Short answer: Surrey students have three breaks to cover this school year: winter break December 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027, spring break March 15–19, 2027 followed by school closure days March 22–26 — two full weeks off, not one — and summer. City of Surrey day camps run for ages 3 to 18 and are the cheapest option; specialty camps run $300–$500 a week. Registration is through the city’s PerfectMind system with priority for verified Surrey residents, so verify your account now rather than the morning registration opens. If money is tight, the Leisure Access Program gives children and youth a free one-year recreation pass and 75% off registered courses.
Camp planning goes wrong in the same way every year: the break arrives, both parents are working, and the good camps filled two months ago. This guide is built backwards from that — the dates first, then when to register, then what things actually cost.
Surrey school break dates, 2026–27
| Break | Dates | Days to cover |
|---|---|---|
| Winter break | December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027 | Two weeks, including the statutory holidays |
| Spring break | March 15–19, 2027 | One week |
| School closure days | March 22–26, 2027 | A second week, immediately after |
| Summer | Late June to early September 2027 | Roughly nine weeks |
The March trap is worth circling now. Spring break itself is one week, but the district has scheduled school closure days for the week straight after it. For a working parent that is a ten-day stretch with no school, and camps for the second week sell out later and less predictably than the first, because half the city has not realised it exists yet. There are also six non-instructional days scattered through the year — check the district calendar and put them in your own calendar in September.
When registration opens and how it works
City of Surrey programs are booked through PerfectMind at surrey.ca/register, by phone on 604-501-5100 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm), or in person at any Parks, Recreation & Culture facility.
Two things decide whether you get the camp you want:
- Verify your account as a Surrey resident. Surrey residents get priority registration, and to keep that status you have to bring government-issued photo ID showing your address to a recreation facility front desk. This takes ten minutes and it is the single highest-value thing on this page. Do it before registration day, not on it.
- Be logged in and ready when registration opens. Popular camps at popular centres go within the first hour. Have your child’s barcode, the course numbers you want, and a payment card saved before the clock starts.
Registration opens season by season, published in the Surrey Recreation Guide. As a rough planning rhythm: summer camps go on sale in the late winter or early spring, spring break camps in the winter, and winter break camps in the autumn. Check the current guide at surrey.ca for the exact date each season rather than relying on last year’s.
City of Surrey day camps
The city runs day camps for ages 3 to 18 across sports, nature, science, cooking and creative arts, in formats ranging from weekly 1.5-hour sessions to half-day and full-day camps. They are the most affordable structured option in the city, they run out of recreation centres across every part of Surrey, and financial assistance is built in through the Leisure Access Program.
Because the city publishes camps in a seasonal guide rather than a permanent catalogue, the specific camps change every break. What stays constant is the shape: full-day camps for school-age children during breaks, half-day options for preschoolers, and specialty streams for teens.
What camps actually cost
| Type | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| City of Surrey day camps | Lowest-cost option | Half-day and full-day; 75% off with Leisure Access |
| Science World Surrey Science Camps | $499.95 for a 5-day week, $399.95 for a 4-day week | Members $429.95 / $349.95; 9am–3pm; grades 1–6 |
| Robotics and coding camps | $55–$400 | One-day workshops at the low end, full-week camps at the high end |
| Climbing camps | $244–$475 | Ages 6–12+, Surrey and Port Coquitlam |
| Dance, art and studio camps | Typically $250–$450 a week | Often half-day for younger children |
A realistic budget for one child, one full week, at a private specialty camp in this region is $350 to $500. Two children across the ten-day March stretch is a $1,400–$2,000 exposure if you use specialty camps for all of it — which is exactly why the city camps and the subsidies below matter.
Winter break camps: December 21 to January 1
The hardest break to cover, because it is short, broken up by statutory holidays, and many private providers close entirely between Christmas and New Year. Book in November.
What tends to be available: city day camps in the weekdays either side of the holidays, skating and swimming lesson intensives at the rec centres, and a handful of studio and sports camps. What is usually not available: December 25 and 26 and January 1, and often the whole week between. Plan childcare for those days separately rather than assuming a camp exists.
For the days you are not booking a camp, our Christmas and winter break guide covers what is actually open and what is free.
Spring break 2027: the two-week version
March 15–19 is spring break; March 22–26 is a second week of school closure days. Register for both at the same time. The second week has less competition when registration opens and more scarcity by February, because providers scale their second week to demand they cannot see yet.
Spring break is also the break where week-long specialty camps are at their best value — robotics, art, climbing and multi-sport all run full-week programs, and a child who is on the fence about an activity can try a whole week of it before you commit to a ten-month season.
Summer camps: register in the winter
Summer is nine weeks and the only one that needs a plan rather than a booking. Two things worth knowing:
- Registration opens months ahead. The best-known camps fill in the first days. If a specific camp matters to you, find its registration date in January and set a reminder.
- Do not book all nine weeks. Children burn out on structured camp faster than parents expect. A common pattern that works: two or three specialty weeks spread across July and August, city day camps for the weeks that just need coverage, and genuinely unstructured weeks in between.
Science World runs Surrey Science Camps out of Harold Bishop Elementary and Coast Meridian Elementary for children entering grades 1 to 6, split into primary (1–3) and intermediate (4–6) streams, 9am to 3pm, with a field trip to Science World itself. Weeks are $499.95 for five days and $399.95 for four, with member rates of $429.95 and $349.95. One week per camper, and the early sessions sell out.
