Hamilton, ON, L8M 1J5
Provides children, primarily from single-parent families, with a positive role model through adult volunteer mentors who they can talk to and share new experiences with. Matches are made with consideration of interests, personality, and geographic location.
Dundas, ON, L9H 1V6
A drop-in centre for youth 8-19 years old, providing a welcoming space for learning, growing, building relationships, having fun, and offering support to experience fulfilling routes through life. Light dinner and snack is provided.
Programs include:
- Workshops
- 2SLGBTQIA+ positive space
- Homework support
- Open gym
- Movies and games
- Youth council
- Trips
Hamilton, ON, L8L 5W8
Offers a wide range of educational and developmental activities for children and youth, giving them opportunities to engage and succeed through physical, social, creative, and educational programming. Programs include:
- Teen Room (Ages 13+)
- Queer Welcoming Evenings at Eva Rothwell (QWEER)
- Kid's Room (Ages 5-8)
- Gym: Open (Ages 8-18), Kids (Ages 5-8), Tween (Ages 8-12), Teen Basketball (Ages 13+)
- Games Room
- Larry Paikin Literacy Express
- Art Room
- Music Room
- Day Camps: March Break, PA Days, Summer
Burlington, ON, L7T 4H4
Promote healthy environmental attitudes and lifestyles through safe, respectful, fun and diverse outdoor learning experiences
Programs feature:
- hikes
- canoeing in Cootes Paradise (canoeing instruction led by staff certified by Ontario Recreational Canoeing Association)
- games
- activities
- daily exploration of ecologically significant nature sanctuaries including wetlands, fields and forests
- additional extended care available for daily fee
Programs are:
- developed under supervision of certified teachers and recreation professionals
- staffed by trained, experienced and enthusiastic counsellors who are students or graduates of university programs in natural science, recreation and education
Counsellors are assisted by junior counsellors and leaders in training from the programs
- all counsellors certified in First Aid
Also offers Leadership Development program
Burlington, ON, L7T 4H4
Protects and preserves 2,100+ acres of environmentally sensitive areas, including 2,000+ acres of nature sanctuaries and 100+ acres of cultivated gardens and an arboretum
Features:
- year-round signature plant collections
- annual Winter Floral Showcase
- 27 km of nature trails
- Summer Concert Series
- The Great Pumpkin Trail
- Winter Wonders
- for full listing see here
Education Programs and Camps:
- provides educational programs for adults and children on many different topics
- for full listing see here
Hamilton, ON, L8K 1V9
Program designed to help young people who require mentorship overcome challenges related to their school experience, employment, and mental wellness. Support includes:
- Education: enrollment or re-registration, attending court expulsion hearings, participating in parent/teacher meetings, tutoring support, summer school tutoring program, internet access and educational devices.
- Employment: career workshops, internships, summer trades pre-apprenticeship program, and mentoring from volunteers in different employment sectors.
- Mental wellness: weekly check-ins, counselling, and outdoor wellness activities.
- 905-681-2777
- Access Line 289-266-0036
Burlington, ON, L7T 3S6
Removes barriers for clients by creating a centre where families can gain access to multiple supports and services in one place
- provides free programs for families experiencing financial barriers that limit their ability to attend similar programs
- offers community-based services, such as life and social skills programs for youth ages 5-17
Also offers family and adult services including:
For more information, see website
Family group camping organization with chapters spanning across USA and Canada.
