Summer Camps for Kids

Some of my most memorable, happy summers in my childhood and youth come from camping experiences.  Whether it was the oudoor adventure Boy Scout camps organized by my preacher dad when I was a tiny tot, the family camping excursions or attending the Keats Island Baptist camp during my teens, camping has always been one of my favorite activities.

There are hundreds of opportunities here on the Coast for kids to experience the joys of camping.  Running around outside and using only their imagination for company seems something that only happened long ago in this new world of apartment life, childhood restrictions and the computer/digital age. But free play is an important part of a child’s development.  Creative play nourishes a child and forms the foundation of intellectual, social and emotional skills.

Camps offer an environment free of cell-phones and computer games, encourages kids to form social networks with their peers.  You get to go on adventures, participate in sports, sing silly songs (I still remember my old camp songs) and play games.  Camping experiences are something you never forget.

Camps can be week long holidays or day camps you attend to do activities, and there are camps for all ages of kids.  Schools, churches and community centres have programs for your children.  Here’s just a few:

Templeton Secondary School

“Summer Visions Film Institute for Youth” education@cinematheque.bc.ca  604-688-8202

VICTORY SPORTS CAMPS

Balloholics Super Camp BCIT Burnaby Campus.  Grades 4 – 9 boys and girls (day campes and 6 pm pickup)  604-636-3356

SHORE BIKE CAMPS ages 5 – 16   604-929-0718

DANCE CAMPS

ONE DANCE Creative Art Centre  pre-school to teens  604-987-8747

SUMMER SCIENCE CAMP at SCIENCE WORLD 604-443-7440

LYRIC SCHOOL OF ACTING Young artist’s summer program. 604-685-0752  admin@lyricstudios.ca

EXPLORE THE FOREST    EVANS LAKE FOREST CAMP 604-904-2260

Kids 8 – 16 yrs.  info@evanslake.com

SUMMER DIVING CAMPS

Vancouver Aquatic Centre Divers 604-696-2606   Kids 5 – 17 yrs. info@vacdivers.ca

CAMP SUNRISE  Salvation Army Camp adoptafamilyvfs@shawcable.com

ZAJAC RANCH for Children with serious and chronic illnesses and disabilities

604-739-0444

CAMP POTLACH  Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver 604-324-2267

Wilderness summer camp for children 7 – 17 yrs.  camp@bgc-gv.bc.ca

and neighbourhoos day camp: 604-879-6554

FOR BOATING ENTHUSIASTS

Kitsilano Yacht Club Youth sailing.

Jericho Sailing Centre Youth sailing camps.604-224-7245

Windsurfing/skimboarding  604-224-0614

Kayaking 604-689-7575

Vancouver Water Ski Club waterski and wakeboard  Kids 6 – 14

JUBILEE RETREAT located on Indian Arm  Kids 7 – 18 yrs  604-937-7388

CANADIAN BOOK CAMP Vancouver Public Library,  Aug 10 -14  Central branch. 604-331-4041

WEBB’S HOLIDAY ACRES Aldergrove, B.C.

Horseback riding, hayrides, campfires, nature walks.   Kids 6 – 14 yrs.  604-857-1712

2009 SUMMER SOCCER CAMPS Boys and girls 6 – 13  604-937-0500

GIRLS LOVE HORSES a riding camp for girls. 604-672-2031  Barriere B.C.

CAMP ARTABAN Gambier Island.  604-980-0391

YMCA SUMMER CAMPS (day camps and residential camps) 604-939-9622

Langara Family Y 604-324-9622   YMCA Childcare 604-294-9622

THETIS ISLAND CAMP COLUMBIA 1(250)246-3751 or 1(866)946-3751  admin@campcolumbia.com

COQUITLAM MAILLARDVILLE’S FRENCH SUMMER CAMP 604-515-7070

WETLAND ADVENTURES in Burns Bog 604-572-0373

For information on selecting camps:  BC CAMPING ASSOC.