Saanich day camps offer options for parents
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Updated: July 06, 2009 11:25 AM
Summer days are here and kids are free from the confines of the classroom. But for working parents, that freedom can be just another name for the headache of finding quality child care.
Saanich is helping out by offering a lower-cost option for families. Day camps are running again at six Saanich parks this year.
The cost is $70 per week, or $20 per day for drop-in use.
The program is subsidized by the municipality, and open to all families regardless of income.
And because they're run out of playgrounds, not facilities with sports gear, the activities revolve around imagination and play, said Adam Richards, a community development planner with Saanich Parks.
"There are some camps where you can go and spend a couple of hours in a pool -- these camps don't have that privilege," he said. "So they rely more on the other aspects of camp, discovery, animation, storytelling.
"There's a theme throughout the whole summer so the kids get to follow the theme and be involved in the story of the camp."
The day camps are located at Copley, Meadow, Reynolds, Marigold and Horner Parks as well as Lochside School and all have spaces available, Richards said. The hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday -- except at Copley and Reynolds, where extended hours until 5 p.m. are available.
The program is open to children aged five-and-a-half to 11. Registration can be done at any Saanich recreation centre or online at www.saanich.ca. Day passes can be purchased in advance at rec centres and presented to parks staff the morning they're used.
kvass@vicnews.com
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