- Nine affiliated chapters plus a number of independent members in Ontario, and most of the camping is done at the chapter level
- members camp in everything from RVs to tents
Burlington, ON, L7S 1Y2
Offers residents and visitors a place to play and relax
Made up of four main areas including:
Beachway Park, 1100 Lakeshore Rd
- offers 6.8 acres of park space and two kilometres of lakeside trails, an outdoor pavilion, universal change room, playground and seasonal concession
Brant Street Pier, 1400 Lakeshore Rd
- extends 137 metres over Lake Ontario
Discovery Landing, 1340 Lakeshore Rd
- a 14,200 square foot landmark building that faces out to the lake and offers prime storm and weather watching views and dining
Spencer Smith Park, 1400 Lakeshore Rd
- features a wide promenade and houses the Brant Street Pier and the Rotary Centennial Pond
Beach Water Quality Conditions
- Halton Region provides beach water quality conditions online or by phone at 905-825-6000
Responsible for maintaining, stewarding and promoting the Iroquoia section of the Bruce Trail
- runs from Grimsby through Hamilton, Burlington to Kelso Conservation Area in Milton, passing through the Spencer Gorge, Rattlesnake Point, Royal Botanical Gardens, and Dundas Valley
- works to preserve and protect the Niagara Escarpment (a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve)
The Club also offers an assortment of hikes and conservation activities
- hikers are asked to keep pets on a leash, and practice responsible "no trace" trail use
For parks and sports fields owned by schools see:
- Halton District School Board map here
- Halton Catholic District School Board map here
- Conseil Scolaire Viamonde, Ecole Renaissance listing here
- Ecole Saint-Philippe listing here
City of Burlington municipal parks and sport fields
Offers a variety of fun and educational programs, including summer camps, for children and youth ages 4-16 years old and all abilities
Programs offer indoor and outdoor physical activities, active and quiet games, arts and crafts and nature-based activities
- camp activities vary by site
- for schedules, hours, and locations, see website
- Animal Shelter and Control 905-335-3030
- Service Burlington 905-335-7777
Fenced leash-free areas for dogs
- for complete information, including etiquette and fines, see here
Locations:
- Bayview Park, 1800 King Rd
- Central Park, 2299 New St
- Colin Alton Parkette, 3925 Leonardo St
- Hidden Valley Park, 1137 Hidden Valley Rd
- Leighland Park, 1200 Leighland Rd
- Norton Community Park, 3035 Tim Dobbie Dr
- Pathfinder Park, 2270 Pathfinder Dr
- Roly Bird Park, 2203 Industrial St
- Burlington Office 905-637-9911
- Hamilton Head Office 905-525-3860
Burlington, ON, L7R 3M4
Mentoring programs, helping empower young people to realize their potential
- provides young people (Littles) an adult mentor (Bigs)
- matches and groups are made in the community and school settings
- program availability can vary depending on community / school location
Community-Based 1:1 Programs:
- mentors will meet with a young person in the community once a week for 2-4 hours, for a minimum of 1 year
- programs include Bigs Community Matching and Big Steps to Success
School-Based 1:1 Programs:
- mentors will meet 1:1 with a child during school hours (typically between 10 am-2 pm) for 1 hour a week (same day and time each week) for the school year
- programs include In-school Mentoring and PRISM (Pride, Respect, Identity, Safety, Mentoring)
- mentors meet with groups during school hours for once a week for 1-1.5 hours a week (same day and time each week) for 8 weeks
- follows a fall, winter and spring term for offering - each term has 8 sessions:
- Adventure Canada Connections - for newcomer youth that are elementary-aged
- Cultural Mentorship - for young people ages 10-14 who identify as being part of the Black community
- Exploring our Roots - offers racialized youth a space to discuss personal identity while learning to celebrate and embrace their own culture, uniqueness and diversity
- Game On! - for elementary school students who identify as male
- Girls Linking Our Worlds (GLOW) - for elementary school students who identify as female
- Homework Club - an after-school mentoring program for elementary school students
- Student Practicum Programfor ffgfgdgdgsrhhhhhhthhh
Volunteer Mentors
- time commitments vary by program type, but typically require a minimum voluntary investment of two hours per week
- help provide developmental relationships to young people
Haldimand, ON, N3W 1W9
- Grand River frontage is available for fishing, canoeing, picnicking, and more
- there are no camping or pool facilities available at this park
- accessible portable washrooms are available
- disk golf course available
Burlington, ON, L7L 5R9
In addition to the animal shelter operated by Burlington Humane Society, there is another operated by City of Burlington, Animal Services
- for additional help in finding lost pets, Hamilton/Burlington SPCA recommends local lost and found pets website Helping Lost Pets
Not an affiliate of OSPCA or Hamilton/Burlington SPCA
Before adoption, all pets:
- have full medical attention
- are microchipped
- are spayed or neutered
Services include:
- pet visits to local nursing homes, retirement homes, group homes
- education program visits to schools and youth groups
- private dog park, for more information see here
Two thrift shops sell gently used glass, china, clothing, books, etc.
