A summer camp program for young children will get underway again this year.
At its meeting on Wednesday, the Hastings County Community and Human Services committee recommended that County Council continue the program.
Bonanza in a Box is an adaptation of Housing Services’ original summer program, Backyard Bonanza, where staff offer activity/camp boxes to all children between the ages of 4 and 12.
In 2022, Bonanza in a Box had a total of 625 children participate in the “at home camp” across 14 locations in Belleville, Quinte West, Bancroft, and Deseronto where staff were able to offer an alternative for children to keep them busy in a positive way throughout the summer.
In 2023, the Bonanza in a Box program will continue to be offered to children residing in family neighbourhoods in Quinte West, Bancroft, and Deseronto.
Belleville Councillor Garnet Thompson told the committee, “Some of these children have no other avenue to get some benefits.”
Trenton Councillor Sharpe also supported the program, adding, “It’s an excellent program and a good partnership between Belleville and Trenton staff.”
Staff has renewed past partnerships with the City of Belleville to once again offer the in-person day camp program Backyard Bonanza to all six family Community Housing neighbourhoods in Belleville.
This program will be offered from July 4 to August 25, 2023.
