This post has been contributed by Michael Murray, Development Assistant with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”).
Summer Camp in Stanley Park
SPES day camper investigates sap sucker holes.
Photo by Don Enright.
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.
The Stanley Park Ecology Society may have the answer you’ve been looking for with the Stanley Park Eco Camps. “These camps are a great way to explore parts of the Park that very few people get to see,” says Dylan Rawlyk, SPES School Programs Manager.
Recent Studies have also 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 has a wide array of summer day camp programs sure to suit the interests of even the most discerning of nature lovers. Here’s a rundown of SPES’ weekly summer day camps for 7 to 11 year olds in July and August:
Let the forest be your muse with SEPS’ Art in Nature camp running July 16-20. Your child will channel their inner Monet as they paint the lily pads of Beaver Lake and make their very own paper maché nature mask to take home.
Exploring the beach at Lumberman’s Arch.
Photo by Brian Grover.
Water Wilderness July 23-27, explores Stanley Park’s beaches, creeks and wetlands and 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. This camp runs July 30 to August 3.
If you prefer to get your hands dirty, then the Stewards of Stanley Park is an excellent chance to explore some of the many varieties of flora found in the Park. Campers will conduct their own Citizen Science tests as they learn about the challenges facing urban parks. This camp is running August 7-10 and is filling up quickly.
Campers birdwatch at Beaver Lake.
Photo by Anthony Ho.
The Feathered Friends camp is great for the budding ornithologist in your house, running from August 20-24, this camp is an excellent opportunity for children 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.
All camps run 8:30am to 4:30pm rain or shine, and after care is available for an additional $20 per week. For the complete list of all SPES day camps and to register, check out the SPES website and enjoy your summer in the Park!
About SPES Saturday
As a member of the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”), I wanted to offer the organization an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I created the “SPES Series” years ago. This is where SPES can contribute and share stories with my audience once a month. Follow SPES on Facebook for more information.
Canadian and international music icons Lights and Magic! will headline the 4th annual Richmond World Festival. Presented by Coast Capital Savings, the nationally award-winning festival will once again present a smorgasbord of music, arts, food and culture from around the globe on Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1 in Richmond’s Minoru Park.
Richmond World Festival 2018
- When: Friday, August 31, 2018 4:00pm to 10:00pm
Saturday September 1, 2018 11:00am to 11:00pm
- Where:Minoru Park & Richmond Cultural Centre Plaza
(7191 Granville Ave, Richmond)
- Admission: FREE! RSVP to the Facebook events here »
The festival will feature over 90 artists performing on 9 stages, serving up rich slices of African, Asian, North and South American, European, South Pacific and Caribbean cultures. Continue reading this post 〉〉
With my destination set to the Four Seasons (for their epic Thursday night barbecues), I rode up the Sea to Sky in style in the all new Hyundai Kona from OpenRoad Hyundai Boundary.
Michelle parked her own Hyundai next to mine in a Downtown lot and we carpooled up to Whistler in my Tangerin Comet-coloured Kona. “I have to get new wheels,” she said. “Cause these look so good.” I had no idea that would be the first thing she noticed about our ride!
Plugging in my iPhone to activate Apple Car Play, sliding the sunroof back, hopping from Eco Drive Mode in the city to Sport Mode on the highway for more pick-up. This crossover has a lot of pep, and a lot of room – enough for our weekender bags, groceries, and more – and we didn’t even use the organization compartment that sits under the cargo area.
We exited the highway at Porteau Cove for a quite picnic lunch, turning into the parking lot at the same time as car club convoy of booming Italian sports cars. We hopped out to enjoy our feast at the picnic tables, and to also take photos of our hot little ride on the edge of Howe Sound. We got a few looks, and many smiles.
Lumbar support, touch-screen displays, and the Infinity audio system (and the great company I had) made the rest of the road trip a breeze.
Enter to Win
Thinking of hitting the open road for an afternoon adventure? OpenRoad Hyundai has a $250 Cactus Club gift card for me to give away to a lucky Miss604 reader. Dine-in, or take out for your own elevated Sea to Sky picnic.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a $250 @CactusClubCafe gc from @openroadca #HyundaiBoundary #Kona http://ow.ly/93NM30kVnSF” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.
For more information about the Kona, get in touch with OpenRoad Hyundai Boundary on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Update The winner is Jocelyn!
Enjoy music, storytellers, dancers, drummers and more at the 15th annual Richmond Maritime Festival happening July 28 & 29 at Britannia Shipyards. Celebrate Richmond’s historical connection with the sea at this free family event at a National Heritage Site.
Richmond Maritime Festival
- Where: Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site in Steveston (5180 Westwater Dr)
- When: 10:00am to 6:00pm Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29, 2018
- Who: Performers include: Flint & Feather, The Boom Booms, Wooden Horsemen, Beauty Shop Dolls, Company B Jazz Band, Jocelyn Pettit Trio, The Seabillys, Adrienne ft Drix, Jessica McMann, Ben Dunnill, Roku Shichi Taiko Drummers, The Wild Moccasins Dancers, Eire Born Irish Dancers.
Over two days, land lubbers and sea-goers of all ages will enjoy activities that delight one and all. Discover local lore, visit beautiful wooden boats, create works of art, bring your picnic blanket and enjoy the tasty treats. Take in music, painters, potters, stilt performers, puppets, story tellers and much more!
The Richmond Maritime Festival celebrates all things waterfront at the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site. From wooden boats to model boats, water safety to sea creatures, local lore to fishing history, the festival invites visitors to explore a spectacular heritage site and enjoy music, games, interactive exhibits, roving performers, street food fare, and ship boarding experiences.
Enjoy music, storytellers, dancers, drummers and more. On Saturday night enjoy this national historic site with live music, drumming and light refreshments. Come back Sunday for full-scale festival fun for all ages.
Follow the Richmond Maritime Festival and Fun Richmond on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information and to share your photos from the event.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the Richmond Maritime Festival