TLDR: I’m opening a few sliding-scale spots in our camps. For anyone who would benefit from paying a little less. Want one? Email me. I’d love to see them used!
As we approach the summer and my brain begins to morph into “camp mode,” I’m looking at our camp weeks and starting to finalize the staffing (first jobs for teenagers, yay!). I’m also thinking, “who would love to join us but might not be able to swing the ~$500 camp tuition”. Because circus is expensive to run, and participate in, including the low coach-to-camper ratios we keep at Rainbow Circus.
In the first three years of our programming, thanks to a generous grant from ArtReach and The Toronto Arts Council, we were able to offer two weeks of free camps per summer for 2SLGBTQ+ and neurodivergent youth. These grants also offset our operational costs for summer and school-year programming, including equipment, insurance, and staff training costs. It’s a huge part of what empowered me to run the small but mighty camps and classes when we were just starting out.
Last year was the first year of summer programming without any grants. I experimented with running our Rainbow Teens camp as a sliding-scale program to keep some of the financial accessibility of past years, and while the camp itself was great, I need some reworking of that structure to make it more sustainable before I try it again.
This year for camps, my financial accessibility plan was the same as our school year classes: to encourage those eligible to apply for sport funding, and to do our apparel fundraiser in the spring for our Rainbow Scholarships fund. Sometimes families can even combine sport funding and scholarships to have most of the tuition covered!
Today I was looking at our camp spreadsheet, and I realized we’ve reached the minimum attendance number, or more, for our camps to run, and all of the weeks still have a few spaces open. Knowing that we have our minimums met, I’m opening up a few sliding-scale spots for our camps.
These are for anyone who would like to join us for summer camps but would benefit from paying a little less. No questions asked, or “proof of need” necessary. The tuition discount ranges from 5% to 25% off tuition fees and can be combined with scholarships and sport funding, as well as paid in installments.
You can register for one of the sliding-scale spots by emailing me directly or checking a box on the last page of our camp registration form. Our camp weeks are: July 6th – 10th Performance Camp, July 20th-24th Kids’ Camp, July 27th – 31st Youth Camp, August 4th – 7th Kids’ Camp.
My goal is to have our camps enjoyed by as many kids and teens as possible, with finances being less of a barrier. I see this as an act of community that lets me live closer to my values of “circus for all”. So if you’re wondering, “should I take that sliding scale spot,” please do! This is the foundation of what I’m trying to do with Rainbow Circus, and by using it, you’re helping me make this part of the fabric of how we operate as a community.
In care and solidarity,
Jayeden W (she/they)
Chaos Coordinator – Rainbow Circus
Rainbow Circus 