We are excited to have your child join us in one of our kayak camps this summer!
So you can better plan and prepare we have collected a few of the most common questions we get asked about our summer camps.
You can also refer to our General FAQ for answers to other topics, or please never hesitate to contact us if you have additional questions.
Our core camp offerings are 4 different camps.
Essentially they are:
- Half Day Camps:
- for 7-10 year olds (the "Fun Camp")
- for 10-14 year olds ( "Beginner Skills Kayak Camp")
- Full Day Camps
- for 7-10 year olds (The "Fun Kayak + Coastal Adventures Camp")
- for 10-14 year olds (The "Beginner Skills Kayak Camp + Coastal Adventure Camp")
Additionally, we offer the Intermediate Camp and Private Camps.
In our Half Day Camps, we focus on kayaking and kayak-related activities. As such we will learn all about our kayaks and the equipment, basic maneuvering strokes, capsizing and how to get back in. With the 7-10 year olds, we will also be exploring the intertidal area and learn about what lives in and around the ocean. With the 10-14 year olds, we will attempt Paddle Canada Basic Kayaking certification based on the participant’s skill level. However, due to the unpredictable weather, different skill and comfort levels of the participants and ocean conditions we cannot guarantee certification.
In our Full Day Camps we combine either the Fun Camp (for kids 7-10) or the Beginner Camp (for kids 10-14) with a fun and educational on-land camp for the second half of the day. Our full day camps run from 9am-4pm. During the camp we will spend half the day on the water kayaking (in the morning for 7-10 year olds and in the afternoon for 10-14 year olds). And then half of the day on the beach and in the park learning about the intertidal area, practice navigation and orienteering, do ocean and outdoor-related crafts and activities and play games, bonding and connecting with each other.
Our Intermediate Camp is for those who have taken our Beginner Camp (either half-day or full-day) and have successfully achieved the Paddle Canada Basic Skills certification.
We have a strict 1:6 ratio for our on-water programs, but typically even provide a 1:5 ratio.
Most of our camp groups have 10 participants and 2 instructors.
Sometimes we have larger groups of up to 15 participants (and 3 instructors), and at times we have small groups of 5 (or fewer) kids with 1 instructor.
Additionally, we often have volunteers assisting us on our programs who provide additional support.
We intentionally have set our age groups to be from 7-10 and from 10-14, so 10 year olds can decide which group they feel more comfortable in.
If they are physically fit, quite active and socially and emotionally comfortable around older kids you are welcome to register them in our camps for 10-14 year olds.
If they are a little more timid and maybe this is their first time in an outdoor camp the camp for 7-10 year olds might be a better fit and they might be more comfortable.
If you are unsure please don't hesitate to contact us and we are happy to provide more information.
As much as we are excited that your 6-year-old wants to join us we do require campers to be (at least) 7 years old on the first day of camp.
If you (or your child) can't wait another year you could consider taking your child out on a rental, joining a family tour or booking a private lesson instead.
What is even more fun than a great summer camp at the beach? Doing it with a friend!
Yes, you can absolutely put in friend requests when booking your camp and we can (almost) always accommodate them provided that you booked the same camp.
However, we can typically only accommodate up to 3 friends in one group. So if you are looking to have a large group of friends all be in the same camp together please consider booking our private camps instead.
We always have a mix of campers who have taken camps with us in the past (whether it was in a previous year, or earlier in the summer) and campers who are joining us for the first time.
No matter if they are new or returning campers they always really enjoy our camps and continue to learn and develop their skills.
Additionally, we have different instructors on our camps, and as such all camps are always a little different.
While your child would probably get bored if you signed them up for every week in the summer signing them up for 2 camps a summer, or for a camp every year will be sure to be a great experience for them!
Our camps run rain or shine.
Our on-water portion is run in calm conditions or sheltered areas, but conditions may change unexpectedly. If the conditions are deemed to be unsafe by the instructor they will stay on shore and take the opportunity to learn about the coastline, intertidal area and to play games.
If it is very rainy we have the ability to set up tents and tarps for the on-land portion, or can use one of the classrooms in the sailing centre.
