Warmer weather and slower schedules mean summer is a great time to explore, learn and have fun. From outdoor adventures to intensive retreats to honing skills and cultivating passions, summer camps in and around 麻豆社国产offer something for everyone. Find some inspiration below.
Camp Summit
Camp Summit is a sleep-away adventure camp that takes advantage of the natural beauty found in the Sea to Sky region. Located 20 minutes from downtown 麻豆社国产in the Upper 麻豆社国产Valley, kids aged four to 17 take part in hikes, mountain biking, bouldering, high ropes courses, arts and crafts and overnight camping trips. Geoff 鈥淧arky鈥� Park, its senior director, says many campers come back year after year, giving it a 鈥渞eal family feel.鈥�
The camp has an online registration form at .
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Blackcomb Glacier ski and snowboard camps
Who says you can only catch sweet air on the mountain in winter? The glacier on top of Blackcomb Mountain can be skied year-round, and camps like Momentum Ski Camp and Whistler Blackcomb Summer Snowboard Glacier Camp offer kids and adults alike access to snowy conditions in mid-July with world-renowned coaches.
John Smart, director of Momentum, says he thinks it鈥檚 the 鈥減henomenal lineup of coaches鈥� that makes the experience stand out. Skiers have the chance to be mentored by Olympic medallists to improve their mogul skills, slope-style or big mountain skiing.
Everyone takes two gondolas before boarding a bus to the glacier near Seventh Heaven each day.
Kids nine and up are welcome in the camps, and so are adults during the adults-only and family weeks.听
Remember to lather on the sunscreen, since rays reflected off the snow can be intense.
Skiers interested in Momentum can find a link to register on their website and snowboarders should call Whistler Blackcomb at 1-800-766-0449.
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麻豆社国产Youth Sailing and Kayaking Camp听
Kids can get out on the water and learn to sail in a safe and fun environment at this day camp. Trevor Chelswick, who started the camp with his father, says children as young as seven can learn to steer their own boat within the first couple of days, and it can help them gain a sense of confidence.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cool to see how quickly the kids progress, especially with the winds in Squamish,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a daycare.鈥�
Youngsters start in the more sheltered waters of the 麻豆社国产harbour, but can get out into Howe Sound once they become more advanced.听
Sessions run between July 2 and August 24 and links to register can be found on the 麻豆社国产Yacht Club鈥檚 website. Kids seven to 14 are welcome.
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Camp Ecolart
This camp already has two locations in Montreal and San Diego, and this summer they鈥檙e offering a new one in Squamish.
Mariano Liu, the camp鈥檚 founder, said they wanted to focus on putting together something new and fun for teenagers since many summer camps in the area cater to younger children.
Children 10 to 17 will be guided on overnight expeditions to some of the region鈥檚 most rugged and beautiful scenery. They鈥檒l camp at Alice Lake, see the three splendid Joffre Lakes and summit Panorama Ridge.
In between, they鈥檒l enjoy other activities like kayaking and mountain biking.
鈥淲e wanted to share the love of the Sea to Sky [region] with the rest of the world,鈥� Liu said.听
Ecolart prides itself on being an international camp and usually brings in many youth from overseas who want to learn English while participating in their adventure programs. Local campers can choose to sleep-away or stay at home in between expeditions.
Participants use Quest University鈥檚 facilities when they鈥檙e not out camping in the backcountry and can also go on excursions to Vancouver and Whistler.
Register at .
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Paradise Valley Summer School of the Arts
For one week in July, this camp offers budding artists an outdoor studio to practice new techniques with experienced mentors guiding them.
鈥淭hey do a lot of art, probably around five hours a day,鈥� said Bev Myrtle, who helps run the camp.
It鈥檚 a week-long sleep-away retreat at the Cheakamus Centre in Brackendale that has kids hiking and canoeing when they put their paintbrushes down.
Myrtle says learning from artists in nature rather than in a classroom is what makes it a special experience for creative kids.听
This year the artist-in-residence for junior artists ages eight to 12 will be M.E. Sparks and kids 13 to 18 will work with Justin Ogilvie.
Attendees can expect to draw, paint, sculpt and create mixed media pieces.
Online registration forms can be found at .
