Mr. Speaker, the Department of Sport and Recreation has provided the Government’s Summer Day Camp Programmes each summer break for preschool, primary, and middle school-age students for over 50 years. To facilitate these programmes the Department works in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health to ensure that the necessary facilities are secured, and health guidelines are met.
Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of the school year, parents who cannot afford the private camps will be stressed to find placement for their children. This often leads to children being left home alone or in inadequate conditions.
Mr. Speaker, last year on May 14th, 2024, the Department of Sport and Recreation released Camp Connect on their website, the Government’s proactive solution to increase camper enrolment and significantly alleviate the waitlist. Camp Connect is a partnership with private camp operators to offer additional programs at an affordable cost to parents. Through this user friendly, interactive portal, the reality of these partnerships with private educational and recreational groups came to life.
Mr. Speaker, Camp Connect is the go-to hub for parents looking for comprehensive information on summer camps and an easier, streamlined registration process. Building on this, the Department is pleased to share recent improvements to the Government’s Summer Day Camp Programme, as part of our ongoing efforts to ease the burden on parents seeking safe and affordable summer options for their children.
Mr. Speaker,
The Government has been able to:
- Increase Capacity: An additional five hundred and forty (540) spots have been made available over the summer break. Offering over four thousand (4000) spots for children to attend these camps this summer.
- Extend Camp Duration: Camps will be available between June 30 through September 5, 2025. The duration will vary between camps, so visit the website for availability.
- Expand Variety: A broader selection of camp types is now available, ensuring diverse and dynamic experiences. We have added eleven (11) new camps to the site, offering 40 camp experiences. Users can navigate by category of interest or by the zone of the island they live in. We are extremely grateful to all the Camp Operators who are a part of the programme this year.
Mr. Speaker, On Monday, May 12th, 2025, at 9:30 AM, the registration link for Camp Connect will go live. All camps listed on the portal will remain at last year’s affordable rate of $60 per week, per child. Please note that online payments can only be made once registration has been approved. Parents and guardians are encouraged to visit www.sportsandrec.bm ahead of time to explore the available camps and decide which experiences they would like their child to enjoy this summer. Camp Connect is designed to make summer planning convenient and hassle-free, ensuring families have easy access to safe, enriching, and affordable summer programs.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.