METRO VANCOUVER SUMMER DAY CAMP GUIDE 2020

This is the time of year that Metro Vancouver parents are usually looking for summer programs and day camps that will spark their child's imagination, sense of wonder and adventure. Summer 2020 will be somewhat different as BC slowly opens up COVID-19 restrictions.

This year there are many new and innovative options for families to choose from. Some providers are running in-person camps, some are offering backyard "bubble camps" and others are offering online camps & classes. All of them are taking measures to adapt their programming to allow for as much physical distancing as possible and to incorporate enhanced sanitizing protocols to keep kids and staff as safe & healthy as possible. We've rounded up some of our top picks for 2020 Summer Camps and will be adding more to the list as more and more businesses confirm the details of their offerings for local families during this most unusual time!

SPORTBALL
SOCCER & T-BALL PROGRAMS & CAMPS

The Sportball Vancouver team is SO excited to be back up and running with outdoor soccer & t-ball programs and camps throughout July and August across the Lower Mainland! Their goal is to build your child's confidence, competence, and physical literacy, helping them build skills for life. Registration has already opened up at some locations,  new camps and programs are being confirmed daily and will be updated on the website for registration. And this summer, they're also offering new and exciting Backyard Bubble Quaranteam Camps! Get a group of up to 8 kids together to create your Quaranteam - weekly camps hosted in your backyard, driveway, or nearby park with a coach coming to you! Choose between soccer and/or t-ball, with 90-minute, 2-hour, 3-hour camp options for kids ages 3.5 to 8 years old. This is the perfect option for families who would like to keep their exposure "bubble" small with family and friends! Register for regular summer programs and camps online through the Sportball Vancouver website, or email vancouver@sportball.ca to reserve your Backyard Bubble Quaranteam Camp spot. 

PEDALHEADS
BIKE, TRAIL, SWIM, & SPORT CAMPS

Pedalheads is excited to announce that they will be offering all of their popular bike, swim, and sport programs this summer – albeit in fewer places and with a few more safeties involved. Located across the Metro Vancouver area, Pedalheads has been a staple for many families during the summer for the last 30+ years. Their fun & enriching Bike and Trail riding programs are the perfect way to get your kids outdoors and enjoy the open air this summer! Get them exploring wide-open spaces with plenty of riding. New safeties at camp this summer include physical distancing, PPE for staff, verbal health checks, additional cleaning, increased handwashing & MORE. Locations include: Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, North Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver and West Vancouver. In addition to their summer bike camps, they are also opening ‘Phase 1’ of their swim re-opening plan that ensures swim lessons in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Richmond are offered in a way that makes families feel comfortable. And as a special Grand Opening BOGO offer this summer, anyone who books a bike, trail or sport camp will get 50% off any swimming lessons booked at their newly renoved Richmond River Club Pool location! Email promo@pedalheads.com to claim this special offer. With reduced class sizes for many of the Pedalheads programs this summer, and more flexible booking/cancellation policies for Metro Vancouver families, they’re filling fast. So don’t wait to register!

elevate
ultimate frisbee & disc golf camps 

Looking for a fun, positive, high-energy, and safe summer camp? Elevate Ultimate Frisbee & Disc Golf Camps provide parents and kids aged 6-19 with fun and physically distant summer camp options. They’ve been trusted by over 700 parents in Metro Vancouver and are known for their high-energy coaches and engaging games. The Elevate team focuses on teaching kids more than just the skills of the sport. They teach conflict resolution, sportspersonship, and gender equity, through the self-refereed and co-ed sports of Ultimate Frisbee and Disc Golf. What a fantastic option for active & safe, screen-free time for Metro Vancouver kids this summer! No previous Ultimate Frisbee experience is necessary for Elevate's 1/2 and Full Day Ultimate Frisbee Summer Camps where athletes learn basic throws (backhand, forehand, hammer, scoober), how to catch with one and two hands, how to cut, and most importantly, how fun Ultimate is! And Elevate Disc Golf Camps are a fun and COVID-19 safe way for your kids to stay active and healthy this summer - they'll play & learn in small groups and be naturally much farther than 6 ft away from each other due to the nature of the sport. And NEW this summer are ALL-GIRLS half day & full day ultimate frisbee & disc golf camps. Register online soon to grab a spot!

ACADEMIE DUELLO
KNIGHT CAMP

Designed for kids aged 8-14, Academie Duello's fantastical Knight Camp recently won the Georgia Straight’s Best Kids Camp Award! The camp runs for five days and is focused on the skills of becoming a knight – from the martial art of sword and shield, to the practice of knightly virtues such as courage and integrity. Students at Knight Camp learn about history, leadership, heraldry, archery, medieval games and much more. It’s a trip into a magical realm of knights, imagination & chivalry. Get your child excited about physical activity in a way they've never been before! This summer's week-long Knight Camps will run between July 6th and August 24th. They've developed a safety plan and modified the studio to facilitate physical distancing this summer, including reducing weekly student numbers from 30 to 16, daily health checks, extra cleaning and hygiene policies, and slightly modified programming. Reservations are open now without any charge on a first-come, first-served basis, and payments will be due closer to camp dates. Register today for a five-day knighthood experience your child will never forget!

