Children and Youth Programming

Day Camps

General Information For All Camp Attendees

Our Happy Herons Camps are committed to providing participants with a safe, welcoming, inclusive, fun and quality camp program! We plan various programs including PA Days, March Break, Winter Break and Summer Break that promotes a heathy, creative and active lifestyle and environment. Our camps include a variety of passive, active and creative activities during each day.

Happy Herons Day Camps

Our camps are about more than just keeping children entertained. Our camps also:

Provide opportunities to make new friends and build connections
Gives chances for participants to increase their independence and social skills
Spark new and continued interests
Allow children to try new things/activities and to challenge themselves
Help children unplug (from phones)

Happy Herons Day Camp Participant Rules

We ask that participants and parents/guardians be aware of our camp rules.

They include: Challenge Yourself, Remain Hands Off, Meet New Friends, Ask Permission, Listen to Leaders, Show Respect For Others and Property, Participate and Have Fun, Take Responsibility, Use Kind Words, Ask for Help, Tell The Truth and Try New Things.

Summer Day Camp

Make new friends and unforgettable memories at our Happy Herons Summer Day Camp 2026! Campers will enjoy hands-on crafts, exciting games, swimming, and plenty of free play in a fun and safe environment. We will have special themed days, weekly treats, and special guest visitors who bring unique activities. Every day is filled with laughter, creativity, and adventure—all summer long!

Registration:

Limited spaces still available! To see open dates or add to our waitlist, please email cbergsma@westperth.com. To review how program registrations works, click here. Please note that early and late care registration is now on a separate registration tab.

Participant drop-off from 8-9am and pick-up from 4-5pm.
Core programming runs from 9am-4pm.
Early care available from 7-8am.
Late care available from 5-6pm .
Camp is based out of the West Perth Youth Centre but participants will walk to Lions Park on a daily basis and to Keterson Park regularly.

View our weekly themes here! Special guests and activities are subject to change.

View information regarding our weekly special lunch and treat options here! Payments will all be completed online this year and amounts due will be added to your invoice prior to payment due date.

Daily Rate: $38.00
Weekly Rate: $180
Early Care: $5/day
Late Care: $5/day

If you are approved (or are awaiting approval) for subsidized child care, please choose "Subsidized" as the fee type when registering online. Please contact the City of Stratford to confirm placement. We will then follow up with you.

$38.00/week/child will be due at the time of registration.

New This Year** Weekly Summer Day Camp Payments (including treat payments) must be completed in April, May & June - prior to Summer Day Camp beginning. Before April 13, you will see a payment plan attached to your account with payments to be made according to the following schedule:

Week of Camp	Payment Due date
Week 1	April 13
Week 2	April 20
Week 3	April 27
Week 4	May 4
Week 5	May 11
Week 6	May 18
Week 7	May 25
Week 8	June 1
Week 9	June 8
Week 10	June 15

Any registrations made after their payment due date, must be paid at time of registration.

Lunch, three snacks, and reusable water bottle
Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
Running shoes
Bathing suit and towel
Change of clothes (if needed)

We are excited again to be able to swim daily at the West Perth Lions Pool!

Participants will not be permitted to switch pools during a swim. Participants in the small pool will not be required to wear a lifejacket unless decided upon by staff. Anyone aged 7 and under wishing to swim in the large pool shallow end will be required to wear a life jacket unless they can pass their deep end test. If passed they can remove their lifejacket but must remain in the shallow end. Anyone aged 7 plus will be required to take and pass their deep end test to be permitted to swim in the deep end.

Programs are subject to a $15 cancellation fee at the time of each cancellation. Refund requests within 7 days of the program will only be considered for medical and/or family emergencies. Please email to request a refund. If the program is cancelled, a full refund will be issued.

PA Day Camps

Camp dates follow the AMDSB and HPCDSB schedules for PA days.

Participant drop-off is 8:00-9:00am and pick-up between 4:00-5:00pm.
Core programming runs from 9:00am-4:00pm.
Camps are based out of West Perth Youth Centre

Lunch, snacks, and reusable water bottle
Running shoes
Bathing suit and towel

Daily Rate: $38.00

If you are approved (or are awaiting approval) for subsidized childcare, please choose "Subsidized" as the fee type when registering online. We will follow up with you.

Programs are subject to a $15 cancellation fee. Refund requests within 7 days of the program will only be considered for medical and/or family emergencies. Please email recadmin@westperth.com to request a refund. If the program is cancelled, a full refund will be issued.

March Break Day Camp

Check back in Winter 2027 for next year's information!

Winter Break Day Camp

Stay tuned for information regarding our Winter Break Day Camp coming Fall 2026!

Youth Programs

The West Perth Recreation Department offers seasonal children and youth programming based out of Mitchell. Peruse the programs below to find your next adventure!

Kidz Korner

Our After School Program provides a safe, active, and engaging environment for children at the end of the school day. Staff will pick up participants from Upper Thames Elementary School and walk together to the West Perth Community Centre. Families with children attending HPCDSB schools may also arrange for the Community Centre to be used as a bus drop-off location.

Participants will enjoy crafts, activities, and indoor/outdoor free play in a welcoming and supervised setting. Parent/guardian pick-up takes place at the West Perth Community Centre between 5:00pm–5:30pm.

Kidz Korner 2026-2027

Interested in joining our program? Contact us to have your child added to our waitlist. We’ll reach out if a space becomes available.

Visit Here!

Grades JK–6
$10/day
Monday–Friday
September 8, 2026 – June 29, 2027

Understanding Program Codes

JR Programs = JK & SK participants
SR Programs = Grades 1–6 participants
The numbers in the code represent the registration month and year.

Example:

ASP0127JR → January 2027 JK/SK Program
ASP0127SR → January 2027 Grades 1–6 Program

Reusable water bottle
After-school snack
Indoor running shoes
Appropriate outdoor clothing

October 12
November 6
December 21-January 1
February 3, 15
March 15-19, 26, 29
April 23
May 24
June 4

Programs are subject to a cancellation fee for each cancellation request. Refund requests made within 7 days of the program start date will only be considered in cases of medical or family emergencies.

Cooking With Class

Over the course of this fun and interactive 8-week session, participants will learn essential kitchen skills, explore new recipes, and build confidence preparing delicious meals. Classes are hands-on, welcoming, and perfect for cooks of all skill levels.

Our Fall 2026 program begins in October, and our current waitlist is full. Participants already on the waitlist will be contacted in September with further information.

Interested in a future session? Contact us to add your name to the waitlist for upcoming programs.

A special THANK YOU to our community volunteers for sharing their time, skills, and enthusiasm to help make this program possible!

We would also like to thank our generous sponsors:

McGratten Children's Fund, held within the Stratford Perth Community Foundation, for funding the acquisition of all cooking equipment and supplies.

Farm to Family for generously providing fresh, local produce!

Babysitter/Home Alone Classes

West Perth has previously partnered with SOS 4 Kids to offer virtual Babysitter's Course and Home Alone Safety for Kids programs.

These programs are not currently being offered by West Perth.

Please check back for future program opportunities or contact West Perth Community Services for information about other available youth programs and activities.

Quality Assurance

West Perth is committed to providing quality, safe, and positive recreation experiences for children and youth. As a HIGH FIVE Accredited Municipality, we use HIGH FIVE® quality standards to support healthy child development and guide the delivery of our programs.

HIGH FIVE focuses on five key principles: a Caring Adult, Friends, Participation, Mastery, and Play.

Interested in seeing what a HIGH FIVE program looks like? Learn more through our Reviewing Programs Together resource

For more information about HIGH FIVE, visit highfive.org.