Why should I involve my child in recreation opportunities?

•    Learn new skills and participate in activities
•    Increase physical abilities
•    Enhance self-esteem and confidence
•    Increase independence
•    Improve social skills and make new friends
•    Develop lifelong recreation attitudes and skills

Links to tips for participation in recreation programs from CanChild

Inclusive Playground Playbook - Creating inclusive playground environments for chidlren of all abilities.

Inclusive recreation programs provide the opportunity for kids with and without disabilities to participate in the same activity. For inclusive services to be successful, inclusion must be a value that is shared by all parties involved, including agencies, staff, families, participants, and the greater community. May also be referred to as integration.

Adapted recreation is a program that has been modified to meet the needs of a specific group of participants. This could be through equipment, content and rules, structure, support or environment.

Services and community programs across Simcoe and York have worked together to develop inclusive programs with appropriately trained and educated staff and volunteers that provide support for all individuals to participate through activity modifications, assistive devices and disability awareness. 

Whether an afterschool, weekend, swimming or day camp program, municipal parks and recreation departments, private recreation providers and non-profit organizations offer a range of programs geared to meet the interests and abilities of all participants. 

CTN's Summer 2023 Camp Guide

Autism Ontario 1:1 Summer Support Worker Reimbursement

Autism Ontario March Break Reimbursement Fund

Camp Subsidy Listing

York Region Camp and Recreation Subsidies

Many camps have changed since the pandemic. Please contact the camp or check their websites for the most current information.

CTN's Summer 2023 Camp Guide

Ontario Camp Association Website and Listings

Camp Awakening is an outdoor recreation for youth with physical disabilities

Virtual Camp E-aster Seals for kids and youth with physical disabilities 

Kinark Outdoor Centre a specialized summer camp experience for kids and youth with complex neurological disorders or behavioural challenges

YMCA Simcoe Muskoka

Lyndsey Stevenato "Kids on the Move Day Camp"

Camp Kennebec

Karma Country Camp

Camp Concord

WindReach Farm Day Camp

New Tecumseth Summer Camps - Inclusion is offered (1:1)
Bradford West Gwillimbury - Camp BWG for kids age 4 - 11 years
Creative Cafe
La Cle Summer Camps
Woodwind South Camp
Alliston Gymnastics Club
Gibson Centre School of the Arts Camps
 

Check your local municipalities for adapted camps or camps with inclusive workers.
 

12 Inclusive Summer Fun Ideas for kids with disabilities

Accessible Playgrounds in Ontario

AccessNow App - finding accessible places to visit

A Parent's Guide to Inclusive Spring Fun

Indoor and Outdoor Winter Fun

FiddleHead Care Farm- Eco-Therapy Farm for kids and youth

Wasaga Beach Mobi-Mat

Town of Innisfil floating beach wheelchair rental

8 of the Best Wheelchair Accessible All-Inclusive Caribbean Resorts

Tiffin Conservation Centre, Simcoe County

ParaSport Ontario

2024 Disability Programs and Aquatics Contacts in Simcoe County

2024 Simcoe Swim Listings

Regional (some links are the main community page, please look for recreation or inclusive recreation):

 

• Barrie
• Base Borden
• Bradford-West Gwillimbury
• Collingwood
• Midland
• Orillia
• Penetanguishene
• Wasaga Beach
• Town of New Tecumseth, Alliston, Beeton, Tottenham
• Hope Haven Recreational Therapy - Horseback Riding

2024 Disability Programs and Aquatic Contacts in York Region
2024 York Swim Listings
York Region Camp and Recreation Subsidies

Regional (some links are the main community page, please look for recreation or inclusive recreation):
 

• Aurora
• Bradford and West Gwillimbury
• Georgina
• Markham
• Newmarket
• Richmond Hill
• Vaughan
• Township of King
• Whitchurch-Stouffville
• Pulsars Adapted Gymnastics - Newmarket
   

Skating at your local outdoor rink or skating trail is a fun and safe way to enjoy fitness with friends and family. Check with your CTN therapist for recommendations about adaptive equipment to help support this activity, including skating sledges and our “Snow Coach”(adaptive snow sled) available for loan in Barrie and Richmond Hill.

If you'd like to borrow our sledges or snow sled, read more here.



York Region:

Aurora:
The town operates four outdoor rinks — Ada Johnson Park, Confederation Park, Machell Park and Town Park – which are lit and open daily until 11 p.m. Read more here.

Bradford:
The town maintains an outdoor rink at Bud Brown Park located in Bond Head. The park is open and lit daily, until 11 p.m. Shovels are left at the rink for users to clear the ice after use. Read more here.

Georgina:
The Pefferlaw Ice Pad is a full-sized outdoor rink, complete with hockey boards and a roof. The rink is open daily, with scheduled times for parent and tot, senior and public skating as well as shinny hockey. Read more here.

