ratio between campers and staff swimming is strictly maintained and consistent. Mini campers will be required to wear a lifejacket at all times (provided by BHDC). Junior, Senior and Tween campers will do a swim assessment at the beginning of the week to determine if a lifejacket or deep end restrictions apply.
For those looking to complete a swim level while at camp, please consider our Swim Camp which offers daily lessons over a two-week period to achieve Lifesaving Society levels. Visit our Swim Camp page for more details.
While we all hope for warm, sun-filled days, when the weather isn’t ideal for outside activities, our camps will also have use of Branksome Hall’s three gymnasiums, Performing Arts Room, and classroom spaces. This also includes heat advisory days where we may limit or alternate outdoor activities in the best interests of health and safety.
A camper code of conduct is included in our parent information package for you to review with your camper before coming to camp. Camp guidelines and policies are explained to campers on the first day of each week. If there is a conflict at camp, our staff are trained to work with the campers to resolve the situation fairly. We do not tolerate bullying, violent behavior, inappropriate language or any behavior by a camper that would endanger themselves, another camper, a staff member or the group as a whole. At the counsellors’ or Camp Director’s discretion, the camper may be given a time-out to reflect on their actions and discuss appropriate behavior moving forward. Parents will be informed of any disciplinary action taken for inappropriate behaviour. In serious circumstances, when a camper’s behavior is repeatedly putting themselves or other campers at risk, the camper will be asked to leave and may not be allowed to return to camp.
All parents will receive a Parent Information Package by email in the Spring. This package will include all of the important information you need to know before the first day of camp. Should you have any further questions, you can always contact us at the Camp Office by email, camps@branksome.on.ca or by phone at (416) 935-4128.
We have a designated Health Centre at camp, supervised by staff, where a camper can rest and/or receive medical treatment. Our goal is to integrate campers back into their group as much as possible; the Camp Nurse or Camp Director however may feel it’s in the best interests of the camper or their group to go home. In the case of more serious injuries or illness, we will contact emergency medical services if required and parents or caregivers will be notified immediately. Each camp leader is equipped with a walkie-talkie that connects them to the main office, the Camp Nurse as well as other camp leaders. All camp leaders are trained in First Aid, and carry a First-Aid kit with basic supplies as well as medical information on each camper in their group.
Branksome Hall is located on a picturesque campus in the heart of Toronto, nestled in the residential neighbourhood of Rosedale, within walking distance of public transit and Yonge and Bloor streets.
Campers will enjoy exploring our 13-acre campus and our beautiful award-winning Athletics and Wellness Centre featuring two saltwater pools, a state-of-the art kitchen and dining hall, a spectacular gymnasium, rooftop garden, a high-performance fitness centre and specialized dance and yoga studios. Our campus also has four tennis courts, two additional gyms, a soccer field, baseball diamond and age-appropriate playgrounds for all campers ages four to twelve. For more information on our campus please visit: branksome.on.ca/page/about/our-campus
We love theme weeks! Our programs are themed on a weekly basis and we encourage campers and staff to embrace the theme and dress up each Friday. Themes we’ve had in the past include: Mission Impossible, Disney, superheroes, animal planet, beach week, Olympics AND MORE!
Staff are truly the key to a great camp experience! We carefully select top candidates for the interview process after reviewing their extensive application form. We look for staff with previous camp experience, as well as experience supervising or teaching children and the ability to connect with a variety of ages and backgrounds, skills that contribute to our camp programs, as well as camp characteristics such as creativity, enthusiasm, leadership, flexibility, well-being and a genuine desire to support camper learning and growth, to name just a few! All staff are required to have their Standard First Aid certification and we complete reference checks as well as a Criminal Record Check on all camp staff.
All staff must attend multi-day mandatory staff training held at our facility that is site-specific, reviewing best practices, risk assessment, emergency protocols, behaviour management etc. Our training is revisited during weekly meetings where staff discuss any immediate concerns and how we can improve and prepare for the upcoming weeks.
This is a difficult question to answer. In order to be offered a spot off the waiting list, we need to have a cancellation from that week, camp option and age group. Therefore the chances depend on the cancellations received, which are not known or predictable. They also depend on whether people ahead of you on the waiting list decline the spot, as they may have already gone ahead with other plans. We have had campers who are #1 on the waiting list and have not received a spot because there was not a cancellation, and others who have been #10 on the list receive a spot because those ahead of them decline the spot offered.
The best chance of being offered a spot off a waiting list is before or very soon after March 31, as parents can receive a full refund for cancellations prior to this date. The closer we get to camp, the more cancellations diminish, but they definitely do still occur.
It is best not to send an email asking about your waiting list chances. Rest assured we will contact you if a spot becomes available for your waitlisted camper. We usually send an email, and allow a 24-hour response time. Please note that once June rolls around, the time that our office team can devote to filling waitlist spots is limited. For this reason, if a spot becomes available within 2-weeks of the start date of camp, we will send an email to everyone on the waiting list and provide a 24-hour response window. We will allocate the spot, in waitlist order, from the responses received during that 24-hour period. This will allow a better chance of filling the spot considering the short time before the camp start date.
In order to ensure a safe and healthy camp community, Branksome Hall Day Camps requires all campers to adhere to any COVID-19 and/or health and safety protocols as they may be at the time of camp attendance. If your camper is not feeling well, please keep them at home and advise our Camp Office.
BHDC strongly recommends that campers receive recent and up-to-date vaccines against COVID-19, the seasonal flu, and any other pandemic for which a vaccine is available and recommended by Health Canada and/or the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health. We reserve the right to change illness policies at any time should it be warranted and/or recommended. If this occurs, we will communicate such to all registered families and our community as soon as possible and you will be given a choice on proceeding with your registration. Our camp will remain a mask-friendly environment – those who choose to wear a mask will be supported, however masks are not required. Cancellations due to illness MAY receive a refund, as outlined in our Cancellation/Refund Policy above.