You can apply for a free Inclusion Services membership with the Town of Whitby. Valid for two years and eligible only for Whitby residents, the membership allows you to register for program support, camp support and discounted rates for aquatics lessons.

Some of our programs are very popular and can fill up quickly. We recommend starting your membership process as soon as possible to ensure it is in place by registration day for your chosen programs.

Apply for a membership

Fill out our Inclusion Services Participant Information Form to get started.

Once approved, you'll get a receipt and email or phone confirmation from the coordinator.

Swimming lessons

We offer private, one-on-one swimming lessons at a discounted rate for children who require individualized attention in the pool. We also offer semi-private swimming lessons (one instructor and three participants) at a discounted rate for children who can learn in a small group setting.

Camps

We offer Inclusion Services support for most of our summer camp programs. After choosing your camp programs, please contact our inclusion services coordinator before you register to inform us of your support need. The coordinator will then confirm your support is in place and let you know how to register for the program.

You can request up to two weeks of inclusion support for your child. Because of high demand, please contact the inclusion services coordinator early to secure your spot. If support is not available during the week you have requested, you will be placed on a waiting list and we will contact you if a spot becomes available.

We offer:

• One-on-one support for children who require a high level of support to have a successful camp experience
• Support for children who enjoy camp in a small group setting with two camp participants and one instructor

We do not provide support for Community Connection camps, Station Gallery camps, Evolve Skate and select other third-party camps.

Outside support workers

You can choose to send your child to their program with their own outside support worker. Please adhere to our guidelines when providing an outside support worker:

• Contact us for an accessible version of our Outside Support Worker Release Form, complete it and submit it to our coordinator prior to the program starting
• Obtain and submit your outside support worker's criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check to our coordinator prior to the program starting
• The worker is admitted to the program free of charge
• The Town of Whitby shall be released and saved harmless from any liability resulting from worker support

Safety and care

Safety is our top priority at the Town of Whitby. We consider the care needs and safety of every participant and staff member when determining eligibility and participation in programs.

Age appropriateness

For age based programs, we will work with you to evaluate each member's case and determine their program level when considering chronological age and developmental age.

Program adaption

We make every effort to provide participants with the best experience possible. We modify and adapt our programs to fit the unique needs of each individual participant. We do so by:

• Working with you to determine a strategy and approach to ensure the best program experience
• Using alternative equipment and tools for children with fears, fixations and limited attention spans
• Providing visual schedules to help participants with their daily routines
• Using positive reinforcement to encourage participation
• Providing sensory rooms at some camps to give participants a safe space to calm down or decompress when they are feeling overwhelmed
• Providing staff with the appropriate tools, training and resources to help adapt the program and meet participants' needs

Feeding, changing and mobility care

Please contact us for an accessible version of our Consent to Care form, complete it and submit back to us if you would like our trained inclusion services staff to look after specific needs, such as:

• Feeding needs
• Changing and dressing for activities
• Toileting and changing diapers
• Helping in transfers and mobility

Staff will not catheterize. We have two staff members present at all times during toileting or dressing.

Medication and severe allergies

Whenever possible, please administer medication outside of program hours. Contact us for a Medication Consent Form, complete it and submit it back to us if you are sending medication to be administered during program hours, or if your child carries an EpiPen or has severe allergies. We encourage you to use Medic-Alert bracelets in cases of serious or life threatening medical conditions.

We adhere to the following guidelines regarding medication:

• Staff will not administer needles or medication
• Staff will give your child's medication to them at the designated time
• You must send your child's medication with them each day, with the exact dosage in the original prescription container. They must hand them to the program leader for security
• Over the counter drugs must be accompanied by a doctor's note prescribing the drug
• We return all medication containers back to the participant at the end of each day

EpiPens at summer camps

Two EpiPens are required on the first day of camp. One will remain with the child (or the child's counsellor) at all times in a waist pack. The second will remain locked in our camp office. You can indicate your preference on the Epi Pen Action Plan.

If your child forgets their EpiPen, we will give them the second one from the office for the day. Both EpiPens will be returned home on the last day of camp.

We adhere to the following guidelines regarding severe allergies:

• Staff will help administer an EpiPen only if your child is unable to do it themselves. A participant who requires an EpiPen must have it with them when entering the program
• We do not serve food items containing peanuts or nut products and enforce all participants not to bring their own
• We cannot guarantee a wholly nut/allergen free environment for participants

Other allergies at summer camps

Please inform the camp coordinator after registering if your child has specific allergies. We will make accommodations to have the child avoid the allergen by informing other participants' families to refrain from sending the food to camp, having children who bring the food eat at a separate table, and washing all tables and chairs after each meal.

Refusing participation

The Town of Whitby reserves the right to refuse a participant's registration or require a participant to withdraw from a program if:

• The participant's needs cannot be safely met
• The participant poses a danger to themselves or others
• Staff are unable to meet the care level necessary for a participant's safe and successful program experience
• The participant's medical, physical or behavioural condition is significantly different to what was disclosed

If a participant injures a staff member or another participant, that participant will be sent home immediately. If permitted to return, we will work with you to determine a plan set in place to ensure a safe environment for all. If a second incident occurs after returning, we will remove the participant from the program.

Inclusion staff and volunteer requirements

All staff and volunteers in our inclusion services and programs must submit a criminal reference check before working with participants. All inclusion staff must possess current Emergency First Aid and CPR B certification, abide by our Inclusion Services Camp Manual, and attend all inclusion services training sessions.