Families across Chatham-Kent can now add summer camps to the growing list of things that cost more.
Summer camp user fees have increased from $61 to $135 for the Stay-N-Play camps and up to $205 for the KIDventure camps.
According to the municipality, operational costs for summer camps have steadily increased over the years while it has maintained the same fees.
The increase will help offset the operating funds required to keep the current summer camp programs in Blenheim, Chatham, Dresden, Ridgetown, Thamesville, Tilbury, Wallaceburg, and Wheatley functioning.
The price increase was requested and approved during the budget deliberation process in 2023.
"Our rates are still approximately 25 per cent lower than the average camp costs in neighbouring municipalities," said Eric Labadie, Chatham-Kent Manager of Corporate Communications. "Our primary goal in adjusting these rates is to ensure that families who rely on our services have access to the safe care they need during the summer months."
The rate adjustment is the first in five years, according to Labadie.
The summer day camp programs offer swimming, water activities, field trips, arts and crafts, and sports and games for children aged 4-12 to continue to be active during the summer months and provided a childcare option for more than 3,000 children across Chatham-Kent last year.
Click here to compare other summer camp programming locally and at other municipalities.