VanDusen Nature Camps

Date: Saturday, October 29th
Time: 10:00am – 1:30pm

For those who like feathered friends and sly foxes – this camp is for you! From ravens and crows to owls and coyotes, campers will play spooky games and uncover what the Garden has in store for Halloween – all ghouls and goblins are welcome to wear camp and weather-appropriate costumes!

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Date: Saturday, November 12th
Time: 10:00am – 1:30pm

Enjoy this bite-sized take on our popular “Dirt to Dinner” camp, where campers will discover where the life cycles of their favourite foods begin and end. Play food-themed games and take home a harvest craft after learning about pollination, decomposition, and everything in between.

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Date: Saturday, December 10th
Time: 10:00am – 1:30pm

Winter is on it’s way to VanDusen – whether snow has fallen or not, campers will explore the science behind crystals, ice, and snowflakes, create a winter-themed nature craft, and find out how the Garden’s plants and animals adapt and prepare for the cold months.

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Date: Friday, September 23rd
Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm

Experience the wonders of VanDusen Botanical Garden as summer turns to autumn and the leaves begin to change. Campers will uncover why some plants persist year-to-year and why some start fresh each spring, before exploring how different seeds travel and have adapted to grow into thriving plants! At the end of the day, take home a tiny seed friend to experiment with the right conditions to watch it succeed.

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Date: Friday, October 21st
Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm

Have you ever heard the phrase “everything is connected”? Campers will learn about some species that rely on each other to survive in the Garden, and which ones cause a little bit of trouble. Go on a scavenger hunt for native species in the Garden, or test your luck at a game of Urban Wildlife Bingo – do you know which animals call VanDusen home?

SOLD OUT

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Date: Friday, November 25th
Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm

Discover the tiny world under our feet – decomposers, detritivores, and micro-organisms oh my! Campers will learn about the difference between dirt and soil, and how no two handfuls of earth are exactly the same.  End the day by indulging in a tasty “dirt” treat as you dig into how soil is made by earth’s processes.

SOLD OUT

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• Masks are no longer mandatory in all indoor public spaces in alignment with updates to the public health orders issued by the Provincial government. You are welcome to keep wearing masks, depending on your level of comfort.
• Masks are mandatory for all staff and volunteers working directly with youth.
• All VBGA staff are double-vaccinated.
• Camp planning ensures that games, crafts, and activities can all be done outdoors as Camps take place almost entirely outdoors as it is the safest place to be; this means campers will be asked to carry backpacks for up to 10 minutes at a time.
• Increased emphasis on hand hygiene and physical distancing; reduction of shared materials.
• Increased cleaning and sanitation in camp spaces and of camp materials in accordance with the VGBA’s COVID-19 Health, Safety and Sanitation Policy.
• Campers will have access to outdoor porta-potties and handwashing stations to decrease use of shared indoor washrooms (still available but limited).
• We are unable to provide 1-on-1 support for participants at this time due to the current program format – please contact us for more information.

Please consider these changes when determining if our programs are the right fit for your child. 

Children under 12 years old do not require proof of vaccination to attend camps, but accompanying parents or guardians in families that have returned to Canada from international travel in the last 14 days must provide proof of double-vaccination.

If you would like to cancel your registration, please provide a written request at least three weeks (21 days) in advance of the start of the program(s) to nfriedmann@vandusen.org. If we receive the request with the required notice and are able to fill the spot, we will provide a refund minus a $15 administrative fee. If we receive the request with the required notice and are unable to fill the spot, we will provide an equivalent credit to be used in future programs, valid for 365 days.

No refunds or credits (either complete or partial) will be issued for the following:

• Requests made with less than three weeks’ (21 days’) notice.
• Requests made over the phone, by voicemail, or in person.
• Expulsion due to disruptive/unsafe behaviour or similar.
• Absence from a program due to illness or COVID-19 symptoms, family matters, injury, travel, or similar.
• Individual COVID-19 regulations, as mandated by the Federal and Provincial governments

As per current government orders, unvaccinated, partially-vaccinated, and fully-vaccinated children that have returned from international travel within 14 days of attending camps ARE permitted to attend camps as long as all accompanying adults are able to provide proof of at least double-vaccination status upon arrival at Gate 2. If the adults that recently returned from international travel are unable to provide proof of this vaccination status, the child/children will not be permitted into the child-care space for 14 days, and the account holder that registered the child/children will not be eligible for a refund or credit based on time missed.

Program cancellation by the VBGA due to Public Health Restrictions will result in education program credit equivalent to the value lost.

The VBGA’s mission is to connect people with plants and we believe all children should have the opportunity to experience nature-based camps regardless of family circumstance or income.

Apply for a bursary here or contact nfriedmann@vandusen.org or 604-257-8443 for more information.