The Buddy Program

A child may benefit from a Buddy if they:

• Have physical, visual, hearing, developmental, or intellectual challenges.
• Require extra support to participate in group activities.
• Receive assistance at school or from a community agency.
• Experience anxiety or social challenges in new environments.
• Need help staying engaged, following instructions, or managing emotions in a group setting.
• Have never attended a structured program and need extra guidance.

• Encouragement and engagement in activities.
• Assistance with transitions and program schedules.
• Support for communication and social interaction.
• Positive behavior guidance.
• Adaptations to activities for inclusivity.

•  Promote inclusivity in recreation.
• Support local families in need.
• Enhance your business’s community impact.

• $200 per sponsorship (No limit on contributions).
• Sponsors confirmed by June 1, 2025, will have their logo displayed at City recreation facilities.

• A "Proud Sponsor of the City of Orillia Buddy Program" plaque.

Individuals may attend any of our programs or facilities with their own external support person or personal mediator that is arranged by the participant. The City of Orillia does not arrange external support workers. The support person/facilitator will not be charged any additional fees.

External Support Persons must provide:

• A recent Police Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (within 12 months of attending the program) if they are directly working with vulnerable populations other than the person they are there to support.

• Mediator Support Form prior to the participant starting in a program. You can find the Mediator Support Form here.

All City of Orillia Recreation and Youth Services day camp participants are expected to behave and act respectfully and appropriately towards all other participants and staff for the duration of their time at camp. Behavior that directly inhibits staff or participants' safety during a City of Orillia Day Camp Program will be dealt with promptly by camp staff. Camp staff will deal with any unwanted behaviour promptly by the City’s RESPOND Procedure forms. 

DISCLAIMER: Serious behaviors may warrant an expedited response and could result in removal from the program before completing the above steps at the discretion of the Recreation Program Supervisor.  If a participant is removed from camp for the remainder of the summer, a full refund will be provided. Examples of serious behavior include but are not limited to:

• Verbal Assault
• Intimidation
• Vandalism of the facility or other’s belongings
• Aggression or violence towards others
• Lewd or sexual behaviour
• Threats or bullying

RESPOND

R - Remove the camper from the situation

E - Explore participants point of view

S - Summarize their feelings and connect feelings to their behaviour

P - Present alternative behaviour

O - Open discussion with participant to develop strategies to manage behaviour

N – New strategies are put into practice

D - Determine if further action or supervisor involvement is necessary

It is the responsibility of the Camp Staff (incl. Camp Supervisor, Counsellor, and Inclusion Counsellors) to complete Steps 1 – 3 of the City of Orillia’s RESPOND Procedure.

1. Step 1: Camp staff will complete one RESPOND Plan Form in conjunction with the participant. The RESPOND Plan Form is an agreement filled out between participant and staff outlining strategies and tools to better equip the child to handle these challenging situations in the future. Every time a Respond Plan Form is completed the parents/guardians will be notified. 
2. Step 2: A second incident will require the camp staff to complete a RESPOND Incident Form.  A RESPOND Incident Form is a more details description of the incident and requires a signature from a  parent/guardian.  The camp staff will meet with the participants’ parents to review the RESPOND Plan Form and RESPOND Incident Form. In cooperation with the parents, staff will create a plan and next steps for the remainder of camp which will be documented on the RESPOND Incident Form. It should be clearly communicated to the parent/guardian that if incidents continue the child may be removed from day camp. Additionally, if the parent/guardian refuses to sign or participate in this process, the Recreation Program Supervisor will sign on their behalf.
3. Step 3: If the behavior persists after a RESPOND Plan Form and a RESPOND Incident Form have been completed, or at the discretion of the Recreation Program Supervisor, the parent/guardian will be contacted to discuss a one-day suspension from camp.
4. Step 4: If the inappropriate behaviour persists after the participant returns to camp, the camp staff must contact the  appropriate and a decision will be made in conjunction with the Recreation Program Supervisor on removing the participant from camp for the remainder of the camp week.
5. If a decision to remove the child from camp is made, the participants guardian will be notified, the child will be picked up immediately, and a refund will be processed.
6. If a camper’s inappropriate behaviour persists throughout future camp weeks, staff are to follow Steps 1 – 3 of the RESPOND Procedure with a shortened time frame of one RESPOND Incident Form.
7. A decision may be made at the discretion of the Recreation Program Supervisor on the permanent removal of the child from all remaining weeks of camp. If permanent removal is decided upon, a refund will be processed