PA Day Camps will run from 9AM-3:45PM on all days. Pick up time is between 3:45-4PM.

Note: Extended Care is available from 8:30-9AM and 4-5PM on the day of camp.

PA Day Camp will run on the following dates:

• November 20, January 15, February 12, June 4

We will do our best to help your child thrive at our drop-off programs. Repeat behaviour that requires 1:1 support will result in the child being removed from programming.

Your child is ready for a drop-off program when they are able to: 

• Stay with the group during hikes and through transition times
• Listen and follow directions from group leaders
• Work with group leaders and/or peers to resolve conflicts in an age-appropriate manner

Your child is NOT ready for a drop-off program if they: 

• Have a habit of running away or moving out of sight from group leaders
• Exhibit repetitive violent behaviour
• Require regular 1:1 support to navigate their educational experiences
• Are not toilet trained or have frequent accidents
• Have recently been removed from a drop-off program for any of the above reasons

We do not make these decisions lightly.

If we find that your child is not ready for a drop-off program, you will be asked to come and pick them up. In the event that we do remove your child from a drop-off program, there will be no refunds.

Read our Registration Policies

Camp spots fill very quickly! Be prepared for registration day by reading the tips below and by making sure you already have an account. Learn more by checking out some of our tips for registration day.

At High Park Nature Centre, we believe every child should have the opportunity to connect with nature in High Park. Our tiered pricing model allows you to choose a rate that best suits your family while supporting our commitment to accessibility and ensuring our financial sustainability as a charitable organization.

• Tier 1 – Subsidized

  • Kinder Camp: $100 per day Junior & Senior Camp: $96 per day

  • Supported by your community

    • Don’t let cost be a barrier to accessing our nature camp. This tier allows families to access our camps at a slightly reduced rate from our true costs.

    • This subsidized tier has been made possible thanks to generous community members, making camp accessible to all families.

    • Looking for more financial assistance? Check out our Happy Camper Fund. This bursary fund allows kids to attend our PA Day Camps in High Park for free or subsidized rates.

• Tier 2 – Standard

  • Kinder Camp: $102 per day Junior & Senior Camp: $98 per day

  • Pays for itself

    • Covers the true cost of camp for your child.

    • Sustains our nature programs in High Park.

• Tier 3 – Support

  • Kinder Camp: $106 per day Junior & Senior Camp: $102 per day

  • Spread the joy of nature

    • Covers the true cost and supports two kids to attend camp at the subsidized rate.

    • Fosters inclusivity and facilitates accessibility in our urban wilderness.

Our youngest campers thrive with extra care and structure. To keep camp safe, calm, and fun, Kinder operates with a 1:6 staff-to-camper ratio and includes additional planning and supervision throughout the day. Our fee adjustment supports hiring and retaining highly skilled staff, maintaining safety standards, and delivering the high-quality experience families expect, all while keeping camp accessible through our tiered pricing options.

Need financial assistance to register your child for camp? Please apply to our Happy Camper Fund bursary.

We offer participants extended care for our nature camp programs!

Extended care runs at the following times:

• Before care: 8:30-9AM
• After care: 4-5PM

Price: $16 for one day
Note: This price covers both before care and after care for the whole week.

You can sign up your child for extended care when you register your child via CampBrain.

At High Park Nature Centre, we want all kids to experience the joy that time in nature can bring and grow up with a connection to the natural world.

High Park Nature Centre strives to ensure that all kids get the chance to experience the joy of nature. This is why we offer a financial aid program called the Happy Camper Fund. If you are in need of financial aid to attend our programs, please apply here.

Our Happy Camper Fund is made possible thanks to your generosity and support. Consider making a donation today to continue supporting this fund.

If a program is full, you may choose to be added to the waitlist through our online system. When a space becomes available in a camp we will contact those on the waitlist by email.

November 20th PA Day Camp will meet at High Park Forest School on 375 Colborne Lodge Drive.

2027 PA Day Camps will meet at either High Park Forest School on 375 Colborne Lodge Drive or the Cottage on 440 Parkside Drive We’ll be in touch as soon when we confirm which site programs will run from.

