With Blue Jays fever sweeping across Canada, classrooms are buzzing with energy from themed spirit days to students proudly sporting their favourite team colours. For many schools, these celebrations foster unity, pride, and a strong sense of belonging. Yet, the Jays Care Affiliate School Program takes that excitement to the next level (and yes, it comes with some pretty great swag, too!). At Teachers on Call, our in-home and online tutoring team loves sharing educational opportunities that inspire both academic and personal growth. Just as literacy and numeracy strengthen young minds, physical literacy helps students build confidence, teamwork skills, and lifelong healthy habits. While this program is often discovered through word of mouth among educators, we wanted to help our community learn more about this outstanding initiative by Jays Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays. In this blog, we speak with Meghan Saundercook, Senior Manager of National School Programs at Jays Care Foundation, to explore how the program is helping teachers across Canada create inclusive sport experiences for students, the different options available for schools, and how to apply for the 2025–26 school year.
For many students, particularly those who have never participated in a team sport, the Jays Care Affiliate School Program provides a rare and powerful opportunity to build confidence, form friendships, and feel genuinely connected to their school community. Since its inception, the Jays Care Affiliate School Program has grown from a small network of schools running adaptive baseball programs to a national movement promoting equity, inclusion, and empowerment through sport. What began with a handful of educators introducing Challenger Baseball to their students has evolved into a coast-to-coast initiative connecting over 1,300 schools across all 10 provinces and 3 territories. Each participating school embraces the program’s core mission — to ensure every child, regardless of background, gender, or ability, can experience the joy of teamwork and belonging. By integrating inclusive programs like Girls At Bat, Challenger Baseball, Indigenous Rookie League, and RBI, Jays Care is redefining what sport can look like in Canadian classrooms and communities.
4 Inclusive Programs Offered Through the Jays Care Affiliate School Program
The Jays Care Affiliate School Program offers a range of inclusive, sport-based opportunities designed to engage students of all abilities and backgrounds — including those who may have never played on a team before. Each program fosters teamwork, confidence, and a sense of belonging, while helping students develop valuable life skills through play. Schools can choose from four core programs:
- Challenger Baseball: An adaptive baseball or softball program tailored for students living with physical and/or cognitive disabilities. The program focuses on fostering independence, courage, and connection while nurturing a lifelong love of sport and physical activity.
- Girls At Bat: A baseball and softball program designed to empower girls and self-identified female youth. It provides a safe, supportive environment for building leadership, confidence, and belonging—on and off the field.
- Indigenous Rookie League: Created in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, this program brings Indigenous youth together through sport, celebrating their culture, strength, and community.
- RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities): A mixed-ability program that breaks down barriers—whether financial, social, or physical—by offering accessible opportunities for children and youth to experience teamwork, friendship, and fun.
The Jays Care Affiliate School Program Is Available in Both English and French
Reflecting Canada’s bilingual spirit, the Jays Care Affiliate School Program is offered in both English and French, ensuring that all students can experience the power of sport in the language that feels most natural to them. All resources are accessible for teachers supporting students in French programs with materials including coach manuals, posters and cards with French options.
For example, one inspiring story comes from a French Immersion school in Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario where students and teachers embraced the program to make baseball more accessible to everyone. Their success highlights how language, inclusion, and teamwork can come together to create a true sense of belonging both on and off the field. Read the full article here.
Jays Care Affiliate School Program Geographic Reach Across Canada
While the Jays Care Affiliate School Program is naturally popular in major cities like Toronto, its reach extends far beyond — from Northern Ontario communities such as Sudbury (learn about how two elementary schools in Sudbury benefitted here: Toronto Blue Jays charity organization instills love of baseball for Sudbury students), to the western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta (read a success story in Red Deer, Alberta here: Red Deer middle school joins transformative ‘Jays Care Challenger Baseball’ program), and all the way to Nova Scotia on the East Coast — including all three territories.
Why Teachers Love the Jays Care Affiliate School Program
Not to worry if you don’t play baseball like George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — this program is designed to make it simple for teachers to lead with confidence. Educators across Canada are embracing the Jays Care Affiliate School Program because it’s impactful, accessible, and designed for success. The program brings a team mentality to classrooms and schoolyards, helping students feel part of something bigger than themselves — even those who have never played a sport before. Teachers appreciate that it doesn’t require a physical education background to lead; the comprehensive training, lesson plans, and ready-to-use resources take the guesswork out of delivery. Each participating school receives all the necessary equipment at no cost, removing financial barriers and ensuring every educator can confidently bring inclusive, play-based learning to life.
New to the Program? Keep Reading for Our Interview on How Teachers Can Bring the Jays Care Affiliate School Program to Their School
Read Our Full Interview with Meghan Saundercook from the Jays Care Foundation
What was the original inspiration behind the Jays Care Affiliate School Program? When and how did the program first begin, and how has it evolved over time?
The Jays Care Affiliate School Program began in 2018 with a simple but powerful goal: to create inclusive sport opportunities for students with disabilities. Initially launched with just a handful of schools running Challenger Baseball, Jays Care’s signature adaptive baseball program, the initiative aimed to fill a critical gap in accessible physical activity within the education system.
As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional learning and deepened inequities in access to sport, the program evolved to meet the moment. Jays Care expanded its offerings to include all of its core programs, Girls At Bat, Indigenous Rookie League, RBI, and Challenger Baseball, allowing schools to tailor inclusive sport experiences to the unique needs of their students.
