Strike camps fill the void while thousands of students off school

With teachers and education workers on the picket line Tuesday, thousands of parents had to figure out child care for the day.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation held rotating strikes that affected Waterloo region and Wellington County Tuesday.TheOntario English Catholic Teachers' Association also helda province-wide one-day strike Tuesday.

That's where strike camps come in. Campsare running throughout the week to fill the void, including camps offered by the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, the Region of Waterloo and the YMCA, among other groups.

'It is a challenge'

Laura Krizmanicdropped her daughter off at the City of Waterloo's camp Tuesday morning at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.

She says one of the most challenging parts of the strike has been the change in routine for her daughter, who has special needs.

"Because of her diagnosis, it is a challenge. She needs to know what to expect on a daily basis and then also just for the workers to get to know her and to know what to expect of her," saidKrizmanic.

• LISTEN: How parents are dealing with the strikes

Nancy Hall-Jupp is the supervisor of leisure and active living programs for the city of Waterloo and organizes the city's strike camps.

The city is running three camp days this week, to coincide withthe province-wideElementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario strike on Thursday and other rotating strikes. Every camp is full with children on the waiting list, she said.

Hall-Jupp is also a parent of two whose kids are enrolled in the camp.

"Staying extremely organized right now is so important in my professional role and my home life making sure the kids have safe care while they're not in school,"

As for conversations she's having with the kids and other parents about the strike, Hall-Jupp says it's all about staying positive.

"We want the teachers to know that the kids are supporting them. We want to make sure that as a whole as a community we're helping each other out."