Frequently Asked Questions

Allergies & Medication

• My child has severe allergy to peanuts/nuts, is your camp peanut/nut free?

  Yes. We are a peanut & nut free camp. If a camper comes to camp with a peanut or nut product snack, staff will take the snack away replacing it with one of our peanut/nut free snacks our Directors have. Directors will then contact the family of that camper to remind them of our peanut/nut policy.

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• Can my child take medication while at camp?

  If your child requires medication of any kind while at camp, you must sign a Medication Release & Permission to Administer Form giving permission for our staff to administer the medicine to your child. This form can be found online here or from our the Director at the camp location. Only the daily dose of medicine can be accepted at camp.

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• How do I notify you that my child has an EpiPen/Inhaler ?

  Parents with campers who have EpiPen's or Inhalers with them will need to complete the Medication Release & Permission to Administer form, handing it to the camp director at drop off.  EpiPens and Inhalers will stay with the campers, staff will not hold onto either of these.  Campers backpacks will be flagged with a tag for the week identifying that they have either an EpiPen or Inhaler.  

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Camp Hours

• What happens if I am late to pick up my child?

  It is important to adhere to our schedule and pick up your child on time each day; however, if you are late, you can be assured that your child will not be left unattended. For late arrivals, a Late Fee of $5.00 per child for every 15 minutes or part thereof will apply. Whenever possible, please call our administrative office to let us know of any unexpected delays to your arrival so that we can advise your child & our staff. 

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• What are your camp hours?

  Camp prgramming 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

   DROP-OFF  

  Morning drop off 8:45 am - 9:00 am

  Evening pick-up 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm

  Extended Care hours *additional fees apply

  Morning EC drop off 8:00 am - 8:45 am 

  Evening EC pick-up 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm 

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Camp Programs

• I am interested in your Little Sparkz program, what does it entail?

  Please select this link, it will bring you to the BrightSparkz website, who we have partnered with to run LittleSparkz.  They have a full list of FAQs pertaining to the LittleSparkz program.

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• What age do your programs start at?

  Completed Junior Kindergarten, with a year of birth of 2019 is the youngest camper we can accept for our programs in 2024. 

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• I'm interested in one of your specialty/sports programs, do campers take part in other camp activities besides the camp specialty?

  Yes, campers that are enrolled in any of our specialty programs, such as art ventures, works of art, stem, basketball, etc will take part in other camp activities throughout the day(s) as well.  They will spend approximately 2-2.5 hours a day focusing on the camp specialty and then the other portion of the day will be spent participating in other camp games and recreational activities. Please note: Fridays campers will spend less time focusing on the camp specialty as there are camp-wide activities that take place throughout the day. 

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• What sports programs do you offer?

  All-Star Sports

  Basketball 

  Climbing Encounters

  Tag It Bowl It Putt It

  Ultimate Sports

  
  

   

  Please note that not all programs are offered at every location.  To see what location a program is offered at and to check if your child is age-eligible go to our camp information page and search by location and your child’s year of birth. 

   

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• What programs do you offer for children who have just completed junior kindergarten?

  Children who have just completed junior kindergarten can take part in any of our Kinder programs we offer. For 2024 the kinder programs we are offering are;

  Kinder Max *offered at all locations

  Kinder Krafts *offered at select locations

  Kinder Scientists *offered at select locations

  Kinder Nature Seekers *offered at select locations

  Little Sparkz *offered at select locations 

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• How are children grouped into programs?

  Camp groups are organized by completed grade at the end of the school year.   For example a Grade 1-3 program would be for children who have either completed Grade 1, 2 or 3.  Close

Camp Staff

• What is the age of your staff?

  Senior Staff - 17 to 26 years of age
  Junior Staff - 15 or 16 years old

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• What training does your staff receive?

  All Planet Kids staff receive an extensive 40-hour training course and are CPR and First Aid Certified. Potential candidates are well screened before being hired and must submit a Police Criminal Check, fill out a detailed online application, as well as meet with our Senior Staff for an interview. Further information about our staff can be found on the our staff page.

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• What is the ratio of supervision?

  Our counsellor to camper ratio is 1:8 for campers completed JK - SK. Our counsellor to camper ratio is 1:10 for campers completed Grade 1 and above.

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Campers with Exceptionalities

• My child has a support worker at school, do they require one at camp?

  Planet Kids welcomes children with disabilities and exceptionalities to get involved in our programs. If any of the following scenarios apply to your child it is recommended that he/she attend camp with a support worker

  • extra support is required at school

  • require additional support when dressing and toileting

  • your child is associated with a support agency

   

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• Does Planet Kids provide support workers?