What started with 10 schools has grown into a vibrant, nationwide community of over 1,300 Affiliate Schools. Together, they are helping to redefine what sport can look like in Canadian classrooms.
What need or gap in schools did the Jays Care Affiliate School Program aim to fill when it was created?
When the Jays Care Affiliate School Program was created, it set out to address a pressing need in Canadian schools: the lack of inclusive, accessible opportunities for sport, recreation, and play. Far too many students, especially those facing physical, social, or financial barriers, were being left on the sidelines.
Research continues to highlight these challenges. The Jumpstart State of Sport Report (2023) found that cost remains one of the biggest obstacles preventing children from participating in community sports. Meanwhile, the Canadian Women & Sport Rally Report (2022) revealed that many self-identified female youth feel unwelcome or disconnected in traditional sport environments.
The Affiliate School Program was designed to change that narrative. By bringing inclusive sport directly into schools, it ensures that every student, regardless of background, ability, or experience, can feel like they belong on a team. Through programs like Girls At Bat, Challenger Baseball, Indigenous Rookie League, and RBI, students build essential life skills such as resilience, leadership, courage, and connection.
Is the Affiliate School Program available nationwide across Canada, or does it focus on certain provinces or regions?
The Affiliate School program is available nationwide and has representation from all 10 provinces and 3 territories.
Who typically signs up — school councils, teachers, or administrators — and how does the application process work?
One of the most empowering aspects of the Jays Care Affiliate School Program is its accessibility - any educator can lead it, regardless of their background in baseball. Each September, the application window opens, inviting schools from coast to coast to coast to re-apply and continue their journey toward inclusive sport.
Over the years, we’ve seen applications come in from a diverse range of school staff: PhysEd teachers, classroom educators, administrators, and even school social workers. What unites them is a shared commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces for students to play, grow, and belong.
Understanding that every school and school board operates differently, Jays Care doesn’t prescribe a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we equip educators with everything they need to succeed at no cost - comprehensive training, high-quality resources, and all the necessary equipment, so they can confidently run programs like Girls At Bat, Challenger Baseball, Indigenous Rookie League, and RBI in ways that best serve their students.
Whether you're new to sport programming or a seasoned coach, the Affiliate School Program is designed to meet you where you are and help you make a lasting impact.
How can interested schools apply or register to become a Jays Care Affiliate School?
Applications for the 2025/26 school year are officially open, and schools across Canada are invited to join the growing community of Jays Care Affiliate Schools. Interested educators can visit jayscare.com/schools to learn more and apply here.
Once accepted, schools attend a virtual training session to get familiar with the program’s goals, resources, and structure. From there, they commit to running at least eight weeks of programming—just one hour per week—with students in their school. It’s a simple, flexible model designed to fit into any school’s schedule while delivering a powerful impact.
What kinds of activities, lessons, or experiences are offered through the Jays Care Affiliate School Program once a school joins?
Affiliate Schools receive a comprehensive welcome package filled with inclusive tools to kickstart their program. This includes:
- A school banner to proudly display their affiliation
- Baseball and character-building cards
- Team-building resources
- A detailed program manual with over 75 activities and corresponding instructional videos
- Pre-made 8-week lesson plans for a turnkey experience
Schools also receive a full baseball or softball equipment kit, with the option to choose indoor-friendly gear (foam bats and balls) or traditional equipment (aluminum bats, softballs, helmets). Returning schools are celebrated with loyalty items like additional equipment and collectible pins to recognize their ongoing commitment to inclusive sport. This is all offered to schools completely free of charge!
Can you share examples of success stories from schools or communities that have participated in the Jays Care Affiliate School Program?
Across the country, Affiliate Schools are turning inclusive sport into unforgettable experiences. One standout example comes from the Thames Valley District School Board in London, Ontario, where over 20 schools running Girls At Bat came together for a massive inter-school event. More than 500 self-identified female students participated in a day filled with baseball activities, team-building games, and a celebratory 7th inning stretch.
Students exchanged inspirational pins, collaborated across schools, and built lasting connections, all through the power of sport. Events like these show how the Affiliate School Program is more than baseball, it’s a catalyst for community, confidence, and belonging.
This October, schools across Canada participated in a nationwide Jays Day to cheer on the Toronto Blue Jays. How did the Affiliate School Program help coordinate and celebrate this event?
This year, Jays Care Affiliate Schools united for a nationwide Jays Day to cheer on the Toronto Blue Jays during their postseason run. Over 100 schools participated, dressing in Blue Jays gear, making signs, and celebrating as school communities. The energy was electric, with students and educators alike rallying behind their team and sharing their pride from coast to coast to coast. It was a powerful reminder of how sport can bring people together, and how the Affiliate School Program helps amplify that spirit in classrooms and communities across Canada. Go Jays Go!
As the Jays Care Affiliate School Program continues to expand, its impact reaches far beyond the baseball field. Powered by the spirit of the Toronto Blue Jays and the game of baseball, the program is bringing the love of team sports to students who face significant barriers—giving teachers the confidence, resources, and equipment to coach them with pride. You don’t need to be a professional coach to make a difference; Jays Care makes it easy for every educator to create inclusive opportunities where all students can play, belong, and succeed. Whether it’s a nationwide Jays Day celebration or a single gym class where every student gets a chance to shine, the Jays Care Affiliate School Program is helping build stronger, more connected school communities across Canada — one inning at a time.
