DO YOUR KIDS LONG TO BE OUTSIDE??


If you grew up in a family like mine, you know the sacred word of summer….CAMP!!! Too many children these days do not attend summer camp anymore and I think that is a real tragedy. Some of my fondest memories of my childhood revolve around summer camp, and what it taught me. Singing Kumbaya around the campfire, catching my first fish or sharing my first kiss; all these things make who I am today. I also learned how to make a mean campfire and how to survive on my own out in the wilderness if need be…..ALL useful tools in the real world! More than I can say about grade 11 Algebra! If you want your kids to experience the freedom, self-expression, or simply a new frontier, British Columbia offers a wide range of camp activities for kids from 5-18. Being young is about exploring who you are, pushing boundaries, and seeing what you’re made of. Those eight weeks of summer have a ton to do with that growth. Here are some ideas for you and your family to explore that are fairly close to home, not a zillion dollars and promise the simplest and best of promises…the kids will have a blast!

North Vancouver Recreation Centre

North Van Rec Centre has a wide variety of camps for kids of all ages. Programs in Early Age, School Age, and Youth are offered programs best suited to their interests. A variety which include Creative arts, the challenge of games, sports and outdoor activities, allowing for opportunities of self-expression and exploration which are vital to their development. Programs such as Pink Petal Ballet Girl Power (ages 4-6) and Sing Dance Act (ages 4-7) are offered at the Upper Lonsdale locations. The Seymour location offers Pottery Camp and and Sports camp to those 4-7 years of age. Plus so many more including programs in Lynn Valley and Lower Lonsdale.  There is a wealth of information and a detailed itinerary of all the programs they offer on their web-site which I have posted below. This Recreation Centre is premiere spot for summer programs and develops skills in all areas of interest in your child’s life. Dates and slots can fill up fast, so time is of the essence here.

North Vancouver Recreation Centre

UBC Camps

UBC Camps are a leading provider of high quality camps for children ages 2-18 years of age. UBC offers a vast selection of activity camps, including sports camps, arts and music camps, adventure camps, specialty camps, day camps, residential camps, and international camps. If at the end of summer your kids couldn’t get enough, you can extend the programs year round programming in a variety of ways and allow that summer fun to permeate throughout the year, creating lasting relationships, better social skills, self-esteem and flat out fun.
Check out their sight for more details, schedules and offerings.

UBC Camps

Camp Jubilee

Welcoming campers to the shores of Indian Arm Since 1936, this camp has garnered a great reputation. They offer a wide variety of activities for active kids, or for those kids that want to be active! They have 128 oceanfront acres of evergreen forest at the base of Mount Seymour along the Indian Arm right here in North Vancouver. They provide an exciting adventure based experience for children and youth 7-16 years. 6 or 8 day sessions and are accredited by the BC Camping Association. Camp Jubilee provides an exciting, closely supervised and enriching experience for children and youth. Campers will become part of a cabin group with approximately 7 other children and participate in a wide variety of exciting land and water based activities designed to challenge and build skills. They will experience the beauty of the Indian Arm from a kayak or a voyager canoe, enjoy the view from the tree tops on their high ropes course, hike the trails, swim in the ocean, rappel down a rock face, shoot an arrow, camp out, sing, play huge camp wide games, and maybe, even enjoy a prank or two. All the while, campers are forming lasting friendships and furthering their interpersonal and leadership skills. What could be better?

Camp Jubilee


This is just the tip of the iceberg for camps in BC. For more info do check out camps.ca for a wealth of info, and know that following your heart and gut is the best way to make a decision for your little one. Creating memories, and making themselves into strong, confident young adults are in my opinion what Camps are all about. Pack the sunscreen, the fishing pole; a couple of swimsuits and bug repellant and when they return you will have a rosy nosed, mosquito bitten happy camper on your hands. A lifetime of memories for your special child that can one day be shared with their own children. A tradition worth keeping if you ask me.





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