SENIOR OVERNIGHT CAMPS – GRADES 6-8
For campers who completed grades 6 – 8 in June 2023.
2023 REGISTRATION OPENING DATES
RETURNING CAMPERS
Wednesday February 8, 2023 at 12:00pm (noon)
NEW CAMPERS
Wednesday February 15, 2023 at 12:00pm (noon)
Returning Camper Information Click HereSENIOR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS
- Senior Overnight Base Camp
Base camp is a great introduction to camping and the outdoors for middle school-aged campers. This five-day program focuses on building skills and confidence for camping and outdoor pursuits. Participants practice skills such as canoeing, hiking, kayaking and archery, play team building games, and enjoy campfires. Base Camp participants sleep in cabins at camp and do day trips away from the core of camp.
Overnight Camper – Cabin Selection
Program Date Fee Base Camp – All Gender July 3-7 $760 Register Online Base Camp – All Gender Jul 17-21 $760 Register Online Base Camp – Female Cabin Jul 24-28 $760 Register Online Base Camp – Male Cabin July 24-28 $760 Register Online Base Camp – All Gender Aug 7-11 $760 Register Online Base Camp – Female Cabin Aug 14-18 $760 Register Online Base Camp – Male Cabin Aug 14-18 $760 Register Online Base Camp – All Gender Aug 21-25 $760 Register Online Base Camp – All Gender Aug 28-Sept 1 $760 Register Online - Senior Overnight Quest
Adventure in the outdoors is the core of the Senior Quest program. While at camp, Senior Quest campers hone their outdoor living and pursuit skills by learning about low-impact camping and travel under their own steam. As a group, campers learn to be effective paddlers or hikers by practicing advanced skills as taught by our certified instructors. In the Quest program, each out-trip offers different challenges in a unique environment. Senior Quest campers plan and pack for their trip. They also take an active role in camp duties such as setting up camp, cooking and clean-up.
Five-day programs have a one-night hiking out-trip on Camp Thunderbird property. These are similar to Junior Quest trips, but with a more challenging hike, seeing further reaches of our property in the Sooke Hills.
Overnight Camper – Cabin Selection
Program Date Fee Quest Camp – All Gender Cabin July 3-7 $760 Register Online Quest Camp – Female Cabin July 10-14 $760 Register Online Quest Camp – Male Cabin July 10-14 $760 Register Online Quest Camp – All Gender Cabin Jul 17-21 $760 Register Online Quest Camp – All Gender Cabin Aug 7-11 $760 Register Online Quest Camp – All Gender Cabin Aug 21-25 $760 Register Online - Senior Overnight Hike - 9 Day Programs
These overnight camps are nine days with a 3 night out trip. Senior Hike programs travel along the north end of the Juan de Fuca trail from Botanical Beach to Sombrio Beach. They camp at Payzant Creek and Little Kuitshe Creek campsites. This end of the trail is a less challenging portion and well suited to the age group of the campers. The distance traveled is reasonable and the overall elevation gain is minimal in comparison to other portions of the trail and other marine trails. These factors make this trip the ideal location for campers to discover the joy of walking through the natural world. The pace is set to be achievable for all participants, and normally the group travels approximately 7 kilometers per day.
Program Date Fee 9 Day Hike – All Gender Cabin July 6-14 $1485 Register Online 9 Day Hike – All Gender Cabin Aug 3-11 $1485 Register Online - Senior Overnight - 12 Day Programs
These overnight camps are twelve days with a 3 night out trip.
Senior Kayak campers explore the natural beauty of the Northern Gulf Islands. Sharing the water with wildlife including seabirds and marine mammals, kayak campers camp on three or four of the campsites on Tent, Wallace, Galliano, Valdez and De Courcy Islands. Most campers travel in a double kayak, but each group takes a combination of single and double kayaks. Paddlers can expect approximately 2-5 hours of paddling per day. While there is no portaging, campers help with loading and unloading boats at campsites each day.
Senior Hike programs travel along the north end of the Juan de Fuca trail from Botanical Beach to Sombrio Beach. They camp at Payzant Creek and Little Kuitshe Creek campsites. This end of the trail is a less challenging portion and well suited to the age group of the campers. The distance traveled is reasonable and the overall elevation gain is minimal in comparison to other portions of the trail and other marine trails. These factors make this trip the ideal location for campers to discover the joy of walking through the natural world. The pace is set to be achievable for all participants, and normally the group travels approximately 7 kilometers per day.
Program Date Fee 12 Day Kayak – All Gender Cabin Jul 17-28 $2135 Register Online 12 Day Hike – All Gender Cabin Aug 14-25 $2135 Register Online
Transportation Information
Registration in overnight camp DOES NOT include bus transportation you must register separately for a To Camp and From Camp bus. Campers can be driven by car by a parent or guardian or registered for bus transportation from the the Downtown Y or the Westhills Y.
REGISTER FOR OVERNIGHT CAMP BUSSINGCamper Drop Off Time
Times listed below are bus departure times, and buses do not wait for late participants. PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MINUTES EARLY to allow for health screening and bus loading. Guardians need to stay until the bus departs.
| Camp Program | Driven by Car to Camp | By Bus from the Downtown Y | By Bus from the Westhills Y |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Camps | 9:00am | 8:00am | 8:30am |
Camper Pick Up Time
Traffic on Fridays can be especially heavy please give yourself ample time to arrive. Late parent/guardian arrival further delays our bus service.Westhills: Bus arrives between 4:20-4:30 and continues downtown at 4:30 sharp. Children not picked up by 4:30 will remain on the bus and travel downtown.
| Camp Program | Driven by Car at Camp | By Bus to the Downtown Y | By Bus to the Westhills Y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day Camp | 3:45pm | 5:15pm | 4:20-4:30pm |
| Overnight Camp | 2:30pm | 5:15pm | 4:20-30pm |
Health Screening – Before Boarding the Bus
Campers and one caregiver will be asked to arrive at the bus stop 15 minutes before the scheduled bus departure times in order to allow enough time to for health screening and to load the bus. Screening will also occur at camp for anyone who is driven to camp directly by a parent or guardian.
REGISTRATION, CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICIES
The YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island is a charity dedicated to building healthy communities and will subsequently be referred to as “YMCA-YWCA”.
YMCA-YWCA Registration Policy
The customer agrees that by completing registration and making payment into a single activity or multiple activities with the YMCA-YWCA that they immediately become subject to the activity or program specific cancellation and refund policy.
Camp Cancellation and Refund Policy
Cancellations must be received 30 days before the start of the camp session to be cancelled. All cancellations are subject to a 25% administration fee of the total camp cost including future payments. If less than 30 days notice is received, fees are non-refundable. All requests must be submitted by email to registration@vancouverislandy.ca. This includes all non-medical refund requests including but not limited to those due to camp space being unavailable for friends, siblings, and/or due to other summer opportunities becoming available outside of Camp Thunderbird programs. The YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island follows all Public Health Officer orders.
Medical cancellations will qualify for a refund of the unused portion of the program, less a $50 administration fee. In some cases, a doctor’s note will be required, at the discretion of the Camp Managers.
No refunds will be issued in instances where a camper is removed during a camp program at the choice or request of the camper or camper’s parent(s)/guardian(s) or is dismissed from camp for contravention of the camp commitment.
FAMILY INFORMATION BOOKLET
Please review the Family Information Booklet for detailed camp information.
3 and 5 day Base Camp - 2023 5 day Quest Camp - 2023 9 and 12 Day Senior Quest - 2023