Courses and camps

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Before and after school programs

In the Before and After School Programs at the City of Ottawa, children start or finish the day with fun! They play games and participate in sports, be creative with arts, crafts, and cooking, or get a head start on homework. In our programs, children make friends in a safe and dynamic setting.

Children have access to the best amenities the City has to offer: gyms, sports fields, pools, rinks and more. 

Programs are affordable with competitive rates ranging from $8 to $14 per day, depending on the plan you choose.  Sign up for the weekly program or try individual weekday options at participating locations that are perfect for hybrid schedules. 

Transportation plans between schools and Before and After School Program facilities are available. Contact your preferred location for more information. 

The City of Ottawa is a registered HIGH FIVE® organization. We commit to healthy child development and safety for children’s recreation programs. Choose quality for your kids! Children must be 4 years of age by December 31.  

For children who need a little extra support, the City’s Inclusive Recreation team provides integration support staff to help children successfully participate.

PA Days

When school's out, we're in for an action-filled day of activities. Kids explore the world of crafts, games and special activities while developing new friendships.

  • Ages four to 12 years old
  • 8 am to 5 pm

Browse PA days for 2023-24 school year.

Terms and conditions of registration

Programs must be paid for in full at the time of registration. Payment can be made by cheque, credit card, debit card or cash. Cheques are made payable to the City of Ottawa. Prepaid or reloadable credit cards, gift certificate, Visa Debit and Interac Online are not accepted at this time.

Waitlist

If a spot should become available due to another person cancelling or transferring out of the class, you will receive a call from staff. At that time you can decide whether to take or decline the spot. You may register in another class and on the chance your waitlisted course becomes available, you will be contacted to confirm if you wish to be transferred back to your original preference.

Incorrect age

Unfortunately, the registration system will not allow you to register if you do not meet the required age at the start of the program. Contact your local recreational facility.

Cancellations

Courses with insufficient registration will be cancelled. If a class or lesson is cancelled, every attempt will be made to re-schedule. If the class or lesson cannot be rescheduled, a refund will be issued.

Withdrawals and refunds

Withdrawals:

Withdrawals can be made:

  • Online, up to seven days before course start date for a credit on your recreation account.
  • At any recreation facility.
Refunds:

When requesting a refund, you must submit a completed Refund Request Form available at any recreation facility.

  • Refunds can be issued only by cheque, credit card, or as a credit on your recreation account
    • With the City moving to a new registration, booking and payment system, we are asking you to request a refund when withdrawing from a course, rather than adding a new credit to your account.
    • Processing fees are being waived for a refund of credits that have been on your account for less than two years.
      • The $15 processing fee will still apply to a refund of credits on your account for more than two years.
    • If more than 50% of the course/membership has elapsed, no refund or credit on account will be offered.
    • ​There are no refunds or credits for private lessons.
    • For admission and goods purchases, refunds will be processed at the Facility with proof of purchase.

Returned cheque /declined credit card fee

A service fee will be charged after two declined credit card payments and on all cheques returned as Non Sufficient Funds (NSF), Stop Payment or Funds Not Cleared.

Credits on account

Credits can be left on your account for two years. After which, refunds will be issued automatically and subject to a $15 processing fee.

Seniors’ discount

City of Ottawa residents who are 65 years of age and over will receive a discount of 10 per cent when registering for a City program. A proof of age is required.

Non-resident fee

Non-Ottawa residents will be charged an additional 25 per cent per person per program or membership.

Credit card payments in excess of $5,000

Credit Card payments totalling $5,000 or greater (within a one-month period) will be charged a fee of 1.99% as authorized by City of Ottawa By-law 2013-191. The City's Accounts Receivable Unit will issue a blue invoice monthly for these fees.

Medication administration

If the participant requires that City of Ottawa staff be responsible for storing, administering or supervising the administration of any medication, the participant or parent/guardian is required to sign a release waiver and submit it to the facility where the program is being offered. Contact the facility for additional information.

Severe allergies

It is the responsibility of the participant or parent/guardian to identify if there are severe allergies that require an auto-injector. The City of Ottawa attempts to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants with "allergen-safe zones and practices". Participants or parents/guardians are required to provide two auto-injectors and sign a release waiver to be submitted to the facility where the program is offered.

Enrolment and medication forms

You will need to complete the following form(s) if you are registering your child(ren) in a program that meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • The program operates for 2.5 hours or more at one time
  • The program is considered a before or after school program
  • The program is considered a day camp; march break camp, PA day camp, winter holiday camp or summer camp
  • The program is an unlicensed drop-off preschool program offered for two or more hours at a time (e.g. Duffer Doo)

All participants must submit a completed Enrolment Form on or before the first day of camp. If required, please also complete the Medication Forms and submit them at the same time. Forms will be emailed to clients and we encourage you to fill them out in advance. Printed copies will be available on site.

Payment plans

Clients have the option to use a payment plan for:  

  • Summer camps (payment taken the Sunday one week before the camp starts). 
  • Before and after school programs (payment taken the first day of each month).
  • Yearly Inclusive Recreation programs (payment taken the first day of each month).

Payment plans move the payment date to allow clients to pay for certain programs at a later time. Alternatively, a client may choose to pay at the time of registration.  

At checkout, the payment plan will be selected by default – uncheck the payment plan box if you wish to pay immediately. There is no extra cost to using the payment plan. This option to space out payments will provide some financial relief. Each summer camp is only one week long, but those who register their children for multiple camps throughout the summer will have their payments spaced out.  

Save your credit card on your account in advance to avoid having to enter your credit card information multiple times at check out. 

