Committed to being a trusted neighbour, YMCA Calgary has prepared support for families if there is a school strike or lockout. This includes 3-hour registered programs for kids ages 6-9, increased onsite staffing to support drop-in visits to our youth room, pools and weight floor, and a special Camp Chief Hector Overnight Camp Experience.
We will continue offering these additional programs and supports until school services have fully resumed.
You can keep your children active and engaged at the YMCA through our:
3-Hour Registered Programs for Ages 6-9
During our 3-hour programs, kids will stay active with sports, explore their creativity through crafts, and enjoy outdoor play with a mix of high- and low-energy games.
Program times:
Morning: 9 a.m. – noon
Afternoon: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
You will be able to register for our 3-hour programs by clicking the link below.
Youth Drop In for Ages 10 - 17
Young people can drop by our youth rooms, weight floors or pools anytime to stay active and engaged. We will be increasing on-site staffing to effectively support young people during this time.
Camp Chief Hector YMCA Overnight Camp Experience for Ages 8-13
Camp Chief Hector offers an immersive outdoor experience for students to learn, build friendships, and have fun outdoors! During this 5-day, Monday-to-Friday program, campers will get the full overnight camp experience and participate in all of your favourite camp activities including climbing, hiking, fire building, shelter building, archery, arts and crafts, campfires, and more! All meals and bussing are included in the program registration fee. Students will stay in cabins at our Bowfort Lodge.
Registration for the weeks of October 20 and October 27 opens is now open. Additional weeks will be added if school closures continue.
Details:
Drop-off: Monday between 8:30-9:00am at Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge
Pick-up: Friday between 1:00-1:30pm at Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge
3-Hour Registered Programs (Ages 6-9)
Yes, you can register your child(ren) for both the 9 a.m. – noon and 1 – 4 p.m. time slots if spots are available.
If children are registered in both morning and afternoon 3-hour programs, lunch supervision will be provided in between programs. Children must bring their own nut-free lunch, snacks and drinks.
No. YMCA Calgary will not provide lunch, snacks or drinks. Please send nut-free snacks and lunch with your child/children.
Registration for the upcoming week will open at 10 a.m. on October 1st and will remain open until school service resumes.
When the school strike or lockout ends, we will issue full refunds for any program days after the labour action is officially declared over.
If a refund is requested while the strike or lockout is ongoing, then our refund policy will be as follows:
- More than 48-hour notice: Full refund
- Less than 48-hour notice: 75% refund
YMCA Members: $20
Public without YMCA membership: $24
During our 3-hour programs, kids will stay active with sports, explore their creativity through crafts, and enjoy outdoor play with a mix of high- and low-energy games. These programs will not include swimming or climbing.
Youth Drop In (Ages 10-17)
Youth rooms vary per branch. YMCA Staff will be on-site to engage young people with activities and games available at their location.
Youth rooms will be open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Yes, all 6 YMCA Calgary locations will offer 3-hour registered programs and increased staffing to support youth drop-ins to our youth room, weight floor and pools.
Standard drop-in prices will apply to access our weight floor and pools.
Camp Chief Hector Overnight Camp Experience (Ages 8-13)
The program registration fee is $522.50. This includes bussing, accommodation, meals, and camp activities.
Registration for the weeks of October 20 and October 27 opens is now open.
Additional weeks will be added if school closures continue.
Our standard refund policy remains in effect. However, refunds will be issued if school reopens prior to the start of the program week.
If school resumes mid-week, camp will end early and we will refund any remaining days of the camp. If enough notice is provided, camp will end the day before schools re-open and busses will take students back to Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge for pick-up between 1:00-1:30pm. Parents may also pick students up from Camp Chief Hector earlier if they prefer. We will communicate with parents about any changes to the camp schedule.
Campers will sleep in bunk beds in cozy cabins at our Bowfort Lodge. Cabins are assigned by gender.
We will provide all program registrants with a packing list that details items to bring and what to leave at home.
Existing School Programs
Yes. Tutoring Table will continue with all 18 weekly sessions. School sessions will move online or to an alternative site. Our lead tutors will contact all registered students with further details and guidance.
Yes. Brave Dogs (HON) will be offered temporarily to registered participants during the strike at Shawnessy YMCA on Fridays, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in the MP Room, with Indigenous Youth Coordinators Teigan Smith and Ibssa Fuentes.
For questions, please contact them using the emails below.
- Teigan Smith - teigan.smith@ymcacalgary.org
- Ibssa Fuentes - ibssa.fuentes@ymcacalgary.org
Yes. Our Drum & Dance program is unaffected by the strike and will continue to operate as normal, every Monday at the Saddletowne YMCA from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Please note this program does not run on Stat holidays.
Yes. YMAP programs are scheduled to begin on October 20 across YMCA Calgary locations. For school-based programs, if a school site isn’t available, we’ll move to an alternative site.. Our YMAP Coordinators will contact registered participants with more details and guidance.