Inclusive Recreation

Summer Camp Inclusion Funding Now Open

The City is dedicated to providing meaningful recreation opportunities for participants experiencing disability through both adapted and integrated program options.

Learn about the adapted programs we offer, including various Try It Events!

Inclusion Participation Form

Participants registering in one-to-one support or adapted programs are asked to complete the Inclusion Participation Form to provide additional information on their support needs.

Inclusion Services | Partners in Recreation

Success can look different in the world of inclusion. Inclusion Services works with families and individuals to understand individual goals and then can provide as many options as possible to ensure everyone has access to a meaningful recreation experience. We do this by using the Inclusion Choice Model.

If you're interested in one-to-one support for camps, please see the camp-specific info.
Inclusion one-to-one support staff are available to facilitate successful participation in all City recreation programs. Inclusion one-to-one support staff may provide redirection for safety reasons, allow opportunities for breaks, assist with personal care (e.g., feeding, toileting, changing, etc.) and more.
There is an additional cost and separate registration required for inclusion one-to-one support staff. Participants must register in one-to-one support in advance to ensure that support staff provided by the City are available.
To register for one-to-one support, please follow these steps:
1. Register into your desired program on play.barrie.ca.
2. Register into the “Inclusion One-to-One Support" program for the same dates/times as the program selected.
3. Notify inclusion.services@barrie.ca of your registration at least two weeks before the start of the program. It is important to contact Inclusion Services as soon as possible as it is not guaranteed that Inclusion One-to-One Support Staff will be available for the date(s) and time(s) requested.
4. Complete a Participant Information Package for the participant that is registering for the program. Updated Participant Information Packages should be submitted every two years or sooner when information changes.
As per the City's Health and Safety Policy, the City may require that a participant bring an external support worker that can provide a higher level of support. The support worker can be a paid support worker (at the family's expense), a family member or another non-paid individual. Not providing a support worker may result in the participant being not allowed into to their desired program until they are able to attend with a support worker.
The City of Barrie welcomes external support workers into our programs at no additional cost. All support workers must (a) be at least 16 yeas of age and (b) provide a copy of a Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check (dated within 6 months of the program start date) to inclusion.services@barrie.ca. To attend a registered program with an external support worker, please follow the following steps:
1. Register into a program on play.barrie.ca that meets the needs, hobbies and interests of the participant.
2. Register the participant (not the support worker) into the “Partners in Recreation" program for the same dates/times as the program selected.
3. Provide the Support Worker's name and current Criminal Reference Check to Inclusion Services at Inclusion.Services@barrie.ca before to the start of the program.

Adapted Programs

Adapted programming includes modified environments with smaller group sizes and increased group supervision, activities adapted to individual needs and goals, plus longer transition times. The East Bayfield Community Centre Drop-in Schedule (PDF) and Peggy Hill Team Community Centre Drop-in Schedule (PDF) include adapted/sensory drop-in programs. The following programs are currently open for registration:

Try it once or try it again and again! These activities offer opportunities to try out an experience or sport, such as:
Explore all Try it Events
Children of all abilities will connect with peers through a variety of interactive and fun recreational activities. Participants will develop appropriate social skills and experience new and familiar activities in this adapted and supported environment which will strengthen socialization and encourage movement and play. Children will enjoy sensory activities, active games and crafts in a structured environment.
Register for Club Connect
Teenagers experiencing disabilities will enjoy interacting with their peers and trying different recreational activities such as trivia challenges, game show games, ping pong tournaments, arts and crafts, music, group games, science experiments, movie nights and more. This program will provide an opportunity to warm participants up to Youth Nights that occur at Lampman Lane and Peggy Hill Team Communities Centre's other nights of the week.
Register for Youth Crew
VOLT Hockey has arrived in Barrie. Children, youth, and their families can try the exciting sport of VOLT Hockey. The electronic chairs are made with physical disabilities in mind, providing an accessible option for everyone to enjoy the sport of hockey. Participants can try the chairs, play games of 3 on 3, or practice their shots. No hockey experience required. All activity equipment is provided.
Register for VOLT Hockey

