OCSB Continuing & Community Education Camps were buzzing with excitement this year! Offered during Christmas, March Break, and Summer, our camps were a dynamic blend of fun, games, and educational development for students from all school boards.
Christmas Break Camps
OCSB Christmas Break Camps build friendships and enhance social skills while staying active over the break. This year, we had 218 campers hosted across six OCSB sites. Right Way Basketball hosted their popular 3-day clinic at three of our sites, providing campers with important skills and concepts for the game of basketball. Game On ran their first Christmas Break Camp since 2019 to develop and improve movement skills through various sports. Notably, Maverick Volleyball offered programs at two sites for the first time, introducing participants to leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship. The volleyball camp was so successful that Maverick is now interested in adding this program to its yearly calendar!
March Break Camps
OCSB March Break Camps are all about developing resilience, building confidence, and having fun. With 242 campers this year, Right Way Basketball and Maverick Volleyball provided incredible opportunities to help players grow and develop their skills and relationships. Game On March Break Camp was in high demand this year, selling out its camp at Frank Ryan Catholic Intermediate School!
Summer Camps and Programs
Our OCSB Summer Camps catered to every interest. Whether a camper is into robotics, gaming, culinary arts, health and wellness, the great outdoors, or the visual arts, we had something for everyone! With an impressive 28% increase in enrollment from last year, we welcomed a record 5,147 campers across Ottawa. This year, we also introduced a fantastic new camp provider, Busy Minds Ed, who brought a fun and engaging focus on physical, mental, and overall well-being, adding even more joy to our camps.
Focus On Youth and the Summer Learning Program
This summer, the Focus On Youth (FOY) program supported 84 high school students recommended by their student services staff from six of our high schools: St. Pius X, Lester B. Pearson Catholic, Immaculata, St. Paul, Notre Dame, and St. Patrick’s. FOY students participated in a 6-week paid-work placement as either a Camp Counselor Assistant at one of our 20 Community locations or as a Caretaker Assistant at an OCSB site. Throughout the program, students were guided by OCSB staff members, which included Educators who monitored their day-to-day progress, an Administrator providing overarching supervision, and a Program Coordinator facilitating backend support.
Due to funding availability, the Ministry of Education approved the OCSB to extend FOY student work placements by one additional week, bringing the student’s total summer work term from 6 weeks to 7 weeks. The benefit was mutual for both students and placement organizations; students who were interested had the opportunity to earn extra money, and organizations had the opportunity to fulfill their staffing requirements further.
The Ministry of Education FOY funding also supported free afternoon camp to support 177 Elementary students in our morning Summer Learning Program. In the mornings, students experienced educational learning focusing on math and literacy skills and enjoyed activities, such as computer skills and recreation, during the second half of each day with the Focus on Youth camp.
A highlight this summer was when members of the Ottawa soccer community, Atlético Ottawa, Carleton University, and Ottawa South United, visited our OCSB Summer Learning Program’s afternoon Active Camps. The athletes and staff shared their journey and motivational words about dedication, teamwork, and perseverance with the campers. With guidance from Kwesi Loney, Director of High-Performance Sport at Carleton University, and involvement with Atlético Ottawa, they also led them through soccer exercises and fun activities, as they provided them with tips and techniques. Throughout the visits, there was a strong sense of inspiration, engagement, and joy in all the children’s faces. We thank the athletes and staff for volunteering their time; the visits left a lasting impression, sparking motivation and big dreams!