Summer Camp in Stanley Park

This post has been contributed by Michael Murray, Communications Volunteer with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). I have been following SPES since I moved into the West End a decade ago and I have been a member for three years. I wanted to offer the team an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I have created “SPES Saturday” where they contribute and share stories with my audience once a month.

Summer Camp in Stanley Park

Blue skies and soaring temperatures can mean only one thing: summer has returned to the Lower Mainland and parents everywhere are wrestling with the age old question of what to do with their children for the summer holidays. With the expansion of its summer Day Camp program, the Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) may have the answer you’ve been looking for.

Recent Studies have shown the many benefits of connecting children to nature – from lowering stress levels to improving concentration and increasing physical fitness. If your child is in need of a nature fix, SPES is here to help.

SPES day camper investigates sap sucker holes. (Photo by Don Enright)

This year SPES is introducing its Feathered Friends camp running from July 27-31. This is an excellent opportunity for children ages 7-9 to learn more about the many varieties of birds that call Stanley Park home. The Park is home to four nesting pairs of bald eagles and an expansive great blue heron colony; it is also a nursery for songbirds, owls, and many other bird species. Campers will learn how to identify eggs, build a nest box and properly use binoculars. “These new camps are a great way to explore parts of the Park that very few people get to see,” says Celina Starnes, SPES Public Education and Outreach Manager.

Exploring the beach at Lumberman’s Arch. (Photo by Brian Grover)

If you prefer to get your hands dirty, then the Secret Life of Plants is an excellent chance to explore some of the many varieties of flora found in the Park. Campers will “meet a tree”, make all natural tea and play seed tag. Other activities include a visit to the rose garden and a picnic in the forest. The camp runs from August 17-21 and is filling up quickly.

SPES has a wide array of other summer day camp programs sure to suit the interests of even the most discerning of nature lovers. Water Worlds of Stanley Park explores the beaches, creeks and wetlands and all the various plants and animals that call these watery ecosystems home. Another favourite is the Stanley Park Survivor camp teaching children how to camp responsibly, leaving a minimal footprint on the environment. These camps run July 20-24 and Aug 4-7 respectively. Use the promo code WATWOR to receive 15% off your registration fee.

Campers birdwatch at Beaver Lake. (Photo by Anthony Ho)

All camps run 8:30-4:30 rain or shine, and after care is available for an additional $20 per week. Please check our website for more information and enjoy your summer in the Park!