Updated March 22, 2021
We are super excited to see some of our friends again in nature! We know that attending in-person programs again will be a re-adjustment. We have been working hard to ensure programs are fun, educational and safe. Please see the questions below. If your question isn't answered here, please email us at info@highparknaturecentre.com.
It will be different, but it will certainly be fun and adventurous! Our focus continues to be connecting with local nature through guided exploration, play and structured learning. Our staff are as enthusiastic as ever to explore High Park with your child. There are a number of changes we have made behind the scenes to make things safer, but the main differences you will notice from pre-COVID times are:
For sure! Programs will be 100% outdoors, but sanitized washrooms will be available at each of our locations.
Programs will continue outdoors in the rain. In severely inclement weather such as high winds, lightning or extreme temperatures we will:
We have made adjustments to our programs to make sure that we keep ourselves and our community safe and continue to follow the guidelines of Toronto Public Health. Although we are making efforts to increase health and safety, we cannot guarantee that your child will not contract COVID-19 at our programs.
Here are some of the ways we will ensure health and safety:
We want to ensure that health screening is both a thorough and safe experience for kids! We use the screening protocol from Toronto Public Health that is used for students in Toronto. We will have two options for health screening:
1) We will send a link to a form that caregivers can use to screen prior to arrival and show us the results upon arrival, or
2) The staff member leading the club will go through the screening questions with you in person at arrival before joining the group.
Because of diligent staff health screening, there is a possibility that some days we may not have staff available to lead the program. In situations where HPNC cancels a program, participants will be eligible for a refund for the canceled visit.
Unfortunately, we will not be refunding or able to accommodate make-up visits if you miss visits due to COVID.
To ensure the health and well-being of other participants, your child will need to stay home if your child has any of the following:
*Children who have an existing health condition identified by a health care provider that gives them the symptoms listed above should not answer YES, unless the symptom is new, different or getting worse. Look for changes from your child’s normal symptoms
If a camper becomes sick during the program, staff would separate them from the group to a supervised “quiet area”. We would take their temperature and track symptoms. If they are showing any of the symptoms listed above more than normal, a parent or family member will be called and will need to pick up the child as soon as possible (maximum 1 hour). A negative COVID-19 test result and being clear of symptoms for 24 hours are required to rejoin the program.
Participants can return to the program once they have received a negative COVID-19 test or a doctor’s note and are free of symptoms.
When we are outdoors, we will ask campers to wear masks when keeping a social distance of 2 metres is challenging. This happens more often with younger campers who find social distancing challenging. We continue to adapt our programs to make social distance a part of games and activities. We would always wear masks when indoors to use the washrooms. When social distancing is easy, masks are optional but still recommended. Everyone needs to have a mask with them. You are encouraged to pack a couple reusable or non-medical masks or face coverings, but we will also have some disposable non-medical masks available for campers who forgot theirs!
