Join us in helping to increase children’s ability to participate in physical activity!
Join us in helping to increase children’s ability to participate in physical activity!
Join us in helping to increase children’s ability to participate in physical activity!
What is ACT-i-Pass?
The ACT-i-Pass is a program that allows all grade 5 students that live or attend school in the city of London and St Thomas, and the counties of Elgin and Oxford (plus 1 friend, family member, or chaperone) the opportunity to access select FREE recreation programs throughout their ENTIRE school year, including the summer leading into grade 5.
What is the Purpose?
The purpose of the program is to increase a child’s ability to participate in physical activity, which can improve health, lengthen life, decrease illness, reduce screen time, and increase play in their lives! The ACT-i-Pass helps reduce barriers to participation by providing: local opportunities and/or transportation; an introduction to the resources that exist in the area; and, no cost to participation.
Active kids are:
- less likely to develop heart disease and other chronic diseases;
- more likely to have greater self-esteem and more positive attitudes;
- more likely to do well in school and make friends more easily, and;
- more likely to feel confident and ready to take on life’s
An active lifestyle = happy, confident, healthy kids!
Why Grade 5?
Grade 5 students have been chosen because research shows that physical activity begins to decrease in children as early as age 9. All children in London, St Thomas, Elgin and Oxford County entering Grade 5 in September can participate in this program.
In order to provide programming for the ACT-i-Pass, we appreciate every service provider meet the following criteria:
Comply with OPHEA standards
- The Ontario Physical Education Safety Standards for Education (OPHEA) outlines criteria for equipment, facilities, supervision and instructions to improve children’s safety in different sports and activities.
- Please check out the OPHEA website to ensure your organization will be able to follow the standards required: https://safety.ophea.net/safety-plans?module=elementary.
Participation Possibilities
- As a provider, you may choose how many courses you are able to offer.
- Courses/activities ideally should be available weekly (weekdays and/or weekends).
- Programs can be offered all year round or seasonally.
Sustainability Consent
- The ACT-i-Pass is a program that runs mainly on the generous contributions of our community members and therefore we need a commitment from your organization to participate for an entire season in order to guarantee our children a continuously well-structured program that values them as important members of our community.
Financial Commitment
- In agreeing to participate in the ACT-i-Pass program, it is important that your organization is able to cover all costs to participants taking part in the program.
- Children participating in one of your offered activities will do so without any costs or fees involved for them.
Insurance
- You agree that you have business liability insurance that will be valid for the participants of the ACT-i-Pass program.
Police Check and Qualifications of Staff
- The participating service provider can provide police reference checks for all staff members dealing with children who will use the ACT-i-Pass.
- Staff members are trained in first aid and CPR and have experience supervising children 10 -12 years of age
Values and Vision
- The values and vision of your organization align to those of London’s Child & Youth Network and with other partner organizations.
Note: Service providers meeting the above criteria can participate in the ACT-i-Pass program subject to review by a committee comprised of community collaborators.
Do you have any other questions?
If you have any other questions about ACT-i-Pass, check out our Frequently Asked Questions below
How is the program funded?
ACT-i-Pass leverages existing programs from community partners that have underutilized capacity, resulting in no additional cost to the service provider. In other words, this program offers open spaces in community programs to grade 5 children for free. This will benefit program partners and students equally; students will get the opportunity to experience unique programs and to be active, which consequently may lead to continued participation after their grade 5 school year. This will potentially increase ongoing registration rates for partnered organizations involved in the program.
What are the benefits of involvement in the ACT-i-Pass?
There are multiple benefits as a service provider in the ACT-i-Pass program.
- Associate your business and logo with a successful program benefiting the health of local Grade 5 children.
- Contribute any existing under-utilized capacity you may have – providing benefits to kids with no or limited added cost to your organization.
- Join a network of recreation program providers serving the community.
- Introduce new participants to your recreation services and opportunities.
- Enjoy the benefits of free promotion of your recreation program services via ACT-i-Pass promotional vehicles.
How will service providers be promoted through the program?
Service providers will be promoted on the ACT-i-Pass website (www.playeveryday.ca) and in promotional material, including newsletters, social media, registration packages and reminders sent to grade 5 student periodically through the year (April, September, January).
What types of programming are you looking for with the ACT-i-Pass?
We are open to any activities that service providers are willing to provide for free to participants, with a specific interest in programs that give children the opportunity to be physically active.
What do you mean by ‘universal pass’?
Starting in the 2020-21 year, the ACT-i-Pass will be expanding into the counties of Oxford and Elgin, and the city of St. Thomas. The goal of the ACT-i-Pass is to be universal, which means that participants are able to use any service providers in London, Oxford, Elgin and St. Thomas. However, service provider are not required to supply universal programming. Instead, service providers have the option to offer activities for children who reside in select areas and this can be specified on the service provider enrollment form.
If we are not providing universal programming, how can we tell which children are eligible for our programs?
There is a difference between the passes based on if the child lives in London, Oxford, Elgin or St. Thomas. At the bottom of the pass, there is a letter in front of the enrollment number. The letter represent the following locations:
- A = London
- B = Oxford
- C = Elgin
- D = St. Thomas
What information is required from us as a service provider?
There is a service provider enrollment form. This will require information on the types of activities you are providing, when (date and time), where and any additional information required. This will be need to be filled out quarterly (or doing the times/seasons you are offering programming). This information is required a month before the beginning of each season in order to give adequate time to update the schedule. Please refer to the Enrollment page for more details.
Thank you for the generous support of the ACT-i-Pass funders:
