Salvation Army March Break Camp is Affordable Alternative for Parents

As elementary school students prepare for their long-awaited March Break, some parents begin to look for affordable daycare options. In Burnaby, B.C., The Salvation Army offers an inexpensive March Break camp for families that are unable to cover the cost of private camps.

The Salvation Army’s Cariboo Hill Temple is one of many locations across the country that offers a March Break camp. Erika-Shaye Gair, who oversees the operation of the Burnaby camp this year, says taking part in this program brings benefits to both children and parents.

“This camp provides an affordable option and a safe place for kids to have fun, be themselves, and socialize,” she said.

While private March Break camps can cost up to $500, The Salvation Army March Break Camp in Burnaby costs only $50 per child. It is an excellent alternative for parents, as high demand has increased the cost of daycare. According to a Statistics Canada survey conducted in 2022, 46 per cent of Canadian parents have had difficulty finding affordable childcare. In addition, a recent survey conducted by The Salvation Army showed that 33 per cent of Canadians faced challenges managing limited resources in the past year.

“This camp provides an affordable option and a safe place for kids to have fun, be themselves, and socialize.”

During the camp, children divide into groups, which go to different stations to complete activities throughout the morning. These activities include games, random acts of kindness in which they put together care packages for local service workers, crafts, and Bible studies. In the afternoon, they participate in an elective of their choice.

“During their registration, the kids get to sign up for an elective that interests them. Our electives include baking, sports, wilderness survival, and an additional crafts elective,” Erika-Shaye said.

“During their registration, the kids get to sign up for an elective that interests them.”

The program is run by volunteers and Salvation Army staff. The staff takes care of the organization of the camp while volunteers assist in its operation. The Salvation Army in Burnaby encourages anyone that would like to volunteer with any of their camps to reach out to the Cariboo Hill Temple.

“Anyone that can volunteer time would be such an asset to us. Volunteers for crowd control, running games and looking after kids are always needed. If you like to bake maybe you can help by making snacks. We can also use help with check-in and check-out,” Erika-Shaye said.

The Cariboo Hill March Break Camp will run from March 13 to 17. It is an all-day camp, so it takes place during the same hours as school normally would. This program is open to children from Grades 2 to 7.

By Juan Romero