Sunshine Fund

LET US HELP YOU PAY FOR CAMP

2025 Applications Now Open

Every child deserves the opportunity to go to camp regardless of race, faith, family income, or special needs because camp is a place for everyone. This is where we come in. Here at the Manitoba Camping Association, we offer a subsidy for summer camp programs called the Sunshine Fund. This subsidy program is made possible with the help of our generous donors and granting agencies.

To apply for financial assistance, the Sunshine Fund application is available online. To find out if you qualify for assistance and learn about the application, review the information below. To qualifying applicants, the maximum subsidy amount is $700.00 per child per year for a child attending an accredited camp.

Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of children we can subsidize annually is dependent on public donations and grants that we receive.

Application Process

REVIEW THE STEPS ON HOW TO APPLY

The first step in applying for the Sunshine Fund, is choosing the camp and week your children would like to attend. The chosen camp must be a camp accredited by the Manitoba Camping Association. The MCA has camps all across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. Once you’ve chosen a camp, you can then register with them through their website.

CHOOSE YOUR CAMP SESSION

STEP 1

Considerations in choosing a camp:

Location
Transportation: Do you have your own transportation? Some camps offer transportation to and from camp.
Age: Ensure you register for the correct aged session.
Activities: Are there certain activities your child is hoping for? Many camps list their activities on their websites.

The Sunshine Fund applications are available on our website and open at the start of each year. Visit us at sendingkidstocamp.ca to start your application.

APPLY FOR THE SUNSHINE FUND

STEP 2

The things you'll need when applying:

Apply to your camp of choice first
Camp information correctly filled out in Sunshine Fund application
Copy of Manitoba Health Card
Notice of Assessment/Income verification A letter or drawing indicating how a camp experience will impact your child

*There will be a parent contribution required which will total 20% of total fees.

Sunshine Fund staff will confirm you are registered with the camp and then process your application to ensure all forms are completed. Once this process is complete, you will be notified via email that you can now pay your parent contribution fee. The parent contribution is a mandatory fee equal to 20% of the total camp cost.

PARENT CONTRIBUTION FEE

STEP 3

EXAMPLE:

If camp fees are $400 and transportation fee is $50, you will be required to pay $450 x 20%= $90.

Qualification

LEARN ABOUT WHO QUALIFIES FOR FUNDING

Approval for the Sunshine Fund is based on household income. A family unit will need to be below (or very near) their respective low-income cut-off. Being over the limit will be evaluated case by case.

Sample Calculations

Example 1
A family of two people (parent plus child) who has an annual gross household income of $40,000 does not qualify for Sunshine Fund assistance as the Low Income Cut-Off is $36,576 for families of this size.

Example 2
A family of four people (2 parents and two children or 1 parent and 3 children) with an annual gross household income of $51,000 does qualify for Sunshine Fund assistance as the Low Income Cut-Off for this family size is $54,594.