- The Loft, 740 Griffith Crt: Mon-Sat 10 am-4 pm
- The Attic, 479 John St: Mon-Sat 10 am-4 pm
- see website for items not accepted
Six Nations of the Grand River, ON, N0A 1M0
Park offers:
- luxury cabin rentals
- glamping huts
- serviced and unserviced camping sites
- boat launch
- canoe, kayak, and SUP board rentals
- outdoor and Indoor pavilions with electricity
- large open venue space
- playground
- mini golf
- splash pad
- archery
- axe throwing
- volleyball court
- tubing
- ski and snowshoe rentals
Burlington, ON, L7P 0A5
169 hectare park on the Niagara Escarpment in Burlington that includes geological features such as crevice caves, cliffs, and talus slopes
- 5 km of cliff edge and forest trails for hiking
- Lookout points and connections to Bruce Trail
- Scenic viewing, birding, and nature appreciation
- Rock climbing (top roping ban in effect)
- Geocaching
See here for other Conservation Halton locations.
- 905-631-1218
- Access Line 289-266-0036
Burlington, ON, L7L 4W5
Removes barriers for clients by creating a centre where families can gain access to multiple supports and services in one place
- provides free programs for families experiencing financial barriers that limit their ability to attend similar programs
- offers community-based services, such as life and social skills programs for youth ages 5-17
Also offers family and adult services including:
For more information, see website
Oakville, ON, L6M 4J7
A 682 hectare provincial park that includes:
Day-use, picnicking, events and hiking trails (Burloak Drive entrance)
Campground
- open May to Oct
- access via Bronte Rd and Upper Middle Rd
Fishing - with Ontario Fishing permits and within seasons.
Outdoor sports facilities
- 18-hole Disc golf course
- basketball courts
- baseball diamond
Winter activities
- toboggan hill
- cross-country skiing
Garden plots - available for rent
Nature Centre
- open May to Sept
- educational facility with live animals and hands on displays
Spruce Lane Farmhouse
- museum built in 1899
- open Victoria Day (in May) to Sept
Camp store (in campground office)
- sells merchandise and and small camping supplies
- seasonal hours
Picnic areas and shelters (in day use area)
- picnic tables and 11 shelters with a barbecue on site
- shelter MUST be reserved
Play barn and Children's farm (in day use area)
- sheltered play area for kids 10 yrs and under
- see a variety of farm animals
- open year round (except Christmas Day)
Discovery School Program
- park staff visit your class to lead curriculum linked education programs
- for more information visit ontarioparks.com/discovery
Six Nations of the Grand River, ON, N0A 1M0
Youth drop-in program
- snacks available
Six Nations of the Grand River, ON, N0A 1A0
Management of recreation facilities and programming activities for the Six Nations of the Grand River community
Operates facilities such as:
- Six Nations Sports and Cultural Memorial Centre (arena)
- community hall
- softball diamonds
- sports fields
- running track
- splash pad
- Dajoh Youth and Elders Centre which includes a double gym
Skate Park is monitored by private community members who constructed the Park. If interested in booking the Skate Park for a private event, contact Parks and Recreation who will provide the contact information for the private individuals
Organizes a variety of recreational activity sessions for community members throughout the year. Major sponsor of the annual Easter Egg Hunt plus organizes the carnival show and parade for the annual Bread and Cheese Day event
Oakville, ON, L6L 2G6
The Recreation and Culture department offers youth programs for a variety of interests including:
Registered Programs
- clay
- cooking and nutrition
- digital arts and technology
- fibre arts
- fine arts
- fitness and wellness
- learning and life skills
- martial arts
- sports
- woodworking
- youth leadership training
- Browse regsitered programs and workshops online
Drop-in Programs
- includes Badminton, basketball, volleyball, shinny, skating, yoga and lengths swims
- youth drop-in programs available at various community centres
The Drop
- free activity nights for youth ages 11-18
- activities like games, crafts and sports
- have fun, hang out, listen to music, and make new friends
- rotates through different community centres in Oakville
Oakville Youth Action Committee (OYAC)
- intended to engage youth, aged 13-18, and provides opportunities for them to have a voice in our community, empower their peers and help shape the future of our town
- plan events and impact youth programming, help your community, represent your peers, meet new people, have fun and learn new skills
- earn volunteer hours towards your high school diploma
- email [email protected] for more information
- more information available on website
Brantford, ON, N3P 1J6
Grimsby, ON, L3M 4E7

