YMCA Helping Hands
1:1 support for your child (ages 5-12 years)
The YMCA of Niagara strives to provide an inclusive Day Camp environment and welcomes children with additional needs and differing abilities into our programs.
Our Helping Hands program offers 1:1 support for children with physical and/or, developmental disabilities, mental health or behavioural considerations so they can enjoy a positive and supportive camp experience alongside their peers.
In the Helping Hands Program, a program support counsellor helps children integrate into the camp program alongside their peers while allowing for breaks or supportive direction and strategies when needed. Program support counsellors are day camp counsellors who have at least one year of experience working with children and have participated in YMCA training related to adapting programs and responsive strategies. Please note, while we do our best to support all children, we recognize that we may not be able to meet the needs of every child. Limited spaces overall and a limited number of weeks are available, and are subject to securing appropriate staff.
The 1:1 Helping Hands program may be a good fit for your child if:
- Extra support is required at school
- Extra support is required at home for basic care such as dressing and toileting
- A disability exists that may affect their safety in our program
- They require frequent breaks from group settings to support their self-regulation
- They are unable to remain in a group setting in a 1:12 ratio independently
It is also important to also consider the following when choosing Day Camp for your child:
- Camp programming runs full day, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Changes in program and/or routine may occur last-minute (i.e. weather changes, staffing changes)
- Camp is offered in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments and some camp locations share space with the general public
As outlined in our Day Camp Code of Conduct, campers will treat each other, staff, and themselves with respect at all times; solve problems collaboratively, include others in activities, and use non-offensive language at all times. The safety of our campers and staff members is a key priority.
Contact
To discuss the Helping Hands program and the potential of additional support for your child please email us at [email protected]
Helping Hands spaces are limited.
The YMCA of Niagara is committed to providing an inclusive environment. Through the support of our Stronger Together Campaign and other philanthropic efforts, the YMCA is able to offer the Helping Hands program to participants at a fee less than the true cost of a one to one support program. The weekly fee for the campers in the Helping Hands program will be $350/week, prorated for shorter weeks impacted by holidays.
Register
To express interest and to add yourself to the Helping Hands waitlist for camp, please register for “Helping Hands Intake” online here when camp registration is open.
This does not guarantee you a spot in the program but puts you on the waitlist. We will work through the waitlist and contact you if a spot becomes available.
Subsidy information
Families who are applying for subsidy from the Niagara Region should first complete the subsidy process for Helping Hands prior to contacting the YMCA.
Independent Support Workers:
If the YMCA is unable to support a camper in the Helping Hands program due to availability or the child’s unique needs, some families may be eligible to provide their own 1:1 independent support worker for their child. Independent Support Workers are arranged for and paid directly by the families and are subject to meeting specific YMCA requirements. Arrangements for Independent Support Workers must be finalized and approved by the YMCA by June 7th, 2024 in order for us to complete all necessary screening and training requirements. For more information on this option please contact the Integration Team at [email protected].