Calgary's summer camps pivot amid heat warning and outdoor water restrictions

In the face of extreme heat blanketing the province, mixed with some outdoor water restrictions in place, summer camps in Calgary have been adjusting operations to keep kids safe and cool this week.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a heat warning for the city of Calgary, with temperatures expected to hit 30 C Tuesday, 33 C Wednesday, and as high as 37 C in some parts of Alberta on both days.

Meanwhile, Calgary remains under Stage 3 outdoor water restrictions, which prohibits Calgarians from certain types of activities — including using sprinklers and hoses, and filling outdoor pools and hot tubs at home.

At the University of Calgary's summer camps, campers are used to the heat.

But unlike normal years, water restrictions are preventing roughly 12,000 campers from doing water-based activities outdoors to cool down this year.

"We used to be able to do some more water fights and kind of slip-and-slide set ups, and a few of those activities we're not able to partake in at this time," said Logan Jones, youth programs manager at the University of Calgary.

"But we have some other options. We can grab some buckets of water and bring them out with us and do 'drip drop' games, where kids have sponges and the water gets dropped on their heads a little bit. Kids love that game," he said.

It's the same case at Trellis Society's summer camps in Renfrew. 

Hub manager Catherine Anderson says their campers also can't have water balloon fights right now, and they've had to pivot with some water-based field trips.

"I think they understand, but they're definitely bummed," said Anderson.

To ensure kids aren't overheating in camps, both organizations have mandated more frequent water breaks. They're also reworking schedules so kids are doing more vigorous activities in the morning when it's cooler, rather than in the blasting afternoon sun.

On top of that, kids are being encouraged to reapply sunscreen more often. When it gets too hot, activities are moved indoors.

Jones says water restrictions or not, leaders are always monitoring for heat exhaustion, but they're focused on prevention.

"There will be some campers that might show signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion before others. But if we can schedule extra water breaks and think about our timing with activities, our ideal goal is to prevent anyone from getting any signs or symptoms or heat exhaustion in the camps," he said.

As a mother herself, Anderson said it's critical they take their due diligence with other people's kids and make sure they go back home safe and fulfilled.

But, like the campers, leaders are hoping water restrictions will be lifted soon.

"Some of our reward systems around water balloon fights or those kinds of things, we're thinking we'll do them maybe later on," she said.

"But right now, we're running like the water restrictions will be in place [all summer]. We're not promising anything to kids ... it's not fair to them."