8 Great Summer Day Camps in Vancouver

It’s hard to believe summer is around the corner–this spring just flew by! Before we know it, school will be out and the sun will be shining. With summer day camps in Vancouver back to normal levels of enrolment and programming, now is a great time to plan ahead and figure out which ones may best suit your family. In fact, most camps register well in advance of summer time slots, so there’s no time like the present to plot out the summer fun – even if you’re still waiting for that summer weather. Here’s some top-notch options and remember to check camp websites for updates as restrictions change…

Summer Day Camps in Vancouver

City of Vancouver Parks and Rec

A host of summer camps will be running at community centres around the city, featuring a mix of activities for all ages. Some camps are full-day sessions to help provide childcare during the entire summer while others operate for morning or afternoon sessions. With everything from nature camps to cooking camps, along with swimming, arts and crafts, and more, there’s a great mix of options that are sure to be close to home for everyone.

SFU Summer Camps

The ever-popular SFU summer camp programs are always a great choice with a mix of outdoor programs, online options, and sports activities. With everything tennis to soccer, and a mix of programs with unique titles such as Mountain Madness and Girls Rock, there’s program that will appeal to budding scientists, athletes, engineers and much more.

Pear Tree Education

With camps running all summer long for children aged 5 to 14, Pear Tree has one of the most extensive summer camp offerings. They also offer camps in multiple locations around the region: Burnaby, Vancouver, East Vancouver, North Vancouver, and in White Rock. Camp offerings include everything from cooking to sports, technology to arts, along with music, dance, academics, and more.

Pedalheads

There’s a reason this organization has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years: plain and simple, kids love it. Well known for their biking camps and education programs, Pedalheads has added swimming camps and trail hiking programs over the years, and now offer a full line-up that will appeal to every kid, at every age, in cities around North America. With most programs fully outdoors, it’s also a great option for fresh air, exercise, and fun. Registration opens in mid April.

FDT Academy

The Fostering Debate Talent Academy is gearing up to offer another eight-week summer debate program for summer 2023, open to students from kindergarten to grade 12. The sessions are ideal for both new debaters seeking an introduction to the sport of debate and for current or ongoing students who want to continue to develop their skills. FDT, which opened its doors in 2016, is the only debate and public speaking academy in BC with students who have become members of both the Canadian National Debate Team and the Canadian National Speech Team. Private lessons are also available.

Arts Umbrella

With camps at both the original Granville Island location in the heart of Vancouver as well as in South Surrey, the arts camps offered by Arts Umbrella are known for their high quality programming. With hands-on sessions in theatre, music, dance, visual arts, applied arts, and media arts, there’s plenty on offer to allow students to explore, learn, be curious and have fun. This year’s lineup includes a return of a variety of programming with more slots available – still, these are popular camps, so register early.

Vancouver White Caps Soccer

If you’re going to gain soccer skills, why not head to the experts? The Vancouver White Caps run soccer camps around the region for a variety of skill levels and ages. With a focus on both fun and technical skills, the camps include games and scrimmages and run for either full morning or afternoon sessions. This year, there are also overnight camps available for kids who’d like to have a summer getaway.

Earth Heads

It’s a perfect year to get outside, have fun, and learn about the nature in our own backyards. For the budding green thumbs or biologists in your family, there’s a variety of options for younger children at Earth Heads. Kids will be immersed in nature at spots around the Vancouver region, with a chance to explore the environment and local ecosystems. Summer camp registration is not yet open but check back often – these spots fill fast.