Newmarket:
The refrigerated ice rink at Riverwalk Commons, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with pickup hockey permitted 10 p.m. to midnight. There are also several community-run rinks at Ken Sturgeon and Lions Park. Read more here.

Markham:
The large city-run outdoor rink at the Civic Centre is open daily. The city also has eight volunteer-run ice rinks in Cornell, Markham Village, Thornhill and Unionville. Read more here and here.
 
Residents will be able to enjoy outdoor skating at five new unrefrigerated ice rinks at Huntington Park, Victoria Square Park, Milliken Mills Park, Markham Museum, and Milne Dam Park. The City will construct and maintain these rinks which will be made available pending weather conditions. A flag system at each location will signal when the ice is safe to use. Onsite parking is available at all locations.

Richmond Hill:
The 250-metre trail at Richmond Green is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is lit at night and has heated washrooms and change rooms. You can also skate at Mill Pond, weather permitting, and Crosby Park. Read more here.

Whitchurch-Stouffville:
There are several outdoor rinks in Whitchurch-Stouffville that are run by volunteers and built by town staff. This year, there are ice rinks at Gar Lehman, Greenwood parks, Madori Park, Sunnyridge Park, Wheler’s Mill Park, Vandorf Park and Memorial Park Baseball Diamond. Read more here.

Vaughan:
The city operates five outdoor skating facilities – Chancellor Community Centre, Dufferin Clark Community Centre, Father Ermanno Bulfon Community Centre, Garnet A. Williams Community Centre and Vellore Village Community Centre. For supervised hours, visit the city’s website.

Simcoe County:

Barrie:
Centennial Park Community Ice Rink — 95 Lakeshore Dr., Barrie
The City of Barrie operates six outdoor rinks. This rink is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., weather permitting. It is used for pleasure skating and hockey with washrooms located proximal to the rink. For the ice schedule, visit barrie.ca.

Orillia:
Hillcrest Park — 255 Matchedash St. N., Orillia
The City of Orillia operates eight outdoor rinks throughout the city. The Hillcrest Park rink is the only one with lighting that stays on until between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Hockey is prohibited on this rink when it is occupied by pleasure skater. Visit orillia.ca.
 
Wasaga Beach:
Oakview Woods Outdoor Complex — 1724 Mosley St., Wasaga Beach
The outdoor rink at Oakview Woods is open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Shinny hockey is allowed Monday, Wednesday, Fridays and weekend mornings, while pleasure skating is Tuesday and Thursday nights and weekend afternoons. Read more here.

Collingwood:
Central Park Outdoor Rink — 250 Hume St., Collingwood
This outdoor rink is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. It officers free public skating, shinny hockey, family skates and allows for ice bookings. Pre-registration is required, click here.

Tiny Township:
Lafontaine Park — 342 Lafontaine Rd. W., Tiny Township
This covered outdoor rink is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It offers supervised public skating throughout the week and is open to the public for use during unscheduled times. Read more here.

Skating trails:

Muskoka Lake:
The Muskoka Lake Cranberry Ice Trail is a 1.2 Km loop between beautiful forest and cranberry beds. You can also stop by the waterfall, warm up by the fire, or head back to the winery for hot mulled wine or hot cran-apple cider. Read more here.

Arrowhead Park:
The Arrowhead Park Skating Trail is one of the best skating trails around. It was named one of the best natural ice skating rinks in the world by Travel+Leisure and it’s Fire & Ice nights, lit by over 400 tiki torches, is something you really need to check out. Read more here.

Bracebridge:
While not as long as some of the other trails on this list, Memorial Park Winter Village packs lots of small-town charm into its skating trail. The trail loops around some of Bracebridge’s monuments and sparkles with festive lighting at night. Read more here.

Port Carling:
The Hanna Park Skating Trail is a perfect option for parents or grandparents who might no be able to skate because there is a walking path around the outside of the trail for you to follow along with a skating child. Read more here.

Midhurst:
Looping through 1.2 Km of heritage buildings and forest pathways, the Simcoe Museum Skating Trail is a beautiful experience and admission comes with access to the museum and galleries as well. Read more here.

Collingwood/Blue Mountain:
The Woodview Mountaintop Skate Trail is a 1.1 Km trail located at Blue Mountain with breathtaking views of the Niagra Escarpment. Once you’re done skating, grab a hot chocolate because there is plenty of other things to see and do as well. Read more here.
 

Horseback Riding

Pulsars Adapted Gymnastics - Newmarket

Hope Haven Therapeutic Horseback Riding Centre

Adapted Music Lessons and Music Therapy (York Region and GTA)

Sierrah Acres Horse Programs

Modern Conservatory of Music (Alliston)

Unionville Milliken Special Needs Soccer

Canadian Association for Disabled Snowsports- Ontario

Disabled Sailing Association

All Sports All People- sledge hockey, basketball and more!

ParaSport Ontario

Challenger Baseball (adapted baseball)

SkateABLE (adapted skating)