Inclusive Recreation

• Inclusion One-to-One Support

  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.

• External Support Workers

  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.

• Youth Crew | Youth Adapted Social Program 

  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. 

  Browse Youth Crew Offerings 

• The RAD Club | Adult Adapted Social Program 

  The RAD (Recreation for Adults with Disabilities) Club is for 18+ year olds. This program provides a safe, dynamic, and stimulating space for individuals of all abilities to socialize and participate in new activities. Gym + Swim, Swim + Social and Golden are all options with different goals and activities. 

  Browse The RAD Club Offerings

• VOLT Hockey | 6+ Sports & Movement-Focused Adapted Program

  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.

  Browse VOLT Hockey Offerings

• Adapt-A-Chef | Children, Youth, & Adult Adapted Cooking Program

  Together we will cook or bake simple and delicious recipes. Participants will follow guided visual recipes and be supported in a sensory aware space. With assistance from Barrie Fire, participants will learn kitchen and fire safety tips!

  Browse Adapt-A-Chef Offerings

• Integrated Camps | Options for Ages 4–12

  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 Camps | Options for Ages 6+

  An adapted environment is provided including smaller group sizes and increased group supervision, activities adapted to individual needs and goals, plus longer transition times. Participants must be able to participate successfully in a 1:3 staff to participant ratio. The following camps are offered:

  Adapted Dance Camp | Ages 6–8

  This adapted camp experience provides opportunities for all kinds of fun! This camp will strengthen social skills and, promote confidence and independence all while in a sensory aware environment. Campers will participate in various recreational opportunities including swimming or water activities. 

  Browse Adapted Dance Camps

  Adapted Sense Camps

  Adapted Sense Camps offer all kinds of fun for two different age groups: Adapted Youth Sense Camp (ages 13–21) and Adapted 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

• Inclusion 1:1 Support for Summer Camp | Ages 4+

  The City offers two free weeks 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. 

• March Break Opportunities

  Integrated and adapted camp options exist for campers 4–21 years of age.

  Browse March Break Camps

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I know if my participant needs support to participate?

  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 .

• My participant does not meet the age criteria for a program. Can they have permission to register anyway?

  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.

• Can we remain in the room with our participant?

  No. All City of Barrie programs are independent activities unless otherwise indicated. Caregivers, siblings and friends are required to be outside of the program space. Some program spaces have a window or door where you view program activities. We ask that this be done not very often so that participants are not distracted.