Register Ottawa video and FAQs
(calming music)
Chapter 1 – Account setup
To register for recreation and cultural activities online, go to register.ottawa.ca on a computer, tablet or mobile device.
Select the Sign In / Sign Up button.
You will need to either create a new account, or access your account if one was created for you.
To create a new account, select Join.
Enter your email address.
If you get a message that your email address is already associated with an account, an account has automatically been created for you.
Select Forgot Password on the sign in page. Enter your email, then go to your email inbox to find a message from donotreply@ottawa.ca with a link to reset your password. Check your spam and junk filters if the message doesn’t appear in your inbox.
If you’re creating a new account - enter your name and date of birth.
Create a password.
Accept the terms and conditions.
Enter your address, phone number and preferred language. The gender field is optional.
Complete the security feature to prove you’re not a robot by selecting all the images with a common feature, such as bridges or traffic lights. Alternatively, select the headphone button for the audio option and type in the words you hear.
Go to your email and activate your account by selecting the link in the verification message.
The message will come from donotreply@ottawa.ca and may get filtered to your junk or spam folders.
The link will take you back to the sign-in page.
Enter your email address and the password you just created, and complete the security feature.
Chapter 2 – Add family members
Your account has been created and you now have the option to add additional family members.
Select Manage Family Member on the right side of the screen, then Add family member.
You have the option to enter an email address for your family member or enter the same email address you’ve already used.
Enter their language preference, name, date of birth, address, and phone number. Select Submit. Select My Account to return to your account page.
Chapter 3 - Save credit card
You have the option to save a credit card. Select Saved Credit Cards under Payment and Order Management. Select Add a new credit card and enter the credit card information. The system accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express. No payments will be charged until you register for activities and check out. Adding a credit card in advance will help to expedite the registration process but you will still need to enter the 3 or 4 digit CVV number when you checkout. You will also need to validate your billing address on the first transaction.
Chapter 4 - Browse and search for activities
To browse activities, select Activities from the home page. You can filter by keyword or number, time, location, age range or type of activity. A list of activities meeting your search criteria will appear.
View more details by selecting the activity title. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find an email address for the facility if you have additional questions.
Chapter 5 - Create a wish list
You can create a wish list to bookmark activities of interest to make finding them faster when registration opens.
Select the heart icon to wish list an activity. Select My Wish list at the top of the screen to view your wish list at any time.
Chapter 6 - Register and pay
Once registration opens, make sure you are logged into your account. Find the activities for which you want to register by accessing your wish list or searching for activities.
Select Enroll Now on each individual activity.
Choose the family member you want to register. They must meet the age requirements. You can continue adding additional activities before you checkout.
Select Add to Cart to pay for your activities. You must accept the waivers. Select Check Out.
If you’ve saved a credit card, select that method of payment and enter the CVV. Otherwise, enter your credit card information and validate your billing address for your first transaction. You have the option to store your credit card for future use.
Select Pay. You will see a confirmation screen and will receive a confirmation email with a receipt. You have the option to print a receipt. To access your receipt at any time, select My Account, then Transaction and Payment History.
Chapter 7 - Withdraw
You can withdraw from an activity online up to seven days before it starts. Select My Account, then Transaction and Payment history. Select Withdraw. If you paid by credit card, select your method of refund (on account or credit card). If you paid by cash, cheque, debit or electronic cheque, you will receive a credit on your account. Select the blue Withdraw button. You can use the credit for future registrations and it will not expire. To request a refund for credits on account, fill out the refund request form and a cheque will be mailed to you

Frequently asked questions

I Love To programs

About the I Love To programs

Over 3,500 children and youth get to take part in organized sport, recreation and cultural activities each year thanks to the I Love to Programs, made possible by the City of Ottawa and Canadian Tire Jumpstart charities.

I Love to programs are offered across the City in parks and recreation facilities.

To learn more information about the programs or if they are offered in your community please email:

Please include the following information:

  1. Your child’s age
  2. Program(s) of interest
  3. Which neighbourhood you live in

Financial support – Ottawa Hand in Hand

If you are already a participant in a community or social service agency program, if you are an individual or family with a low-income or a family member with a disability, you may qualify for the Ottawa Hand in Hand recreation and culture fee support program.

Only residents of the City of Ottawa may apply for the Ottawa Hand in Hand subsidy, on their own behalf or for a dependent wishing to participate in programs or activities offered by the Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department (RCFS). For additional information on Ottawa Hand in Hand, the City of Ottawa’s fee assistance program, residents are invited to visit their local recreation or culture facility or any City Client Service Centre.

Please note: applicants will be asked to provide proof of identity, residency and of financial need and should be prepared to provide copies of formal documentation.

Applicants must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

  • Evidence of being in receipt of Ontario Works
  • Evidence of being in receipt of a Child Care Subsidy
  • Evidence of being in receipt of Essential Health and Social Supports
  • Evidence of being in receipt of Ontario Disability Support Pension (ODSP)
  • Evidence of being in receipt of Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD/MCSS)
  • Evidence of being in receipt of a Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
  • Means test using the Low Income Cut-Off
    • T451E Notice of Assessment or,
    • Child Tax Benefit Form
  • Special circumstances may also be considered (details to be provided in the application form).
  • Residents of all ages are eligible.
  • Residents are encouraged to apply as early as possible before the program registration period.
  • Each qualifying individual, or member of a family, is eligible for an annual amount of fee support ($185 per person).
  • Applicants are encouraged to pay a minimum of 25 per cent of the program cost.
  • A parent or guardian can transfer all, or a portion of their Ottawa Hand in Hand fee support entitlement to a child or children in their household.

How to apply

  1. If you receive Ontario Works, ask your case worker to complete the application for you.
  2. Complete the application form or, pick one up at most staffed recreation facilities or at a Client Service Centre.
  3. Bring the completed application form to your local recreation or cultural facility.

A supervisor will review the application for approval. Applications can only be approved at a recreation or cultural facility.