We continue to recommend using the TTC or biking as the best way to get to High Park and the Nature Centre’s facilities. The Forest School is situated just a 5-minute walk from the High Park Subway Station. The Cottage is situated just a 8-minute walk from the Keele Subway Station. In case you were biking, there are bike racks available in front of the Forest School or the Cottage.

A number of changes were made to the travel network within High Park as part of the High Park Movement Strategy that might influence your decision to drive to High Park. In case you’re driving we strongly recommend you to park your car at the public parking lot near Grenadier Cafe.

Please note, High Park is closed to cars on the weekends. If your program is on a weekend, you will need to park outside the park and walk in, or take transit.

Visit our How To Get Here page to learn more about planning your trips to High Park.

When registering for camp, you will be given the option to fill out a friend request for your child. For your friend request to be accommodated, please ensure that you fill out this form during registration.

Campers will be divided into counsellor groups based on age. If you know your child has friends attending the same week and age group as your child, please fill out the friend requests form upon your registration.

Friend requests must be made in writing at least two days before PA Day Camp. Friend requests made upon your arrival to camp will not be accommodated.

Note: Friend requests can only be accommodated for children in the same age bracket. Age brackets are organized by birthdate and not school grade.

• Please Pack Snacks For Your Child!
  Please be sure to pack least one snack for the morning and one for the afternoon. The more the snacks, the happier your camper!
  
  
• No Nuts, Please!
  The High Park Nature Centre is a strictly nut-free zone. Campers cannot bring snacks containing tree nuts or peanuts to accommodate campers and staff with life-threatening allergies. If your camper’s lunch or snacks have Sun Butter or Wow Butter, you must leave a note to let staff know that it is not peanut butter.
• Pack a Litterless Lunch
  We encourage everyone to pack a litterless lunch to reduce our impact on the planet. We recommend big lunches with lots of extra snacks to enjoy throughout the day. If your camper has any food allergies, accommodations, or dietary restrictions, please let us know.

At the High Park Nature Centre, we strive to create a safe, inclusive environment for everyone. We want to work with participants/caregivers/teachers to overcome challenging behaviours. Our staff use behavioural management techniques like setting clear expectations for behaviour, positive reinforcement, empowering language, and friendly reminders of what appropriate behaviour looks, sounds, and feels like. When conflicts arise, we guide participants through conflict resolution discussions so they can change their behaviour and continue taking part in High Park Nature Centre programming. When necessary, staff will discuss with participants/caregivers/teachers strategies for improving behaviour.  

A Program Coordinator can make the decision to remove a participant from the program due to inappropriate behaviour and refunds will not be provided. Participants will be asked to leave immediately. If the participant is a minor, caregivers will be called in to pick up their youth/child. Examples of inappropriate behaviour include (but are not limited to): violence to themselves or others, hateful/offensive/abusive language, bullying, damaging property, refusing to follow safety rules, repeatedly running out of sight, or continued disruption of the program.  

High Park Nature Centre promotes awareness and respect for nature through year-round, hands-on outdoor nature education and park stewardship activities. We strongly believe that an important part of connecting with nature involves responsible, active outdoor play.

At Nature Centre programs, we engage in activities such as playing in the soil, balancing on logs and getting dirty. Our staff prioritizes safety by establishing clear guidelines for all participants. Children are encouraged to decide if/when they are ready to participate in these activities and are supervised throughout.

Programs will proceed with rain, snow, or shine. Please be sure to dress your child appropriately for the weather as we will be outdoors for most of the activities. Indoor programs will be run in the case of severe inclement weather such as heavy rain, thunderstorms, snowstorms, or high winds over 35 km per hour.

If you have questions or would like to talk with staff about your child’s participation in active outdoor play, please talk with us.

Please ensure you’ve read and understood our registration policies. This includes:

• General Cancellation Policy
• Extreme Weather-Related Cancellation Policy
• Behaviour Policy
• Drop-off Program Readiness Policy

Hike routes through High Park might include some uneven terrain and mild slopes.

High Park Nature Centre’s buildings are not yet AODA-compliant facilities. We try our best to accommodate accessibility needs on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to us about any accessibility-related questions you might have.