I Love Transit Week Transit Camp in Vancouver
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For the seventh year in a row, Translink is dedicating their digital channels, the print Buzzer, time and thoughts to the love of transit! I Love Transit Week will run between August 31st and September 4th, and in the past it has featured haikus, reflective essays, pictures, stories about finding love on transit, a wedding on a bus, paintings, a cake, a crossword and even a song.
Sign up for Transit Camp
Translink is offering up two FREE day-long Transit Camp experiences for children and adults this September.
I Love Transit Camp (Kids) September 1st, 2015
I Love Transit Camp for kids is an opportunity for kids between the ages of eight and 12 to visit TransLink operating companies’ facilities to learn about how transit works and have some fun at the same time.
The day will start around 9:00am at Edmonds Station, and the group will head to SkyTrain Operations and Maintenance Centre (OMC). While there, they will visit where the SkyTrain is maintained and cleaned as well as the SkyTrain Control. Kids will get a chance to use the SkyTrain simulator, ask questions of SkyTrain staff and even take a trip on a train around the OMC testing track. There will be a lunch break before saying goodbye to OMC.
Next, campers will hop back on SkyTrain and head for Gilmore Station. Once there, they’ll take a ride on a bus and get a behind-the-scenes tour of Burnaby Transit Centre. They’ll see the fleet overhaul and where they fix and update almost everything on a bus, including the painting of buses and reupholstering of seats. You will also get a tour of the bus yard with articulated and 40-foot buses.
Afterwards, campers will get to have fun on a 40-foot bus and talk to a bus operator instructor about what it’s like to drive a bus. The group will get back on a bus that will drop everyone off at Gilmore Station. The day should wrap up around four o’clock and will also include a visit with Transit Police.
How to take part
Due to safety concerns for both OMC and BTC, Translink is only able to take a maximum of 20 people on the camp. That means 10 kids (ages 8-12) and their guardians will be able to participate in the camp. If you’d like to participate, Translink would like kids to tell them (in 50 words or less) what they love about transit. You can also submit a photo and/or a video as part of your entry. Before you or your little one starts typing or writing, you’ll want to read the participation guidelines.
Send your submissions to [email protected] with “I Love Transit Camp Kids” in the subject field, or you can surface mail it to The Buzzer, 400 – 287 Nelson’s Court, New Westminster, BC, V3L 0E7. Be sure to include your name, age, where you heard about the camp, and the phone number and name of the guardian you wish to bring with you. The deadline for submissions is August 24, 2015. If you are selected, Translink will need a participation form filled out by August 28th, 2015.
I Love Transit Camp (Adults) September 3rd
The first I Love Transit Camp for adults (age 13 and up) is an opportunity for adults to visit Burnaby Transit Centre and have some fun while you’re at it. The day will start shortly after noon at Gilmore Station. Once there, you’ll take a ride on the bus and get a behind-the-scenes tour of Burnaby Transit Centre. You will see the fleet overhaul where they can fix and update almost everything on a bus, including the painting of buses and reupholstering of seats. A tour of the bus yard with articulated and 40-foot buses is also included. Afterwards, you’ll get to have fun on a 40-foot bus and play some games. Games and some other activities are planned, along with some meet and greets. At the end of the day, a bus will drop everyone off at Gilmore Station, the day should wrap up around four o’clock.
How to take part
Due to safety concerns at BTC, Translink is only able to take a maximum of 20 people on the camp. This means 20 adults will be able to participate in the camp. If you’d like to participate, you’ll need to tell Translink (in 50 words or less) what you love about transit. If you like, you can also submit a photo and/or a video as part of your entry. Before you start typing or writing, you’ll want to read the participation guidelines.
Send your submissions to [email protected] with “I Love Transit Camp Adults” in the subject field, or you can surface mail it to The Buzzer, 400 – 287 Nelson’s Court, New Westminster, BC, V3L 0E7. Be sure to include your name, age, where you heard about the camp, and phone number. The deadline for submissions is August 24th. If you are selected, Translink will need a participation form filled out by August 28th, 2015.
Stay tuned to the The Buzzer Blog for more details leading up to both the Transit Camp for Kids and Transit Camp for Adults.