Inclusive Camp Experiences

Inclusive camp experiences are provided for kinder-age, school-age and youth campers (i.e. campers 4–21 years old). Adult camp programming is offered in the summer. Various integrated and adapted options exist for each age group:

Integrated camps provide a collaborative experience between inclusion services and our mainstream camp teams. Inclusion services will work with the mainstream camp programs team to advocate for needs, modify program plans to meet participant needs and goals, and will use their inclusion training to assist participants with making friends and becoming immersed in the mainstream camp experience. The following integrated camps are offered:
Integrated Kinder Sense Camp | Ages 4–5
This integrated camp will spend most of their time with Kinder Fun Camp enjoying a wide range of games, crafts and theme days. Participants will focus on building friendships and developing recreational skills.
Browse Integrated Kinder Sense Camps
Integrated Sport Sense Camp | Ages 6–8 and 9–12
Participants will go, go, go all day long in a safe and supported environment. This camp will be integrated with Sports Camp.
Browse Integrated Sport Sense Camps
Integrated Creative Sense Camp | Ages 6–8 and 9–12
Participants will imagine and create all day long in a safe and supported environment. This camp will be integrated with Craft Camp.
Browse Integrated Creative Sense Camps
Integrated Outdoor Sense Camp | Ages 6–8 and 9–12
Participants will get the ultimate outdoor experience, adventuring and exploring all day long in a safe and supported environment. This camp will be integrated with Earth Challenge at Tyndale Park or Base Camp at the Barrie Community Sports Complex.
Browse Integrated Outdoor Sense Camp
Adapted Sense Camps offer all kinds of fun for three different age groups: Jr. & Sr Sense Camp (ages 6–12), Youth Sense Camp (ages 12–21) and Life Sense Camp (Ages 17+).
In a sensory aware environment, participants will engage in a variety of active games and activities that will enhance social participation, encourage confidence and build meaningful friendships. Opportunities for special events, adventures and/or water activities will be provided each week.
Browse Adapted Sense Camps
The City offers one free week of Inclusion One-to-One Support for summer camps on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants must be a Barrie resident. Download the application to learn more & apply.
A 1:1 support staff is available at any camp to facilitate participation in camp activities, provide redirection for safety reasons, and allow opportunities for breaks (sensory, emotional, etc.). Assistance with personal care is available provided it can be facilitated by one person. Browse offerings for Inclusion 1:1 Support for Summer Camps.
If registering into Inclusion 1:1 Support, please ensure the participant is also registered into a corresponding camp program.

2024 Inclusion Services Calendar

Purchase your copy of the City’s 2024 Inclusion Services Calendar, which features photos of program participants and staff. Calendars are $20 each and proceeds are used to buy equipment for inclusion programs. Calendars are available at the following locations:

Allandale Recreation Centre, 190 Bayview Drive
East Bayfield Community Centre, 80 Livingstone Street East
Parkview Centre, 189 Blake Street
Peggy Hill Team Community Centre, 171 Mapleton Avenue

Frequently Asked Questions

A participant usually benefits from one-to-one support in a recreation program if they:
- Need or currently have additional support in a school setting
- Have a safety plan in place at their school setting
- Engage in behaviours often that could affect their safety or the safety of others
- Need extra support at home for personal care such as feeding or toileting
- Are currently using services from a disability or mental health agency
To discuss the individual needs of your participant, contact Inclusion Services at 705-739-4220, extension 4773 or inclusion.services@barrie.ca .
Following HIGH FIVE® guidelines, all programs are designed to be developmentally appropriate for a specific age range.
Age overrides are considered on a case-by-case basis and can be directed to Recreation Information at recreation.information@barrie.ca. If the age override is needed for an adapted program or for inclusion one-to-one support, please contact inclusion.services@barrie.ca.
If an age override is given, the instructor will decide whether the course is a good fit for the participants. Instructors may discuss other program options with the caregiver if needed.