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General Information
Skills Ontario Summer Camp is a week-long day program for kids entering grades 7-9. The program runs in various locations across the province during the months of July and August, from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Through hands-on activities relevant to the skilled trades, campers develop communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills.
Campers take part in hands-on counselor and industry-led workshops that introduce them to a variety of topics in the industrial, construction, motive power, services and technology sectors; they explore careers in skilled trades through interactive games, industry tours and entrepreneurship programs.
The camps are facilitated in partnership with colleges, industries and community volunteers who are committed to giving the campers an outstanding hands-on experience. Note that schedules vary per location based on available volunteers and programming.
At Skills Ontario we are committed to providing a barrier-free environment which allows everyone to participate in our programs and competitions. During our consent form, we will ask about any accommodation required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the age of the campers?
Our camps are intended for campers entering grade 7-9 in the following school year.
How many campers will be involved in each camp? How many camp facilitators will be present at the camp?
There will generally be a minimum of 8 campers and a maximum of 18 campers at each camp, with 2 Skills Ontario staff s that will supervise the campers at all times, plus possible volunteers. All Skills Ontario staff undergo criminal records checks upon commencing employment. Our staff are fully-trained in programming, safety and emergency procedures, group dynamics and positive behaviour management, and are certified in emergency first aid and CPR C. All facilitators directly supervising the campers from affiliated partner organizations must sign Skills Ontario’s Code of Conduct and Declaration of Criminal Record. Our leaders are dedicated to providing campers with a fun, safe and memorable experience!
What policies are in place to ensure the safety of the campers?
Attendance & the Sign-in / Sign-out Policy: Each day upon arrival at the camp, parents will be asked to sign their child into the attendance list; similarly, they will be asked to sign out at the end of the day. This process is to ensure the safe arrival and departure of our campers. Parents who would prefer to give their child permission to come and go on their own each day can sign and submit the camper release permission form. We ask that parents please notify us by phone as soon as possible if their child will be absent for the day (or part of it). To ensure that the group stays together, our camp facilitators will take attendance throughout the day as we move from activity to activity. Workshop and Tour Safety: Large equipment, machinery or tools may be present in the workshop and tour environments. Safety will be stressed at all times. As an additional safety precaution, participants are asked to wear long pants and to refrain from wearing open-toed shoes and loose clothing during the duration of the camp. Long hair is to be pulled back into a ponytail. Failing to comply with these requests could affect a camper’s ability to participate in some activities. Running shoes are suggested for most activities. Any special safety equipment that is required, such as steel toe caps or safety glasses, will be provided at the camp. Camper Code of Conduct: There is a camper Code of Conduct in place for all participants that stresses the importance of a respectful and safe environment. Camp facilitators will work to ensure that these guidelines are followed at all times.
How can I contact the camp facilitators if I need to?
On the first day of camp, parents will receive a detailed camp schedule which will include a cell phone number for our camp facilitators. Messages can also be relayed through the Summer Camp Program Manager at campmanager@skillsontario.com.
What are the hours of the camp? Is there before or after-hour supervision available?
This camp is a day-program that runs from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily. Camp facilitators will be on site from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. daily. Campers can be dropped off or picked up within these hours only. Additional supervision of participants is not available outside of these times and charges will apply for late pickups.
Will lunch be provided?
Campers are required to bring their own lunch, snacks and drinks each day, unless otherwise notified. Due to food allergies, campers are advised to avoid bringing any nut-related products.
What types of skills do the students learn during the camp?
These camps include a variety of hands-on activities, which emphasize the value of employability skills and introduce participants to careers in the skilled trades and technologies. Many of the activities focus on soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem solving. Students participate in approximately four half-day workshops hosted by local professionals which generally highlight the following sectors: Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Communication and Service. Depending on the schedule, local industry tours may also be arranged to create a link from the information students learn throughout the camp week to the world of work. The camp participants have opportunities to see first hand the skilled trade sector careers that are available within their own community as well as a glimpse of an average work day within various skilled trade sectors.
Why is it important to expose students to these skills at this age?
So that they can have a greater awareness of the options available and the skills that are necessary to succeed both throughout high school and in the changing world of work beyond. Young people are making career choices at earlier ages. In fact, research from the Guelph, Wellington, Dufferin Career Education Council indicates that the average person changes their career 5 or 6 times throughout their working lives. There are so many options available!
Choosing the career field that best fits can be a challenge. These camps were designed to help provide career information about employability skills needed for any position... we place emphasis on employability skills in the skilled trades and technologies. These career options are highly dynamic and often people in these fields do work that benefits our everyday lives. Their roles help us to live happy and productive lives.
What workshops will be offered during the week of camp?
This will really depend on the resources that are available in each community where the camp is offered. Skills Canada-Ontario works with a variety of volunteer workshop leaders at the college or host location and the workshops are coordinated based on their availability and area of expertise. The length of each workshop will also vary per community depending on the activity that the campers will be doing. Each workshop will give the campers a hands-on exploration of one or more of the following skilled trades/technology sectors: Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Communication and Service.
What are the industry tours?
Depending on the community as well as the schedule, local industry tours may be arranged to create a link from the information students learn throughout the camp week to the world of work. These are generally set up at off-site locations and transportation will be coordinated to take the students to and from each tour. At the tours, the camp participants have opportunities to see first hand the skilled trade sector careers that are available within their own community as well as a glimpse of an average work day within various skilled trade sectors.
What is the "employability skills" component of this camp?
During the week of camp, participants will be involved in a number of activities that emphasize the development of employability skills, the work habits that youth will need to be successful in the world of work and other daily activities. Skills such as problem solving, teamwork and communication are a focus at the camp because they are essential to all careers and are easily incorporated into fun, open-ended activities where the students can learn without even realizing it. Following each activity, instructors discuss with the campers what they have learned, and why these skills are sought by employers.
Some of the camp activities that emphasize skills such as problem solving, teamwork and communication may include:
Towering News – It’s a bidding war to see which team can win the best materials at an auction to design the highest free standing tower.
Geodesic Domes – Work as a team to build a life-size free standing dome made entirely out of newspaper.
Egg Drop! – Design a secure nest out of limited materials. Put your nest to the test and don’t let that egg break!
What is the "building activity" component of this camp?
During the week of camp, participants will have the opportunity to express their creativity by building or creating projects that relate to various aspects of skilled trade or technology careers. These are classroom based activities that will be led by the camp facilitators. These activities may include:
Gliders – This is one of the most popular activities at camp! Campers thoroughly enjoy fabricating these projects made of Styrofoam and wood. Through investigation, students learn the impact that slight design changes make to flight performance.
Tin Foil Boats – Design your own mini-Titanic. Test its strength using the marble weight challenge.
What is the policy for camp cancellations and refunds?
If you need to cancel your child’s registration at camp, please notify us as soon as possible. Cancellations for a Skills Work!® Camp may be requested by sending notice to campmanager@skillsontario.com. Cancellations received up to 22 days prior to the start of camp will be subject to a $40 administration fee, while cancellations requested within 21 days or less are non-refundable. If your child cannot attend camp for medical reasons, please contact the Camp Manager. A refund will be issued upon receipt of a doctor’s note (subject to $40 administration fee if received 21 days prior to camp start date). No other exceptions will be made. Please note that camp registrations are non-transferable. Skills Ontario reserves the right to cancel a summer camp program location and will provide registered campers with a minimum of one week’s prior notice and a full refund.