听麻豆社国产Academy of Music 鈥� Broadway or Bust
This three-week musical theatre day camp brings together children to put on a fully staged production of a Broadway musical. This summer, they鈥檙e working on Music Man.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very intensive program,鈥� said director Melissa Braun. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no time for kids not to put themselves out there or fully commit to what they鈥檙e doing.鈥�
Each morning, kids rotate through acting, singing and dancing classes with trained instructors. They can improve their auditioning skills, improvisation, and vocal technique while working towards a play to that will impress friends and family. In addition to the main group production, campers also work on individual projects like dance solos and monologues that they鈥檒l present at a review show.
Braun said it鈥檚 a treat to watch kids who started as young as seven grow up to become accomplished young adults who may join professional productions in the region.
Youth aged seven to 18 are welcome, and registration links can be found on the 麻豆社国产Academy of Music website.
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Whistler Sports Academy Day Camp
This sports day camp lets kids hone their skills at a sport of choice every morning and then cool off in Alta Lake every afternoon. From tennis to gymnastics to jiu-jitsu, young athletes of every inclination will find a way to burn off energy with help from coaches.
鈥淚f you have five kids, we鈥檒l have something for each kid,鈥� said founding director Jamie Grant.
But no matter what sport they choose, they鈥檒l spend the hottest part of each day kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing.
With 12 different sports specialties to choose from, Grant thinks it鈥檚 the variety that makes his camp special. Kids three to 18 are welcome.
A registration guide can be found at .
Camp Airhouse
Young people itching for an adrenaline rush can find it at this camp that offers some thrill-inducing action sports. The day camp welcomes groups of kids three years old and up.
One of their most popular offerings is the Try 麻豆社国产camp, which gives kids a chance to try rock climbing, mountain biking and trampolining.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an introductory camp to sample the best of Squamish,鈥� said Airhouse鈥檚 general manager Phoebe Harper.**
Another popular option for young skateboarders is to take advantage of the facility鈥檚 freestyle park.听
With any sport, kids can choose between an AirVenture camp, which is more introductory with games and activities mixed in, or the coaching-intensive RadVenture camp which is focused on athlete development.
Links to register can be found on
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Horse Dreamers Camp at Mountain Horse听School
Kids at this day camp spend their summer surrounded by mountains near Pemberton learning horse sense on the ground and in the riding ring.
Kera Willis, the camp鈥檚 founder, says she wanted to set up 鈥渁 really small, intimate experiences with horses.鈥�
The camp鈥檚 sessions are limited to four participants who are guided by Willis through riding each morning and nature-themed crafts in the afternoon.
The group catches the horses from the field together, grooms them and tacks them up before a semi-private lesson with Willis.
She has two children ride at a time while the other two watch to see what the motions look like from the ground before trying themselves.
鈥淲e end up like one big herd through the experience,鈥� she said.
Every afternoon, Willis tries to tune children into the natural world around them. Parents can expect their young ones to bring home handcrafted paper embedded with wildflowers, horse hair ornaments, and homemade fruit leather.
Willis also has lots of experience working with those with autism and ADHD, and welcomes neurodiverse campers.
Registration links can be found on the Mountain Horse School website.
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Chasecamp
Finally, this organization proves that summer camp doesn鈥檛 have to just be for children. It started in 2016 to tap into adults鈥� nostalgia for summers gone by, with the idea that camp gets even more fun when it鈥檚 adults only. It鈥檚 friendly for grown-up schedules because it runs over one long weekend every summer. The location, called Camp Potlach, sits along a beautiful stretch of Howe Sound that鈥檚 only accessible by boat.
Ashley Moore, one of the founders, says she鈥檚 really proud of all the counsellors they bring in because they鈥檙e all entrepreneurs 鈥渦p to cool things in the city.鈥�
Yoga classes are run by teachers from Vancouver and bootcamps may be led by instructors from Equinox.
The weekend offers summer camp favourites including bonfires, 鈥渞eal talks鈥� and team games. There are also things on offer that won鈥檛 be found at kids camps like sessions on goal setting and local craft beer.
鈥淧eople just let down their barriers and had a lot of fun,鈥� Moore said of the 2017 session.听
Registration is at
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**Please note, this story has been updated since it was first posted to reflect that the Airhouse camps are available for children three years and up and to correct the spelling of Phoebe's name.
