Day camps will still go ahead

Gatineau, May 26, 2020. – Even with everything that is going on, Gatineau will offer a day camp service for the benefit of both kids and parents. Special measures will be taken to protect the health of the children and staff in accordance with the instructions issued by the provincial government. In order to follow the physical distancing and hygiene criteria set by Santé publique, fewer children will be accepted. Solutions will be in place to enable the children to safely enjoy themselves and to offer parents an alternative.

Quick facts

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Due to the pandemic situation, Gatineau has had to modify the way its day camps and activities will be run: - there will be no outings because of the measures imposed and the limits on the number of passengers on buses; - for the time being, there will be no swimming because pools are closed, but this could change as the summer progresses depending on instructions from the provincial government; - child care capacity for the 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m. periods will be reduced; - day camps may be cancelled without prior notice during heat waves; - day camps may be cancelled without prior notice in the event of a staff shortage; and - day camps may be cancelled without notice if there is a spike in COVID-19 cases.

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1,284 children a week will be able to take part in the day camps, which is approximately half the usual capacity: - they will be spread out among 31 sites throughout Gatineau; - the sites will be determined in the coming days based on their ability to meet the distancing measures; and - parents will be able to check gatineau.ca before the registration period starts to find out where the day camps will be set up.

●	Registrations will take place as follows in the different sectors: - June 1 at 6 p.m. for Aylmer sector residents; - June 2 at 6 p.m. for Hull, Buckingham and Masson-Angers sector residents; and - June 3 at 6 p.m. for Gatineau sector residents.

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Registrations are reserved for Gatineau residents, and require a valid Accès Gatineau card or a registration code: - Gatineau is extending by 90 days the validity to Accès Gatineau and Accès Gatineau + cards expiring between March 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021; and - residents who do not have a card can get a registration code by filling out a form at gatineau.ca before the registration period.

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Exceptionally, the day camps will run for six weeks (instead of seven), between July 6 and August 14, 2020. Until then, measures will be put in place to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved: - rigorous training for staff; - preparation of the facilities so the preventive measures can be followed; and - planning of a fun program for the kids, focused on outdoor activities without contact.

Quotes

“Although the day camps will not be the way they were before, Gatineau is doing everything to give kids a chance to make the most of summer safely. This service is very popular every year, and very important for both kids and parents. Since the start of the health crisis, we have been adapting to the new reality and to the government's instructions. We will also be adjusting how we operate the day camps so that we can continue to offer Gatineau residents a good service despite the situation,” explained Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin.

“I would like to thank the municipal staff for their exceptional dedication and efforts to set everything in place to welcome children within a few weeks. Our workers will be receiving training adapted to the COVID-19 situation developed by the Association des camps du Québec (ACQ). We are currently working with the school boards to adapt facilities maintenance in accordance with the instructions from Santé publique for schools where day camps will be located. Over the next few weeks, the day camp teams will be revising the program to offer entertaining and fun activities for the kids attending our day camps,” indicated Executive Committee Chair Cédric Tessier.

Associated link

For additional information about day camps

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