TUMBLETOWN
SUMMER CAMPS 

TumbleTown knows how to get your kids active and having fun! With lots of options, you're sure to find something to fit your needs - try out their outdoor multi-sport camps, excursion-based day camps, and indoor gym-venture days. Gymnastics, games, obstacle courses, and more adventure packed into each day! All programs have been designed to support physical distancing, staff will wear PPE, there will be increased handwashing and comprehensive cleaning of the facility and equipment. This year TumbleTown is introducing their new outdoor camps for 5-10 year-olds! These include half or full-day multi-sport camps, as well as full-day excursion-based camps! Half-day camps focus on gymnastics, introduction to multiple sports, and games, while excursion camps will see kids traveling around Kitsilano. Each day will focus on various themes including ninjas and acrobats, superheroes and circus stars, water mania, and more. Looking for indoor options? Try out their Gym-venture days for 3-5 year-olds, which focus on gymnastics, games, and outdoor play! TumbleTown provides children with the opportunity to develop fundamental movement skills in a positive and encouraging environment. They aim to create a love of sport and movement and keep your children active for life. Register online today!

SEA SMART
ONLINE PROGRAMS

Sea Smart is a Vancouver-based charity that delivers online programs, school workshops, after school programs, summer camps, shoreline clean-ups and corporate programs. Their fun hands-on programs get people excited about our oceans and empower them to make the world a better place. To date, Sea Smart has educated over 300,000 students in over 20 countries! While they're not running their usual in-person camps this summer, you can relax while your kids learn from home with Sea Smart's Ocean Defender online programs. Kids become Ocean Defenders through a series of interactive and engaging virtual lessons and hands-on activities. They'll learn about the amazing animals that live in our oceans and what they can do to protect our oceans. Sea Smart is also offering a girls-only Marine Biologist in Training Camp online program to build girls’ confidence and curiosity in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This summer, girls will learn what it's like to be a marine biologist and challenge the idea that STEM careers are for boys.  Sea Smart wants to help families as much as possible this summer, so they're offering programs on a pay what you can basis. Inspire your kids to become environmental champions and make a positive difference in the world with Sea Smart!

Photo Credit: A Little Every Day Photography

SAPLINGS
OUTDOOR PROGRAMS

Saplings Outdoor Program is a nature-based program located in Vancouver, West Vancouver, and Lions Bay for children ages 2 ½-12, and a program in Squamish for children ages 3-6 years old.  They offer both licensed full-day preschool options and after-school programs, plus incredible summer day camps for kids aged 3-12. These summer camps are for the adventurous, creative, nature-loving child. Each day at Saplings camp is a little bit different. Their nature-based activities include fort and shelter making competitions, fairy house building, nature art, and even creating your own bow and arrow! Kids will play classic childhood games such as survival, manhunt, and capture the flag, hike to beautiful secret spots, and still have plenty of free time to explore their own interests and enjoy the wonders around them. Get ready for a week packed full of exploration, adventure, and play! Saplings day camps for younger kids at Douglas Woodward Park in West Vancouver are currently full for this summer, but they're working on opening more spots (click HERE to add yourself to the waiting list). And there are still spots available in their full-day camps for older kids at Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver, so register online while you still can! 

BUILD A BIZ KIDS
SUMMER ONLINE PROGRAMS

Build a Biz Kids is a Registered Non-Profit Society that is dedicated to the future of our youth and the world they need to prepare for. Practical & Soft Skill Development is becoming a critical factor behind success in any career path children decide to take, and the Build a Biz Kids programs use Entrepreneurship as a medium with which to teach these skills through experiential & gamified learning. While they won't be running their usual in-person programs this summer, they are offering a variety of exciting online programs and accelerator courses through their new BBK Network. Upcoming accelerator courses teach kids how to launch an online business, a phone case business and a magic toy business! The best way to find out more is to have your kids give it a shot. Grab their Free 2 Week Unlimited Kids Membership to get started!

4CATS ART STUDIO
SUMMER CAMPS

4Cats Art Studio is an incredibly fun art school for students aged 5-15 with programs offered across Metro Vancouver. Throughout their summer camps, kids can explore a variety of mediums, which encourages a love of learning, independence, creativity and artistic flow! Earn and collect badges throughout these mixed media camps that have a focus on acrylic painting and clay work, and choose from a variety of single day or full-week options! This summer you can expect to see lots of new projects, talented instructors, awesome professional art supplies, and incredible changes to the 4Cats Art Studio spaces to accomodate physical distancing and maximize health & safety. Many camps are already fully booked, so don't delay if your kids are big art fans like ours are!