  Unfortunately, Planet Kids is not in a position to provide campers with a support worker. If a child attends camp without a support worker but is brought to our Directors attention that one staff is spending one on one time with the child the majority of the day, a member of our staff will be in touch with the family requesting a worker be arranged for the camper to attend the remaining part of the week/summer.

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Discounts

• Do you offer a Multi-Child or Returning Family discount?

  We do not offer a Multi-Child Discount or a Returning Family Discount. 

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• Do you offer any other discounts?

  No discounts are offered at this time.  Close

General Questions

• My child is shy and does not know anyone - Will they enjoy themselves?

  Staff are trained to be sensitive to the needs of all children and in particular those who are shy and apprehensive. Campers will not be forced to participate but staff will encourage them to join in all the group's activities -- a big part of a child's camp experience is their attitude and willingness to try new things and make new friends, and at Planet Kids we do what we can to motivate campers to make the most of their time spent with us.

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• Can my child walk to/from their bus stop or camp location on their own?

  It is our preference that campers are accompanied to and from their camp location by an adult. However it is our policy that campers who have completed grade 4 or greater are able to walk home with written consent. If a camper is walking home with younger siblings, they must have completed grade 6 or greater, again written consent is required. If you wish to arrange for them to walk to/from their camp location on their own, you must accompany them on the first morning of camp (no exceptions) and provide written consent to our staff of your arrangement for the remainder of the first day and week.

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• Can my child be placed in the same group as siblings? Friends?

  Yes, campers can request to be in the same camp group as a friend or sibling as long as they are in the same completed grade level, and of course, that they are registered for the same week & camp program. When registering, please provide the first and last name of the friend(s) or sibling. This information will be included on our weekly attendance lists for reference by our staff. If registering online, please go to the Your Child page after you are logged in. If registering by mail or email, please include the name of friends/ sibling they want to be in the same group with in the space provided. Although sharing a camp experience with a friend or sibling is comforting, campers should also be encouraged to make the most of their camp experience by meeting new friends - they're always glad they did! Please be advised we reserve the right to separate campers whose combined behaviour hinders the safety and enjoyment of other campers, staff or themselves, at the sole discretion of the camp's Senior Director. Parents will be notified.

  Please Note: for this summer changes to a child's registration cannot be made once the camp week is in session.  

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• My child has lost something at camp. What can we do?

  Although every effort is made by our Counsellors and Directors to ensure campers have all their belongings throughout the day, children often leave things behind and  lose things at camp. To reduce the amount of lost items & disappointment, please ensure your child’s belongings are properly labeled with his/her first & last name so that we may return lost items to them if found, and that you do not send their most valued possessions to camp. All items left behind at camp and found by our staff are laid out daily for campers to look through the next day - parents, please advise the staff at your child's bus/ camp location about the lost item. Parents are also welcome to come by the camp during operating hours to check the lost and found themselves. All unclaimed items are held for 1 week, after which, they are disposed of or donated to a charitable organization. Items of particular value that are found by our staff, such as personalized earplugs and medicines, are not  put in the Lost & Found. Instead, they are held onto by our Site Director pending return to the rightful owner. Remember: Campers are not permitted to have items such as ipods, cell phones, hand-held gaming devices, cameras (except in Photography Camp), jewellery or toys at camp. PLANET KIDS AND ITS STAFF ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOST OR STOLEN ITEMS.

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• What happens if my child is sick and can not attend their full week of camp?

  If your child misses camp due to an illness, we are happy to provide you with a credit equal to the value of the day(s) missed.  A doctor’s note is required, dated within 1 week or less of the absence.The credit option will apply to new registrations only, up to 1 year later.  Please contact our Administrative Office at 289-291-0870 to advise of your child’s absence and to arrange your credit.

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• Can I pick up my child early from camp?

  It is preferred that campers ARE NOT picked up early from camp. This causes a great deal of extra time and planning, and interrupts the daily camp routine for your child, other campers and the staff. Please make appointments and personal plans around your child's camp schedule.  If however an emergency arises, please contact our Admin staff via email or phone to advise them and make arrangements. 

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• Can someone else pick-up my child from camp?

  If an alternate person is picking up your child(ren) from camp, we ask that a note be made in the screening form stating the name of the person picking up your child(ren). The alternate pick will be required to text in your family ID upon arrival at camp. 

  
  

   

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• How many children are in each group?

  Our Kinder programs and All-Star Sports SK-Gr.1 have 16-24 campers with a ratio of 1:8.  All other programs will have 20 campers with a ratio of 1:10. 

