Camps | Frequently Asked Questions

Registration

UBC Camps is open Monday - Friday during the summer, 9:00am - 4:30pm. Our office is open limited hours September to June, with the exception of regular weekday hours 9:00am - 4:30pm during Spring Break.

UBC Camps does not partner with businesses, organizations, or agencies to coordinate group registrations at discounted rates or hold spaces in camps for exclusive registrations. Our programming is designed and intended for individual families. Having a group (local or visiting) register for our programming greatly impacts the quality of the individual camper’s experience; something that is extremely important to us.

Please note that we will withdraw all campers without a refund who are found in breach of our group registration policy at any point before or after programming begins.

A Campus Community Rate (CCR) is available for UNA, CSC, and Utown card holders. To receive this 10% discount parent/guardians can email a photo of valid UNA, CSC, or Utown card for each child to ubc.camps@ubc.ca for verification. Once verified, your child will be eligible for CCR pricing for one year from the date of validation.

Children must possess their own CCR card and are not eligible for a discount under their parent/guardian’s card.

In order to receive a staff/faculty discount of 5%, parent/guardians must first sign into their CWL-affiliated PerfectMind account and add your child(ren). Once added, complete our Staff / Faculty Pricing request form. Once your employee status is verified, your child(ren) will be eligible for staff/faculty pricing for one year from the date of validation. 

Campers must be the required minimum age by the time camp begins to register. This is in fairness to others, as well as for the comfort and safety of all participants. We set our age ranges with care, and value both age appropriate instruction and environments. Especially at younger ages, children tend to change developmentally over short time periods. Exceptions may apply for a child who has an upcoming birthday.

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee your children will participate in every camp activity together. UBC Camps provides a welcoming environment for youth to safely step beyond their comfort zone and make new friends. We encourage siblings to interact with other campers for a more well-rounded experience, learning to work with their peers and develop new relationships.

In all cases, a camper must be 6 years of age as of December 31 of the current year in order to participate in one of our non-preschool aged day camps.

A camper must be 6 years of age as of December 31 of the current year in order to participate in one of our non-preschool aged day camps. Because we calculate age as of December 31, you should be able to register your almost 6-year-old online without administrative assistance. 

Please note that All all preschool camps require a parent or guardian to be present the entire duration of the program (and in some cases participate with the child). 

If your child will be 6 years old by December 31 of the current year, in most cases we can register them for camp programs designated 6+. Please call the office if you have further questions604-822-1540.  

A camper must be no older than the maximum age limit of a camp at the time the camp occurs.  

If your child will be older than the maximum age limit by December 31 of the current year, but will still within the designated age bracket at the time camp occurs, in most cases, we can register them. You will not be able to register your child without administrative assistance. Please call the office for more information and to register: 604-822-1540 

Consent Forms

Yes, you do. UBC’s legal team considers every week a unique experience, even when repeating specific activities. Each week of the same camp requires the submission of its own consent form. 

Health & Safety

UBC Camps staff are certified in First Aid, with CPR-C and AED. All our staff have completed Criminal Record Checks (with Vulnerable Sector Checks if they are 19 years of age or older). Staff are additionally trained in child protection recognition and reporting protocols.

Staff training topics include: safety and emergency protocols, youth developmental stages and age-appropriate programming, conflict resolution skills, group management skills, day camp policy, and more. Staff are hired for their ability to responsibly care for and connect with campers, in addition to their past experiences working and caring for children and youth. Qualities we look for in our staff include maturity, organization, positivity, adaptability, and relatable and approachable personalities.

UBC Camps follows these ratio guidelines, as outlined by The American Camping Association: Ages 6-8: 1:8, Ages 9-14: 1:10, Ages 15-18: 1:12

Sun safety is important! We ask that all campers apply sunscreen before coming to camp, and pack extra for re-application throughout the day in their backpack. UBC Camps does have emergency sunscreen on hand for campers who need it, but will not apply sunscreen without prior parent permission for health and safety reasons.

Only medication that is prescribed by a physician, or is necessary to support an exceptionality is allowed at camp. All medication must be securely stored at UBC Camps main office, or with UBC Camps staff, and not in a child’s backpack (with the exception of EpiPens and inhalers). A parent/guardian must submit a completed Medication Form prior to the first day of camp if bringing medication to camp.

While all UBC Camps staff are First Aid certified, camps staff are not medical professionals and are not authorized to administer medication. Campers are required to self-administer medication, with staff supervision and support. Medication may need to be given to UBC Camps in pre-measured, labeled dosages. If your camper is not able to self-administer medication, please contact the office to discuss alternative options (604-822-1540).

Additionally, the UBC hospital is located near all on-campus facilities and provides complete first aid and medical services.

UBC Camps asks parents/guardians do their best to send their camper to camp with nut-free snacks and lunches. While we cannot guarantee a nut-free environment, we actively encourage hand washing and an “eat, wash hands, then play” policy when nut products are brought to camp.

