We JUST finished Winter Break but I know many of you parents are already feeling pressure to organize March Break and even Summer Break plans. You have to be prepared…camps fill up fast! I wanted to help make your job a little bit easier so I started to compile a list of camps that I have heard good things about. Then, I put the question up on the Embracing Ottawa Facebook page and so many of you chimed in with your recommendations (thank you!). So, I am writing this March Break Camps post now, and hoping to get the Summer Camp post up soon. If I have missed a camp you would recommend, feel free to leave me a comment and I will add it to the blog!

I have tried to list the march break camps from EAST to WEST (mostly)…so you will find Orleans camps at the top, and the west end camps towards the bottom with everything in between.

• City of Ottawa – multiple locations all across the city, with different age groups and so many different activities to choose from (dance, puppetry, swimming, multi sport, babysitters camp, game makers, computers, science and much much more). The Guides are now online but registration doesn’t open until January 15 at 9 pm.
• Earth Path – Just Food Farm, 2391 Pepin Court, A week of forest adventures, involving lots of nature-based games, exploring animal lives, building with snow, fire-making and food roasting, carving projects like making bows/arrows or coal-burned spoons, wilderness/survival skills, and if the weather is right, maple tapping. For ages 7-12 years old.
• Tumblers Gymnastics – Orleans, full day or half day options either morning or afternoon for recreational gymnastics.
• Club de Gymnastique les Sittelles – Orleans, %100 french gymnastics camps for ages 4 years old and up.
• University of Ottawa GeeGees Camps – University of Ottawa, Centretown, offering multi sports camps and specialized sports camps, camps include daily lunches and snacks.
• University of Ottawa Engineering Camps – offered at the University of Ottawa campus as well as locations in Orleans and Kanata, for kids in JK to grade 6, learn through chemistry, robots, engineering and much more.
• RA Centre – 2451 Riverside Dr, offering three March Break camps including Junior Day Camp (ages 4 and 5), Day Camp (ages 6-11) and Multi-Sport Camp (ages 6-9). Campers can register by the day or for the whole week.
• Old Ottawa South Community Association – 260 Sunnyside Ave, offering a range of activities for ages JK to gr 7.
• Jack Purcell Recreation Association – downtown at Elgin and Lewis, for ages 5-12, fun games, swimming, cooking, crafts and an awesome out trip to Mount Pakenham for tubing.
• Starr Gymnastics – camps offered at 3 different locations, full day full week camps, half day full week camps, and one day full day of one day half day camps. 
• Sensplex Hockey Camps – run out of the East and West at Richcraft Sensplex and Bells Sensplex, full day hockey camps offered for ages from 5-12 years old.
• Maverick Volleyball Camps – at Immaculate HS, offering an elite volleyball camp but also novice camps and multisport camp, it is possible to register for individual days or the entire week. 
• Ottawa Art Gallery – takes place at the gallery downtown, for kids aged 8-12 yrs, campers will explore the Gallery and directly engage with the exhibits at this fun, friendly and bilingual day camp.
• Carleton University Athletics – located at Carleton University, large array of different camps from multi sport and high performance camps, plus art camps and more. Full week and single day registrations available.
• Ottawa Humane Society – 245 W Hunt Club Rd, a great option if you have an animal lover, campers will work together to complete a scavenger hunt check-list throughout the entire week.
• Camp Fortune – ski hill in Gatineau Park, ski lessons where you can do half day, morning or afternoon or full day.
• Dovercourt – in Westboro, offering a wide range of camps such as Lego camps, performing arts, ski and snowboard, sports camps, visual and culinary arts, for ages ranging from 3 years old all the way up to 17 years old. 
• Ottawa Gymnastics Centre – Westboro Village, The week will be filled with lots of activities including gymnastics, trampoline, games, challenges, outdoor play and much more. 
• Wild Child Coffee Project – Westboro Village, for ages 4-6 yrs old, can sign up for full day, full week or half days. Only 10 spots available. Children will enjoy a week of fun with creative clay sculptures, science experiments, building with lego, crafts and more. Register by emailing Paige@wildchildcoffeeproject.com .
• Beehive Studio – new location at 396 Athlone, Westboro, art camp for children aged 6 to 10 years old. The camps are half day in a small group.
• ProCare Family Centre – 78 Holland Ave, Westboro, for ages 4 to 7 years old.
• Soloway Jewish Community Centre – 21 Nadolny Sachs, different camps offered including a mixed offering of sports, swimming, art and science, plus a travelling sports camp.
• Fusion Volleyball Camps – locations to be announced, volleyball camps offered for beginners to advanced players, details yet to be announced.
• Master Volleyball Training Camps – locations to be announced, elite volleyball camps for girls aged 12-17 years old. Details to be posted soon.
• OCR Academy of Ottawa – 1140 Morrison Dr, ninja training through obstacles , fitness challenges, games, sports, crafts and more.
• Stagecraft Theatre School – Centrepointe Theatre, A week long experience of the thrill and buzz of the Broadway stage for Grades Sk to grade 12.
• Corona School of Gymnastics – Nepean, offers half day and full day camps, starting at 3 years old and up. Camps are organized and well run, good for both boys and girls.
• Royale Equestrian – Woodroffe Ave, Barrhaven, horse riding camp for kids age 6 to 14 years old, no experience necessary.
• My Gym Ottawa – in Barrhaven, children participate in fitness games, and non-competitive gymnastics and sports.
• Altitude Climbing Gym – locations in Gatineau and Kanata, , for kids aged 6-14, learn the basics of climbing and have fun climbing to new heights.
• Kanata Academy of Martial Arts – Hazeldean Rd, march break camp is Nerf War week themed.
• Kanata Montessori School – Michael Copland Dr, for ages 3-12, many activities including field trips, swim outings, games, crafts, songs, stories, baking, weekly themes, special events and visitors.  There is also a large playground, gymnasium, soccer field and forest area to enjoy.
• Mount Pakenham – in Pakenham, west of Ottawa, ski lessons offered in a full day camp for ages 6-14 years old.

I did have some requests to try and include any free or low cost march break camps. I haven’t come across any free camps in my searches although I have heard that some churches offer them. If anyone has any details please pass them along.

Closer to March holiday I will do another post with drop-in activities and different ideas to keep you and the kids busy for the break which will include everything the museums are offering, home depot workshops and more.