Summer is right around the corner and registration is already well underway for many local day camp programs.  

David Klassen is the Executive Director for the Steinbach Arts Council. He notes their Summer Arts Day Camps kick off at the beginning of July but his team began planning the camps a while back already.

“Nobody really sees the work that goes in way beforehand, the planning. We make sure that these camps are planned well, and that we have tons of activities for kids to keep them busy all summer long and we don’t just keep it to the arts, we put some sports and culture and swimming, we put it all into the weeks for the kids.” 

The City of Steinbach also runs a day camp program during the summer months. Cassandra Kornelsen is the Recreation Services Coordinator and says they have planned an excellent line-up. 

“We have different themes and different locations that we use throughout the City of Steinbach. One of our big locations is the A.D. Penner Park and the Steinbach Aquatic Centre so we incorporate all of those community aspects as well. We have six weeks of camps, so they start the first week of July and then we end the second week of August.” 

a group of kids pose in the grass The Steinbach Arts Council has been running their Summer Arts Day Camps for decades​​​​​

Meanwhile, in the RM of La Broquerie, Leisure Service Programmer Ian Dickie says they’ve got a full eight weeks of day camps planned. He notes they find parents are grateful to have this type of programming right in the community. 

“They run during those school hours, so 9 to 4 every day which gives an opportunity for kids to come and do some fun activities throughout the week. In the summer, it gives parents an option for a safe and fun place for kids to go for the summer and lots of great activities, burn off some energy, and have some fun.” 

The Town of Niverville also has a robust list of day camps that kids can get signed up for. 

Historically, the Town of Ste. Anne would as well, however, this year Recreation Manager Sarah Normandeau says a number of community organizations have stepped up. 

“Aethos Tae Kwon Do is running three weeks of summer camp out of the curling rink here in Ste. Anne. The Children of the Universe is running all summer in the arena were I used to run and Phoenix Cheer is running all of their programming out of their building, so we actually have three organizations. There was definitely room for me to get out and promote them.” 

In addition to all of these opportunities, there are also a number of summer sports camps put on by local clubs and of course overnight camps. Parents are encouraged to sign their kids up sooner rather than later so that organizers can plan accordingly.