Liz’s story: How one family found the perfect YMCA March Break program for each of their 3 children

29 February 2024 - by Dawn Yan

With updates from Tia Chung on February 29, 2024

March Break is every child’s dream come true: No school, no homework, and some freedom! Every year, Liz takes their three children Alex, 4, Ryan, 8, and Emily, 10, on a March Break getaway to Florida, Los Angeles, or another sunny destination.

This year, Liz started a business and realized it wasn’t the right time to take a vacation. To avoid disappointing her children, she searched for fun March Break programs in their neighbourhood. After Google searches and conversations with local parents, Liz discovered that the YMCA of Greater Toronto offers many March Break programs. With three children of different ages, interests, and personalities, Liz was thrilled to find the perfect YMCA program for each child.

Program #1: Licensed March Break Club

A child colours on paper with an orange marker.

Liz registered four-year-old Alex in the Licensed March Break Club program at the location where he’s enrolled in the YMCA Before & After School program. With a shy personality, it’s a comfortable choice for Alex because he’s used to the routines and environment. Plus, he’s still learning to complete small tasks on his own, such as getting his lunch bag, filling up his water bottle and finding his winter gear in the sea of cubbies at school, and Liz knew he wasn’t ready for a large camp environment.

Licensed March Break Clubs have full-day programming, ideal for working families, and are automatically offered to families enrolled in the YMCA Before & After School program.

An educator in a YMCA child care classroom helps two children pour baking soda into a small blue bowl to create bath bombs.

With small group ratios and licensed programming led by dedicated Registered Early Childhood Educators, Liz is confident that Alex will have a week full of fun and learning.

Program #2: Variety Day Camp

Eight-year-old Ryan is passionate about recreational swimming and sports, so Liz enrolled him in a March Break Variety Day Camp program. After hearing campers ages 6–12 use the Y’s aquatic facilities during the day, Liz knew it was the ideal program for Ryan.

A child in red swimming goggles holds a blue kickboard in front of a YMCA health and fitness centre swimming pool.

Indoor campers also participate in a variety of small-group activities throughout the week, including arts and crafts, sports, and cooperative games that enhance social and leadership skills. Liz knew it would be the perfect opportunity for Ryan to step out from his older sister’s shadow and make new friends while exploring his passion for swimming.

A child in red swimming goggles smiles while swimming at a YMCA health and fitness centre pool.

What also appeals to Liz: Ryan’s camp is located at the same YMCA Health and Fitness Centre as brother Alex’s Licensed March Break Club, making drop-off and pick-up a breeze.

Program #3: March Break Outdoor Adventure Camp

For Emily, 10, Liz wanted an interest-specific and skills-based outdoor camp. Emily is obsessed with adventure fantasy books, so the goal was to find a program where she could explore the great outdoors, try archery, and take on leadership opportunities. The March Break Outdoor Adventure Camp offers that and more!

A child in a purple winter coat holds a green archery bow, preparing to shoot at a target, outdoors in the snow at YMCA Camp Pinecrest

Located in Schomberg, Ontario, at the YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre, the outdoor camp provides children ages 6–12 with an opportunity to discover the natural wonders of the world through outdoor play, such as shelter-building, archery, and tobogganing. After reading positive reviews from parents about the March Break program at Cedar Glen and virtually touring the space, Liz asked Emily if she was interested. Emily was ecstatic about the exciting programming at Cedar Glen, so Liz immediately enrolled her.

All children are unique. The Y has a variety of licensed, indoor, and outdoor March Break programs your child will love. Since play is the primary way children learn, it’s at the heart of the curriculum-based programming at the YMCA.

To learn more about our March Break programs and how to register your child, visit ymcagta.org/schoolbreak. Registration for YMCA March Break programs closes Friday, March 8, 2024.

*Liz's story is fictitious, based on common experiences among our YMCA parents.