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• How are children grouped at camp?

  On the first morning of camp, campers are placed in groups based on the program they are registered for and the completed school grade based on their year of birth indicated on their profile.  In some cases, campers may move up or down by 1-grade level. Please contact our Administrative Office in advance of registration, to determine if the program/age group accommodates such changes and/or immediately if an error has been made with your child's registration/grouping.  Please note; Changes to a campers group cannot be made after the week is in session. 

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• Can my child bring electronic devices/ toys to camp?

  NO. Campers should be encouraged to enjoy their day of fun, stimulating camp activities and are not permitted to bring electronic gaming devices such as smartphones, ipods, handheld gaming devices, toys, etc. to camp. Please keep these and other valuable items at home. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.

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• What items should my child bring to camp each day?

  We recommend that children come to camp every day with the following items; 

  • Lunch *peanut/nut free
  • 2-3 snacks 
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Hat 
  • Sunscreen 
  • Bathing suit & towel*if attending programs at Kelso 
  • Running shoes

  Please ensure all of your children’s belongings are labeled with their first & last names.  A camp checklist can also be found on the Week at a Glance and the home page of your family file.

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• Do you have an outline of what my child(ren) will be doing throughout the week?

  We do not provide a full weekly itinerary but, we do provide a daily showcase of activities on the Week at a Glance (WAG).  The WAG can be found by logging into your family file and selecting the PDF reader icon, beside the camp name, under your child’s name on your home page.  The front side of the WAG provides daily highlights of activities and lets you know if anything extra is required for the day.  The backside of the WAG gives information about the Theme of the Week, pizza day info, tuck shop info etc.  Close

Locations

• What are your camp locations?

  We have 4 locations for 2024.

  
  

  MILTON

  Kelso Conservation Area 5234 Kelso Rd, Milton 

  
  

  MISSISSAUGA

  Vic Johnston Community Centre 335 Church Street, Mississauga 

  
  

  OAKVILLE

  King’s Christian Collegiate 528 Burnhamthorpe Rd.West, Oakville

   

  St.Volodymyr's Cultural Centre 1280 Dundas St.West, Oakville

   

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• Are your locations outdoor or indoor?

  Our Milton location at Kelso Conservation area is a full outdoor program. Children attending this location will be outside all day long.  There are open-air shelters around the park in case of inclement weather where children and staff can seek shelter.   During extreme heat days, staff will modify programming and run games that require less activity, will include extra water activities, longer swim times*if possible, frequent water breaks, and run games in shaded areas and under open-air shelters. 

  
  

  At our location in Mississauga at Vic Johnston Community Centre, campers will spend roughly 70% of their time outside and 30% of their time inside at Vic. Johnston.  During extreme heat days, campers will still spend some time outdoors, with staff modifying programming utilizing shaded areas, more water breaks, water activities and games that require less activity. 

   

  At our location in Oakville at King’s Christian Collegiate, campers will spend roughly 40% of their time outside and 60% of their time inside at King’s. 

   

  At our location in Oakville at St.Volodymyr's Cultural Centre, campers will spend roughly 70% of their time outside and 30% of their time inside at SVCC. During extreme heat days, campers will still spend some time outdoors, with staff modifying programming utilizing shaded areas, more water breaks, water activities and games that require less activity.  

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Lunch & Snacks

• Is there a place for my child to re-fill their water bottle?

  Yes!  At all of our locations, there are plenty of water refill stations for campers to use.  Please pack a refillable water bottle for your child, each day.  

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• Are lunch or snacks provided?

  Lunch or snacks are not provided. Parents are required to provide their child with water, lunch and snacks, each day. (Must be nut – free).  Campers will have access to refill their water bottles throughout the day.

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Payments

• What is the payment process?

  Payment options vary depending on your method of payment and the time of your registration. Up to May 1st, registrations may be secured with a deposit payment of $50 per child, per camp, or may be paid in full. On or after May 1st, all camp fees are due in full. If registering online, you must pay with a credit card. Our site is secure and you will receive camp confirmation via email instantly. If registering by mail, you may pay by credit card or money order, or by cheque if registering at least 4 weeks in advance of the camp start date. Once we receive and process your registration, you will receive camp confirmation via email. If registering in-person at our Admin Office, you may pay by credit card, money order, cash, or by cheque if registering at least 4 weeks in advance of the camp start date. For credit card payments, we accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. For cheque and money order payments, make payable to Planet Kids Ltd. Feel welcome to contact our office if you require further information about our payment process.

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• What are the camp fees?

