Summer camps give children and youth the chance to build new skills and make lifelong friendships - experiences every kid should have the opportunity to enjoy.
Our Every Kid Counts program helps to make camp an option for every child and young person in Kitchener and Waterloo.
On this page:
Donate
Every Kid Counts provides free 1:1 support for children and youth with disabilities at City of Kitchener and City of Waterloo summer camps. We also offer four weeks of accessible camp for youth aged 11 to 17 (YOUth Sense and All About YOUth Camp). The average cost of a city camp is between $115 to $230 per week. The approximate cost for a week of inclusion support would be $700. Without the Every Kid Counts program, it would cost between $815 and $930 for a child with a disability to attend camp. Our work is made possible by donations and community grants.
With your support in 2022, we were able to:
- provide inclusion support for 111 local children and youth at summer camp
- provide 197 weeks of support for children and youth with disabilities
- hire 34 knowledgeable inclusion support workers to provide inclusion support
- help camp staff implement inclusive strategies and programs
You can donate online or request a donation form from staff. Send us an email if you prefer a paper form.
If you’re using a paper form, please mail your completed form and cheque (payable to City of Kitchener – Every Kid Counts) to:
Every Kid Counts
c/o Inclusion Services
City of Kitchener
200 King Street West
Kitchener, ON
N2G 4G7
Our supporters
We’re grateful to our supporters:
- Canada Summer Jobs wage subsidy
- The Waterloo Region Record - Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Kids to Camp Fund
- Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association
- Airboss Rubber Compounding
- Costco Kitchener
- Orthopedic Bracing Solutions
- Kitchener Honda
- Goodlife Kids Foundation
- Downtown Community Centre Tuck-Shop
- DSD Charity Golf Tournament
- William Radtke Sheet Metal Ltd.
- Nelco Mechanical
- Pentair Canada
- Thomas Dunlop, community member
Request support
Learn how to request support on our inclusion support page.
Camper stories
Here are a few reasons members of our community support Every Kid Counts:
"Children can learn important social and communication skills, gain a sense of self-worth, increase self-esteem... all of which are imperative for healthy human development. I would like to congratulate you and your staff for taking the time to consider the needs of both the participant with special needs and their families." - KidsAbility
"Due to Every Kid Counts, summer program have become accessible to children who otherwise would not be able to attend. The whole community benefits when all children can be included." - KW Habilitation
"On the last day of camp, my son asked me if he could go again next year. He's been to 3 other camps in the past, and NEVER did he ask to go again. His inclusion support worker (through Every Kid Counts) made an enormous difference. We are eternally grateful!"
"My daughter had become very attached to me this summer, her support worker, Nicole, did her best to help my daughter feel comfortable. She also took a real interest in learning what my daughter likes and prefers, to help the transition of arriving at camp a more enjoyable experience. Nicole was always smiling and pleasant, she took my needs as a parent into account while caring and supporting my child. I am so happy with the time my daughter spent with Nicole and the other coordinators. I cannot wait to have my daughter back at camp next year."