Camps by interest
- Robotics, coding and AI — Young Innovators Robotics Lab runs full-week spring and summer break camps plus one-day workshops for ages 6–14, from $55. See our robotics and coding guide for the full picture.
- Climbing — The Hive runs spring and summer camps for ages 6–12+ at its Surrey and Port Coquitlam gyms.
- Dance and fine arts — The Young at Arts Dance Academy runs dance camps in Surrey and Langley for all ages and abilities.
- Indoor play day camps — Fun Circle runs high-energy indoor day camps in Surrey for ages 1–12.
- Sport — soccer, skating, gymnastics and multi-sport camps run through both the city and private clubs; our kids sports guide covers programs and the sport-specific grants.
- Art and music — see the art classes and music lessons guides; most studios run break camps alongside their term programs.
How to pay less
The Leisure Access Program
This is the big one, and it is badly under-claimed. Surrey’s Leisure Access Program gives children 0–12 and youth 13–18 a free one-year pass to all City of Surrey recreation facilities, plus 75% off most registered courses and up to $500 a year in program discounts (and a further $500 in Semiahmoo Arts Society discounts).
Eligibility is by combined family net income from line 23600 of your Notice of Assessment, and the thresholds run from $26,355 for a single person to $69,112 for a family of seven, plus $6,186 for each additional person. You also qualify automatically as a Ministry of Social Development client, a Disability Tax Credit recipient, a senior on the Guaranteed Income Supplement, a child in foster care, or a refugee referred through an approved settlement agency.
Enrolment lasts a year. Apply online or in person at a recreation facility; the city works through applications first come, first served, so apply well before the break you are trying to cover.
Sport-specific grants
If the camp is a sports camp or leads into a season, KidSport and Athletics for Kids both fund registration fees for families who need help, and Canadian Tire Jumpstart funds sport and physical activity registration and equipment. They are separate applications from the city’s program and can often be combined with it. Our kids sports in Surrey guide covers the grant amounts and how to apply.
The smaller savings
- Sibling and multi-week discounts are common at private camps and almost never advertised. Ask.
- Early-bird pricing often runs one to two months before the break.
- Half-day camps at roughly half the cost work well for under-sevens, who often find a full day too long anyway.
- Camp swaps with another family — you take two children for two days, they take yours for two — cover the awkward single days around statutory holidays for nothing.
Questions to ask before you book
- What is the staff-to-child ratio, and are staff first-aid certified?
- Is before- and after-care available, and what does it cost? A 9am–3pm camp does not cover a 9-to-5 job.
- Is lunch included or brought? And what is the allergy policy — is the site nut-free?
- What is the refund and cancellation policy if your child is sick, and is there a cut-off date?
- What happens in bad weather for an outdoor or nature camp?
- Is it drop-in friendly for a nervous child, and can you tour or meet staff first?
- What is the actual daily schedule? “Full-day camp” can mean six hours of programming or three hours of programming and three of free play.
Frequently asked questions
When is spring break 2027 in Surrey?
March 15 to 19, 2027, followed immediately by school closure days from March 22 to 26. That is effectively two weeks off school, and both weeks need covering.
When is winter break 2026 in Surrey?
December 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027, with students back in class in the new year. Book camps for the surrounding weekdays in November — many private providers close entirely over the holidays.
How much do kids camps cost in Surrey?
City of Surrey day camps are the cheapest structured option and drop by 75% with the Leisure Access Program. Private specialty camps run roughly $300 to $500 for a full week — Science World’s Surrey camps are $499.95 for five days, and robotics camps run from $55 for a one-day workshop up to about $400 for a full week.
When does Surrey camp registration open?
Season by season through the Surrey Recreation Guide, using the PerfectMind system at surrey.ca/register. Summer camps typically open in late winter or early spring, spring break camps in winter, and winter break camps in autumn. Verify your account as a Surrey resident in advance — residents get priority registration.
How do I get help paying for camp in Surrey?
The Leisure Access Program gives children and youth a free one-year recreation pass and 75% off registered courses, with income thresholds from $26,355 for one person up to $69,112 for a family of seven. KidSport, Athletics for Kids and Canadian Tire Jumpstart fund sport registration separately and can be combined with it.
What age do camps start at in Surrey?
City of Surrey day camps take children from age 3 up to 18. Private specialty camps usually start at 5 or 6, and robotics and science camps generally at 6 or Grade 1.
How many weeks of camp should I book for summer?
Fewer than you think. Two or three specialty weeks spread across July and August, city day camps for the weeks that simply need coverage, and some genuinely unstructured weeks works better for most children than nine consecutive booked weeks.
Related guides
- After-School Programs for Kids in Surrey, BC
- Kids Sports in Surrey, BC: Soccer, Skating, Track & Multi-Sport
- Robotics, Coding & STEM Classes for Kids in Surrey
- Christmas & Winter Break with Kids in Metro Vancouver
- Things to Do With a 5-Year-Old in Metro Vancouver
- Browse kids activity providers in the directory
Last updated: September 2026. School dates are from the Surrey Schools 2026–27 district calendar; camp prices and subsidy thresholds are the published 2026 figures and change each season. Confirm registration dates in the current Surrey Recreation Guide before planning around them.