  Our camp fees vary depending on program and location. Please view our Information Package for a list of all the camps we offer, and their respective cost. This Guide may be accessed on our Camp Forms page.

  Extended Care Service ($30 + tax /week/family for AM or PM care; $60 + tax /week/family for both if at same location). All camp fees and services are subject to tax (HST). Camp and Option fees subject to change. 

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• Are camp fees subject to the Harmonized Sales Tax?

  Yes. The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is applicable to our services.  

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• Are refunds available?

  Full refunds are provided if cancellations are made online or requested in writing by May 1st.

  Partial refunds are provided if cancellations are made online or requested in writing after May 1st AND at least 7 days prior to the start of the camp(s) canceled. The refund amount is equal to the amount paid LESS a $25 Admin Fee + tax, per camp cancelled.

  NO refund is provided if cancellations are made less than 7 days prior to the start of the camp(s).

  Cancellation needs to be made online, requested by email or by leaving a voicemail at our office by11:59 pm Sunday night.

   

  Please allow up to 10 days for processing. Once your refund has been processed you will receive an email with your refund receipt, you will see your refund back on your credit card statement within 5-7 business days of it being processed.

  Payments made by credit card will be refunded by credit card. Payments made by cheque, cash or money order will be refunded by cheque.

   

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Registration

• Is there a fee to make changes to my registration(s)?

  There are no fees to switch camps/weeks.  If there is a price difference in camp fees, a refund will be issued if the camp you have switched to is less than the original booking amount, if the new booking is more than the original booking you will be required to pay the difference. If you wish to make a switch to your child's registration please contact our administraive office at pkinfo@planetkids.ca or 289-291-0870

  Please note: changes cannot be made after Friday at 5:00 pm the week before your child is set to begin camp.  

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• Can I change my existing registration?

  To make a change to your child’s camp registration after it is submitted, please contact us at least 7 days prior to the start of the camp. We will do our best to accommodate your request, based on camp availability, staffing, and group sizes.

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Safety

• What happens if it rains?

  Campers will seek shelter indoors at the facility, at either King's, Vic Johnston Community Centre and St.Volodymyr's.  At our Milton location, Kelso Conservation Area campers will use the open air shelters in the park. 

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• What happens if there is a heat advisory in effect?

  Campers at our Oakville and Missisauga locations, will have the advantage of ample air conditioned indoor areas to take shelter from.  Outdoor time will be limited for groups. Campers at our Milton location will use the open air shelters and run programming in shaded areas around the park.  

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• How is inappropriate behaviour handled?

  We want all campers to enjoy themselves at camp and PK staff are trained to ensure this is possible for  everyone. Behaviour that jeopardizes the safety and enjoyment for other campers or staff will not be tolerated. Please see our Code of Conduct for further details and our disciplinary procedures. Please advise our Admin Office if you or your child has any concerns about inappropriate behavour at camp.

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• What happens if my child becomes ill at camp?

   If a child or staff member starts to show 2 or more symptoms of COVID-19, they will be removed from the group, and brought to our designated isolation spot. Parents will be contacted and will be required to come pick-up their child. The child/staff member will be referred to an assessment centre for testing for COVID-19. In order to return to camp, the child/staff member will have had to test negative and be symptom-free for 24- hours.

  Staff caring for campers or staff who become ill, will maintain a distance of 2 meters (6 feet) if possible and wear PPE throughout the course of care.
  *Subject to change based on the Summer Day Camp Guidance in place by the Ministry of Health

  
  

   

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• What happens if my child is injured while at camp?

  All of our staff are CPR and First Aid Certified and are trained to address injuries (bee stings, scrapes, sprained arms/ankles, head bumps). Parents will be notified if the Camp Director feels it is necessary for the camper to be picked up early due to his/her injury.

  In the event of a more serious injury or illness, telephone service is readily available to call 911. Vehicles are also on-site to transport a child to a nearby health care center if our Director feels they should be looked at by a doctor.

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Swimming

• Do any of your programs include swimming?

  YES! Campers attending any program at our Kelso location will enjoy swimming for 45 minutes every day. All campers will swim at Kelso beach, where we have a private section for Planet Kids staff and campers only. If swimming is not available, other water activities will be put in place for the day, for campers to take part in.

  Swimming does not take place at eith of our Oakville location at King’s Christian Collegiate or St.Volodymrys, and our Mississauga location at Vic Johnston Community Centre.  Water activities will be run with the campers at these locations. 

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• My child is not a strong swimmer. What is the level of supervision during swimming?

  Your child’s safety and well–being are very important to us and we ensure campers are well supervised during swim times by both Planet Kids staff and certified facility lifeguards.