Yes! Although, UBC Camps is not able to provide 1-on-1 support for campers at this time, support workers are more than welcome to attend with a camper who has an exceptionality! In all cases, advance notice is required, and in some cases bus capacity may be a limiting factor. 

We encourage parents/guardians to inform us ahead of time of camper exceptionalities and support worker attendance though our Exceptionalities and Behaviour Form. Information provided will allow us to educate our instructors, who can in turn modify programming to help ensure all campers are included.

Whenever possible, campers will utilize single-stall change room facilities. When this is not possible due to the facility or volume of campers changing, campers will use gender-specific change spaces (NOTE: single stall change spaces provided upon camper or parent/guardian request).

Staff and volunteers are not permitted to change in front of, or in the vicinity of campers, using private change spaces at all times. Campers under the age of 12 are never left unattended in a changeroom space, and similar to our washroom policy, the “buddy system” is in place at all times.

Campers are expected to be able to change and undress themselves. If assistance is required, two staff members will be present and encourage the camper to be as autonomous as possible.

For safety reasons, campers under the age of 12 are escorted to the washroom by a staff member and one other person (camper or staff) at all times; referred to as the “buddy system”. Accompanying instructors will either escort campers into a multi-stall washroom facility, or ensure there are no other adults in a washroom space before campers enter.

Campers ages 12 and older are permitted to leave camp for a washroom break without a staff member accompanying them.

UBC Camps staff will not assist youth in using the restroom, but in the event of an emergency or “accident”, one staff member will provide assistance if necessary while maintaining the privacy and dignity of the youth (a second staff member will be present). UBC Camps does keep a small supply of clean undergarments and bottoms in case this occurs!

All campers must be 12 years of age or older in order to sign themselves out of camp.

If your child will be 12 years of age by December 31 of the current year, or is 11 years old by December 31 of the current year and lives within walking distance on-campus, exceptions might be possible; please call or e-mail UBC Camps at minimum the Thursday before camp is scheduled to begin to request an exception. 

All exceptions are at the discretion of UBC Camps management. Anyone picking up a camper - including older siblings - must be 16 years of age or older, and all authorized pick-up people (including the camper's own parent or guardian) must present photo ID at the time of pick-up.

Day to Day

Things your child will need for an optimal camp experience will vary greatly depending on their registered program. A list of recommended items is included in your pre-camp email, sent the Thursday or Friday before camp begins. While every day camp is different, we encourage all campers to bring to camp:

  • Water Bottle
  • Snacks (typically one morning and one afternoon snack)
  • Packed Lunch (non-microwavable)
    • NOTE: Due to the amount of physical activity, campers may eat more food during camp than they normally do throughout the school year. We recommend that you send lunches in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack to keep them cool during the day
  • Athletic Shoes
  • Sweater or Jacket
  • Comfortable, breathable clothing that is easy to move in
  • Sunscreen
  • Hat

There are facility-specific lost & found locations, as well as a lost & found at the UBC Camps main office. Any food or perishable items are disposed of immediately, while clothing or other non-perishable items are donated regularly. Please do not bring electronics or other valuable items to camp! UBC Camps is not responsible for anything that is lost or stolen.

We kindly ask parents or campers not to give individual thank-you gifts to specific instructors. If you wish to bring a small thank-you gift for the team of instructors who supported your child, this is very thoughtful; please be mindful of food products containing nuts or items requiring refrigeration.

While instructors are not permitted to use their cell phone for personal reasons during work-time, instructors are asked to regularly use their cell phones for important messages and notifications pertaining to day camp operations. If you have any concerns about cell phone use, camp administration welcomes feedback and inquires on this matter.

We understand you may wish to take pictures of your child’s participation in end-of week tournaments or performances! However, for privacy reasons, please be mindful to focus your camera on your child alone, as not everyone is comfortable being part of other people’s family albums. Photography and videography is not permitted at other times during camp.

Campers are also not permitted to take pictures of their new friends during camp, but are welcome – with everyone’s parent/guardian permission – to do so after camp ends. Video glasses, Snapchat, Facebook Live, or other media and streaming tools are not permitted at camp at any time.

NOTE: UBC Camps admin may come to your child’s camp to take photographs for marketing and promotional purposes. Before doing so, our staff confirm which campers do/do not have photo consent. UBC Camps photographers will be clearly identifiable and introduced by camp instructors for camper comfort and safety.

For safety reasons, campers must be able to speak and understand key English vocabulary, especially pertaining to instruction and direction. Some camps, such as creative writing or debate, are not suitable for ELL campers. If your camper is learning English, we recommend camps with natural opportunities for visual learning cues, such as visual arts or physical literacy. 

All aquatics camps enter the water approximately 30 minutes after posted start time, and exit the water approximately 30 minutes prior to the posted end time to give campers enough time to change, receive their appropriate safety orientation or daily camp wrap-up.

UBC Camps' programming is indented for recreational purposes only. We are unable to offer completion certificates or academic credit for day camps. Certifications are only provided in select activity-specific camps, such as Standard First Aid or Babysitting camps (provided all criteria for those certifications are met).