With the impending CUPE strike potentially starting this Monday, parents across Toronto and the GTA are either scrambling to try to find care for their kids or settling into the reality that they’re going to have to take a few vacation days to be home with their kids.
If you are in the former group, we’ve rounded up all the full-day and half-day camps that have opened up to try and help alleviate some of the pressure that the strike will place on working parents.
Electric Moon Theatre Company
For kids in Grades 1 through 8, Electric Moon Theatre Company has opened a full day camp on Monday, October 7, Tuesday, October 8, and Wednesday, October 9. The camp is a musical theatre workshop, there are 40 spots available each day, and the cost is $80 per day.
If the schools are open, Electric Moon Theatre Company is offering full refunds for anyone who registers. Learn more.
Toronto Athletic Camps (TAC Sports)
With camps open every day next week, TAC Sports is offering full-day, half-day AM and half-day PM options for their GTA School Strike Day Camps. The camps are running for kids aged 4 to 12 and they also have before and after care options available.
Their Thornhill and Scarborough locations are offering a sports camp (soccer in the AM and basketball in the PM), and a Lifetime Skills Academy camp (Lego ArchiTECT and Robotics, 3D Printing and Creativity Unleashed) for kids ages 6 to 12, as well as an adventure camp for kids ages 4 to 5.
Full-day camps start at $65 per day and half-day camps start at $30 per half day. Learn more.
Adventure Valley Day Camp
Adventure Valley Day Camp is offering Strike Camps for kids currently in JK through grade 6. The day will include an array of fun, educational activities including music, outdoor adventure, art, improv games, animation, and archery.
For the Kindergarten campers, an exciting day of activities that mix in nature, art, cooking, music, dance, sports and outdoor fun awaits!
The camp runs from 9:00am-4:00pm and extended care is available from 8:00am-5:15pm for an additional $12/child. The fee is $75/ per day and each additional child receives a 10% discount. They will also issue a full refund for all days that the strike is cancelled. Learn more.
MakerKids
Due to popular demand, MakerKids (Leaside location) has opened a one day STEM Camp to help cover the CUPE strike. Learn more.
Designher Co.
Dance, drama, an super fun design DIYs are all part of Designher Co’s Strike Day Camps. Full-day camp costs $89/day and includes a pizza lunch. All camps are fully refundable if schools are open. Learn more.
Hub Climbing
With locations in Mississauga and Markham, Hub Climbing is not currently offering Strike Days but they do offer climbing for kids if you need to drop them for a few hours to attend a meeting or get some work done. Learn more.
Evergreen Brickworks
Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto will be operating an “Evergreen Adventure Camp”. Learn more.
Just Bounce Trampoline Club
Offering full and half-day programs and extended care, Just Bounce Trampoline Club will give your kids quality trampoline instruction with circus activities, arts & crafts, indoor and outdoor games, weather permitting. $40/per day and open to kids aged 4 to 15 years old. Learn more.
Valour Martial Arts + Fitness Club
Valour Martial Arts + Fitness Club in Markham have decided to cancel all classes and are instead planning to run a strike. To learn more about their PA Day camps and register head to their website. Learn more.
Active Kids Zone
Active Kids Zone will be running a holiday camp program. The camp runs from 9:00am to 4:00pm with extended hours from 8:00am to 6:00pm. There is also a lunch package available for an additional $7.00. Learn more.
ViBE Dance & Fitness Studio
If you’ve got a dancer on your hands, ViBE Dance & Fitness Studio is offering Camp ViBE next week from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm for $60/per day. Learn more.
Lakeshore Fine Arts Academy
After receiving a ton of requests, Lakeshore Fine Arts Academy is running their popular Harry Potter week. The program is only accepting 40 students and the cost is $40/day. Kids can look forward to counsellors, snacks, games and movies and your kids will be enjoying the theme of Harry Potter! Learn more.
NTR Hockey School
NTR, located in Richmond Hill, will be holding a hockey camp for skaters with or without hockey experience. Kids can expect 1 hour of on-ice instruction, skating games, arts and crafts, and off-ice activities and games. Hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and costs $55/per day or $250 for the whole week. Learn more.
Elite Basketball Camps
Elite Basketball Camps are offering School Strike Fun Days Camps. Running every day next week, the camps are designed for kids ages 7-9 and 10-13. Cost is $90/day. Learn more.
Reptilia
Running a pop-up day camp, Reptilia in Vaughan and Whitby will make sure your kids keep learning so you can keep working. Learn more.
UrbanPark Indoor Playland
If you’re in Aurora, UrbanPark Indoor Playland has you covered with a Strike Camp running from 8:30 am-5:30 pm for $45/per day. Learn more.
The Little Artist
To help keep your kids entertained and working their creative muscles, The Little Artist in Toronto is offering full and half-day camps (running from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm). Learn more.
After-school care
If you already have your child in after-school care, check with them. A lot of before- and after-school care programs are opening up to take kids for the full day to try to alleviate the pressure put on parents due to the strike.
i heard that Variety Village is running a day program for special needs children with limited spots.