The increase in the minimum wage, the economic context, the shortage of workers and the changing needs of children are driving up prices for day camps in Mauricie and Trois-Rivières in particular.
Families need to review their summer vacation budget as the pre-pandemic day camp formula is over.
“Children need more support. Therefore, small groups are preferred. It is certain that we have more and more children with challenges who need care and personalization in terms of service, so by having small groups we can offer our young people this quality,” explained Janie Belcourt, Communications Manager at Complexe Sportif Alphonse -Desjardins in Trois-Rivieres.
A new reality that has its price for the organizers. “We hired two additional employees. A PhD student in psychology and a psychopedagogue, both to provide expertise to the facilitators and to intervene in specific cases in children with greater difficulties,” said Center Loisir Multi-Plus Director General David Bouchard. .
At the Center Loisir Multi-Plus, it was decided to distance itself from the program of the city of Trois-Rivières, which explains the significant increase in the bill. Registration for the summer is $600, rising to over $1,000 next summer.
A departure that is forcing a restructuring of the city of Trois-Rivières, which wants to maintain its range of services. The city’s day camp managers found that by offering a seven-week service, the attendance rate never exceeded 60%. To make the places profitable, they decided to offer weekly registrations.
All of the camp managers we spoke to today have confirmed that they’re adding $10 to $30 to the bill to offset the increase in the minimum wage, among other things.
“Everything is increasing everywhere, so are we. A science camp, we have a lot of equipment that we pay a lot more for. We also had to check the salary,” explained this time the CEO of Technoscience Mauricie, Nancy Mignault.
That’s where you can find workers, because caregivers are scarce in all areas and that throws a spanner in the works for day camps that have to offer a reduced day care schedule.
The enthusiasm for day camps continues and Center Loisir Multi-Sport and Complexe Alphonse-Desjardins have already opened their registrations. Interested parties have already found most of the places.