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Inclusion at Rainbow

Rainbow Day Camp strives to meet the needs of every camper. Our Inclusion program is designed to provide support to campers who need it and who might not be able to attend camp successfully without it. An Inclusion Counsellor at camp is similar to an EA at school—they are assigned to one camper for the week, with the goal of helping that camper have a successful and enjoyable week. (“Success” can look different for each camper, depending on their needs and abilities.)

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To participate in the Inclusion program, your camper must be camp ready. This means they are able to:

  • Take direction and instruction from a staff member

  • Interact comfortably and safely within a group environment

  • Participate in camp activities at least 50% of the time, with additional support as needed

  • Participate in a way that is safe for themselves and others

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Being “camp ready” helps ensure the success, safety, and inclusion of all campers. All children participating in Rainbow Day Camp programs—whether independently or with additional support—are expected to meet these basic expectations.

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​Levels of Support at Rainbow Day Camp

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One-to-One Inclusion Support
One-to-One support means one staff member is assigned specifically to one camper for the duration of the camp day. This level of support is recommended for campers who require consistent, immediate assistance for safety, regulation, communication, or participation.

Campers receiving One-to-One support are expected to try to stay with their assigned group as much as they are able. Our goal is always inclusion, and staff work to support participation within the group whenever possible.

Rainbow can offer 1 week of 1 to 1 support (registration is first come, first serve on February 23rd at 9:00am)

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Integration Support
Integration support provides occasional or as-needed assistance to encourage a camper to participate and integrate within their assigned group.

Campers receiving integration support are expected to be able to stay with their group approximately 85% of the camp day, with support provided during transitions, challenging activities, or moments when additional help is needed. For this level of support, campers must be able to accept help from multiple staff members and be able to wait briefly for support when needed. If support must be immediate to maintain safety (for example, if waiting may result in running or aggressive behaviour), we recommend One-to-One Support to ensure the safety of the camper and others.

Rainbow can offer up to 2 weeks of integration support if available (registration is first come, first serve on February 23rd at 9:00am)

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No Additional Support

Campers who do not require additional support are expected to stay with their assigned group 100% of the time and participate independently within standard camper-to-staff ratios.

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Inclusion vs. Integration at Rainbow

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Integration means welcoming a camper to camp.
Inclusion means welcoming a camper and ensuring they are an active, valued member of the camp community—at their own level and in a way that meets their individual needs.

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Important Note About Support Selection

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The level of support selected at the beginning of the summer is the level of support required for the entire summer.

For example, if you choose One-to-One Support for your first week of camp, One-to-One Support will automatically apply to all additional weeks your camper attends. This consistency allows us to properly staff, train, and support both campers and staff throughout the summer.

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Key Questions We Ask Families

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To help us make the best decision together, we begin by asking:

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  • Does your camper receive extra support at school or in other settings?
    For example, do they have an Educational Assistant (EA), one-to-one support, or accommodations during the school day or in extracurricular activities?

  • When your camper needs support, can it be delayed or does it need to be immediate?
    This helps us understand safety and regulation needs. For example, if support is delayed, might your camper run, become aggressive, or become unsafe?

  • How does your camper manage transitions and changes in environment? At camp, we move in and out of spaces frequently and are constantly on the go. Campers do not remain in one room like they would in a school setting.

  • Does your camper do best with consistent support from the same person, or are they able to accept help from multiple staff members?

  • Does your camper need support with communication, emotional regulation, toileting, or following routines?

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These questions help us ensure we are setting your camper up for a positive, successful camp experience.

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Supporting Kids in Camp (The SKIC Project)

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If you plan on sending your child to Rainbow for more than one week, you may be eligible to access a worker (at no charge) through The Supporting Kids in Camp Project which is administered by the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington Dufferin. The Supporting Kids in Camp Project works in collaboration with Rainbow’s policies and philosophies to ensure successful recreational experiences for all campers. Rainbow is part of the SKIC committee throughout the year and works with many other camps and organizations in the community to ensure recreational activities are accessible to as many children as possible in the community.

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For Summer 2026, if you plan to use the Supporting Kids in Camp (SKIC) program, you will need to secure a worker through SKIC first. Once a worker is in place, Rainbow Day Camp will be happy to guarantee your camper a registration spot with us.

SKIC registration opens on April 1, 2026

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Private Contract Workers

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Rainbow Day Camp welcomes families who wish to provide a private contract worker to support their camper. Any private worker must be over 18 years of age and have a vulnerable sector check.

Please note that Rainbow’s Inclusion Counsellors are not certified to provide campers with MFTD (medically fragile and technologically dependent) needs. Staff cannot perform control care tasks such as cleaning or replacing tracheotomies or G-tubes, or delivering food or medications via tube or intravenous methods.

Families requiring this type of support may choose to send a private worker with their camper or teen to assist with these needs. For full details, please refer to the Private Contract Workers section.

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What kind of training do Rainbow counsellors receive?

 

Rainbow counsellors are typically University students who love working with children and who have an affinity with children with special needs. They get training in general inclusion;  de-escalation; program modifications; lifts and transfers; First-Aid and CPR-C; Anaphylaxis allergies and Epi-Pen us Principles of Healthy Child Development. This training is in addition to general camp training and extensive training on Rainbow’s policies and procedures.

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Rainbow counsellors all strive to ensure that every camper stays safe (first and foremost), has fun (a close second) and is included in all camp activities to the best of their abilities.

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What kind of support can Rainbow counsellors NOT provide?

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Rainbow Day Camp is a recreational program and is run by young adults who love being with children and who want to ensure everyone feels welcome, safe, and included at camp.

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Rainbow does not use holds or any hands-on behaviour supports, and we are not able to accept or support aggressive or harmful behaviour toward other campers, counsellors, or oneself.

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Rainbow is not a therapeutic camp. Our counsellors are not trained to support campers with high behavioural needs or physical aggression. They are not ABA or IBI therapists, Educational Assistants, nor are they trained or permitted to use restraint, holds, or physical interventions of any kind.

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If you feel your camper may require that level of support, we encourage you to contact the Administrator to discuss possible options and determine whether Rainbow is the right fit at this time.

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Matching a Camper with an Inclusion Counsellor

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All families/guardians seeking 1-1 support for their child or Teen will complete a ONE form in order to allow us to support your camper in the best manner possible. If you have already filled out this form for another camp or program, please send a copy to the Administrator – you do not need to fill it out again.

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The Inclusion Coordinator will contact families prior to the first day of camp and will select and assign a qualified staff to support your camper or Teen – this meeting is mandatory for all new Rainbow families asking for extra support at camp. If you are a returning Rainbow family, the Inclusion Coordinator will be in touch in May to touch base. Should families have any questions regarding this process prior to attending camp please contact the Administrator - rainbowdaycamp@gmail.com

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What happens if things simply aren’t working?

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Rainbow counsellors are known to do everything in their power (and even move mountains if possible!) to ensure a camper’s success. If for whatever reason, the camp is not a match for your camper, the counsellors and/or Camp Director and/or Administrator will be in touch with you to discuss options, strategies and ideas.

In a situation where a camper is at risk of seriously harming himself/herself, other campers, or any counsellors at Rainbow, you may be asked to pick up your camper for the rest of the day. If this happens on a few occasions, it may be that Rainbow is not the right match for your camper at that particular time or that counsellors are not trained to support your camper’s specific needs.

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