Salvation Army March Break Camps Give Participants a Week to Remember

Students happily welcome March Break. It gives them a week to relax after six consecutive months of study. While this short recess tends to be a favourite among the children, it can bring some stress for parents who may have to come up with childcare alternatives for that week.

The Salvation Army offers affordable March break programs that will not only help parents alleviate the childcare issue but also give children a chance to take part in fun, engaging and educational activities to make the most of their time off school.

 A Sense of Community

In Saskatoon, The Salvation Army offers a couple of spring break camps. In Saskatchewan, students have two breaks instead of one. The first is the week of Family Day and the second is during the week of Easter Monday. This leaves parents of young children facing financial difficulties with two weeks of childcare to cover. Fortunately, The Salvation Army’s Saskatoon Temple/church is happy to welcome students during these breaks.

“I think it is about fostering positive relationships and creating an environment where every child feels safe.”

“If you are a working parent making minimum wage, you may be stuck that week because your wage is probably not enough to cover childcare. We offer a very low-cost camp, and if families qualify for a subsidy, they only pay $40 for those four days, with meals included,” Captain Angela Kerr from the Saskatoon Temple explains.

The March break camp in Saskatoon offers children a balance of open play time and structured activities, including games and craft-making. This program also includes a Bible component, presented through fun activities. The lessons taught go beyond religious teachings, making them beneficial for all participants, regardless of their beliefs.

“I think it is about fostering positive relationships and creating an environment where every child feels safe,” Captain Kerr adds. “There is a sense of community that’s created within that.”

In Halifax, The Salvation Army’s Open Arms program offers a special March break program. Open Arms provides after-school care for children year-round. During March break, this service extends to full-day care.

“We hope to give them skills such as learning how to bake and other aspects—some things that they wouldn’t necessarily learn daily.”

Their program focuses on giving children useful lessons they can apply in their lives in the future.

“We hope to give them skills such as learning how to bake and other aspects—some things that they wouldn’t necessarily learn daily. We want to give them opportunities to do that with us,” Mitch Brower, the program’s coordinator says.

The other skills taught include building some bird feeders just ahead of spring and encouraging participants to build friendships with each other.

Open Arms’ March break program is free, providing meals and snacks. This assists families facing financial difficulties and offers additional benefits to parents.

“It is an opportunity for parents to get their children involved in extracurriculars, which is important. It also gives parents a few hours to run errands or do things that they wouldn’t be able to if they had to manage the childcare,” Mitch adds.

Lasting Impact

Both March break programs can accommodate 15 to 25 participants, which is similar to a regular classroom. The programs are primarily managed by staff, although volunteer assistance is always appreciated.

“Regardless of who you are or where you came from, you are going to find a place here where you know we will take care of you.”

“This is beneficial for high school students because they can volunteer here during that week and complete their community service hours,” Captain Angela says.

In today’s world, social media and video games play a significant role in children’s lives. Taking them out of this environment, even for just a week, allows them to share enjoyable moments with other children.

“We want it to be a place where children can feel loved, honoured and respected. Regardless of who you are or where you came from, you are going to find a place here where you know we will take care of you,” Mitch shares.

By Juan Romero