  At our Kelso location, swimming takes place daily (for most groups) at the beautiful on-site sandy beach, where Planet Kids has a stretch of private use. There are 2 lifeguards on duty, and no members of the public or other groups are permitted in our area during our scheduled swim times.

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• Are lifejackets provided?

  Lifejackets are available at all swimming facilities, including Kelso. Kelso Lifejacket Policy: All campers under the age of 7 are required to wear a lifejacket (provided by Planet Kids) while in and around the swim area unless their parent requests otherwise. Lifejackets are also provided to campers aged 7 and older who must wear a lifejacket at their parents’ request. Please indicate ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to your child wearing a lifejacket when registering for camp. Life jackets are mandatory for all staff and campers of any age while using a watercraft (paddle boat, canoe, etc).

  
  

  Our life jackets accommodate children up to 90 pounds.

  
  

  Any changes in your child’s lifejacket status must be put in writing and forwarded to a Planet Kids staff member or you may send an email to pkinfo@planetkids.ca. Please provide your child's first & last name as well as his/ her camp program & grade level.

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Tax Receipts

• Do you provide families with a Tax Receipt?

  Yes. Tax Receipts from the summer that just passed, will be made available for families to download and print themselves as a PDF, November 15^th each year and will stay available to print and download until October the following year.

  To download your tax receipt, from the Home Page select 'Get Your 2023 Tax Receipt' in the subnav bar below the PK logo, this will bring you to login, enter your email & password that is associated with your account, once logged in look for the Tax Receipt link in the subnav bar at the top of the page.  If the link is not visibile and you had registrations this past summer please contact our office and we would be glad to assist you.

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• Do your programs qualify for the Children's Art Tax Credit?

  No. Our programs do not consist of the minimum amount of daily activities in the specialty area of arts or sports.

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• I need to get a tax receipt from previous years, how do I get them?

  Please email us at pkinfo@planetkids.ca to request the tax receipt(s) you are needing. We charge $10.00/tax receipt, for each tax receipt that is required. The charge is in place as we need to go back through our system, retrieve the information and manually create the tax receipt. Payment can be made by cheque or credit card. Once payment has been received the tax receipt(s) will be sent to you via email.

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Transportation

• Is there a cost to use the bus?

  Yes. For us to be able to offer transportation and follow the capacity limits and guidelines for transportation in place from Provincial Health there will be a fee for busing.  The cost per child per week is $30.00+hst. 

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• Is transportation provided to any of your locations?

  For 2024 we will be offering transportation to our Milton location at Kelso Conservation Area and both of our Oakville locations at King's Christian Collegiate and St.Volodymyr's. Please check out our transportation page for bus details and bus stop offerings for each location.

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• Are the children supervised on the bus?

  Yes! We have Bus Monitors at almost all of our bus stops. Bus Monitors are Planet Kids camp staff scheduled to supervise children at select bus locations and on the bus to/ from camp, providing parents added convenience and piece-of-mind. Bus monitors also take attendance, convey important notes, forms and messages between parents and camp staff, including medication & medical forms, and provide copies of forms to parents who may require them. For certain stops and/or weeks, a Bus Monitor may not be available. Please view our Bus Schedules for further details.

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• Can my child only use the bus one way to camp?

  We do not allow families to only use busing one way to camp. If you have registered for busing it is expected to be the form of transportation used for the full week(s) to & from camp. If you have not registered for busing, then campers will need to be dropped off and picked up at the camp location each day.We understand that there may be a day where an early pick-up s required this can be accommodated a Note to Camp is required for the day of the early pick-up.

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• Can I add or change busing on my child's registration once the week has started?

  Once the week has started changes to transportation cannot be made. Any changes to transportation or a change to the bus stop your child is registered for, need to be made through the office by the Friday before at 5:00 pm.

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• Is it possible to select two different bus stops?

  To ensure that all campers are being accounted for correctly at each stop every day and to stay in line with our busing capacities we do not allow families to use two different bus stops, for morning drop-off and evening pick-up.

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• How will children be seated on the bus?

  Following the guidelines in place by Provincial Health, campers will be assigned a seat for the duration of the week.  Unfortunately, campers will not be allowed to move seats, throughout the week.  Please note: guidelines and are subject to change  Close

Website

• I forgot my username/password to login. What should I do?

  To login, enter the email address and password you provided when creating or last updating your family file. If you do not recall what email and/or password to use, Contact Us for assistance.   If you are new to Planet Kids, and do not yet have a family file, click Register Now then click Create a New Account to get started. You can change your email and/or password anytime upon login and going to the Your Information page. 

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