Programs

Resident registration begins January 18th at 10am.
Non-resident registration begins January 25th at 10am.
-Children are accepted in the order in which they are registered. A waitlist is available if sessions become full.
-Day Camp is available to children entering grades 1 through 6, the 7 weeks of June 23, June 30, July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28, and August 4th. There is no camp on Friday, July 4th.
-Field Trips: Session 1 Quassy; Session 2: Ocean Beach; Session 3: Fun City; Session 4: Hammonnassett; Session 5: Roger Williams Zoo; Session 6: Quassy; Session 7: Camp Carnival
-Camp supervision and scheduled programming is from 8:30am until 3:30pm Monday-Friday. Registration is limited to 52 children per one-week session for a fee of $200.00. Non-Residents add $25 per camper per session. Fee includes lunch 3 days a week*, tee shirt, and all field trip transportation and entrance fees.
*Lunch is provided for free at the Snack Shack on Cedar Lake camp days (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) thanks to generous grants and donations*. Families are responsible for packing their lunch on Chester Elementary camp days (Tuesdays & Thursdays), some field trips, and on lake days if desired. Menus will be emailed to families the week prior to each session.
*New “Universal Lunch” on lake days is made possible by generous grants and donations from the following organizations:
-Chester Community Partnership Fund at The Community Foundation of Middlesex County
-Gilbert & Timme, LLC of Chester
-Middlesex County Camp Foundation
-A deposit of $25 per camper per session is required for registration. Full payment for all camper sessions must be made by June 3rd , 2025. A small processing fee of 2.5% is added to online payments.
- Full refunds are given if a session is cancelled at least 3 weeks prior to the session. Cancellations within 3 weeks incur a $50 fee. Another child may not be sent in place of the registered child.
-Financial Aid is available. Residents must contact the Chester Human Services Department to apply: humanservices@chesterct.org. Our financial aid policies can be found on our website: https://www.chesterct.org/parks-recreation-commission
-Camp meets at Pelletier Park on Cedar Lake Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; at Chester Elementary School on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and severe weather days. Field Trips always depart from Chester Elementary School. Any changes to this schedule are announced via email.
-Do not leave children before the scheduled camp hours. Children who arrive early, or are not picked up on time, may be withdrawn from the program.
-Children who are disruptive and negatively affect the experience of other campers will be withdrawn from the program. Campers who are unable or unwilling to respect the directions of our lifeguards and staff will be withdrawn from the program. Bullying and harassment are not tolerated in our program.
-A parent or authorized adult must come to the staff table to sign their child out for dismissal. Only adults authorized on your child’s registration form or through written permission may pick up your child. Please sign your child out at 3:30pm.
-If a child is not picked up by 3:30p, our camp staff will attempt to contact all authorized caregivers listed on the registration form. If no contact is made, our staff will contact the State Police.
-Children who walk or ride their bikes home may sign themselves out with prior written permission from their caregiver.
-Children who are not registered in the program are not permitted at the facilities while camp is in session. Adults and children not registered in the program may not use the camp section at Cedar Lake during program hours. Children may not bring guests to the program. Adults not employed by the Town of Chester may not participate in the program, unless approved by the Chester Park and Recreation Commission.
-Dress appropriately for the weather. It may be windy and cool at Cedar Lake.
-We seldom change the location of the program, but in the event of forecasted SEVERE WEATHER the program will meet inside Chester Elementary School. Location changes will be announced by 7:30am via email.
PACKING LIST:
Beach days: Arrive in bathing suit. Pack water bottle, towel, sunscreen, change of clothes.
School days: Sneakers, water bottle, lunch, sunscreen.
-We take sunscreen breaks at 11:45am and 1:45pm. Children apply their own sunscreen.
- The direct phone number during camp is 860-790-0133.
-Your child’s physician must complete a medication authorization and emergency action plan for each prescription, including inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors, and oral over-the-counter medication that you wish our staff to administer, or you may bring them to our site at the time your child needs them and administer them yourself.