Please note that unless it is too windy, we will still go and have fun on the water even if it is raining, so please ensure your child is dressed accordingly, has rain gear and brings spare dry and comfortable clothing.
Equipment we provide:
- Kayaks, Paddles & all Coast Guard-required safety gear
- Lifejackets or PFDs with Whistle attached
- Long leg, tank top style wetsuits (although you are welcome to bring your own)
- Access to drinking water (to refill water bottles)
We ask campers to bring:
- Bathing Suit (to wear under the provided wetsuit)
- Weather appropriate clothing that is quick-drying nylon or synthetic
- Sandals or water shoes
- Full change of clothes & footwear
- Sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses (secured with neck string)
- Towel
- Snack
- Nutritious big lunch – (for full day camps)
- Water bottle
All our instructors are either Paddle Canada certified Kayaking Instructors or certified Guides by the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC.
They all hold a minimum of Standard First Aid with CPR-C and every instructor/guide carries a First Aid Kit and a VHF radio with them on the water.
Additionally, we have access to the Jericho Rescue Team which operates right outside the Jericho Sailing Centre where we are located.
Part of learning how to kayak is to learn how to safely tip over and exit the boat. All our participants must wear Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices with a whistle attached.
Programs are run in calm conditions or sheltered areas, but conditions may change unexpectedly. If the conditions are deemed to be unsafe by the instructor they will stay on shore and take the opportunity to learn about the coastline, intertidal area and to play games.
In addition to the Paddling and First Aid certification and training, each Instructor has been specifically trained and has experience with leading groups on the water. Instructors may recall a group or individual off the water if conditions dictate. Some of our criteria are:
- Unsafe paddling conditions (wind and waves, thunder storms, lightning)
- Behavioural challenges (participants not following Instructors’ directions)
- Program not appropriate for particular participants
Every effort is made by Jericho Beach Kayak and its Instructors to provide a wonderful program. Kayaking has its risks. Every Instructor is trained in risk assessment and mitigation.
If you are concerned about any elements, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
We need all participants' parents or guardians to sign an Acknowledgement of Risk form. A link to the form is included in the confirmation email you receive when registering.
You can already familiarize yourself with it here.
Additionally, participants in our Beginner Skills camps (both full- or half-day) need to sign a Paddle Canada waiver which is a pdf file attached in your confirmation email that you need to print and bring with you to the first day of camp.
We are located at 1300 Discovery Street within the Jericho Sailing Centre. There is a large pay parking lot right at our location. You can find a detailed map of our location here.
Please note, EasyPark patrols the parking lot regularly (and it seems especially during camp drop-off/pickup times), therefore we strongly suggest paying for parking or using the loading area on the west side of the parking lot.
Once you arrive head to the east side of the parking lot (near the tennis courts) and follow the path around the fence to the ocean.
If you are coming by bike we have bike parking available right at our location.
On the first day of camp, we will have a check-in table set up right at our entrance so we can get your child checked-in, verify the paperwork that we are asking you to bring with you and answer any questions you may have. We will then connect your child with their instructor for the week.
Please plan for more time on the first day of camp for the drop-off and paperwork logistics.
On all subsequent days you can drop your child off directly with the instructor (please ensure you check-in with them).
Please note that you cannot drop your child off late, as we are not on-site after the initial drop-off time. The same goes for pick-up. -Please refer to the next question on drop-off and pick-up times for more details.
Pickup will also be at our location. Please ensure that you check-in with our instructors and sign your child out when picking them up
If your child is 12 or older they are welcome to self-sign-out if we have prior permission from you to do so. If you want your child to be able to sign themselves out please make sure you either let us know by email in advance or during check-in on the first day.
Generally, our Full Day camps run from 9am-4pm.
Our Half Day camps run either from 9am-12pm or from 1pm-4pm.
Please note that after drop-off time we will go on the water or in the forest, therefore you cannot drop your child off late, as we are not able to wait for you and we will not be on-site.
The same goes for pick-up: we will not be on-site.
If you need to drop your child off late or need to pick them up early please make sure you reach out to us beforehand.
Pickup and drop-off is 5 minutes before and after the start of the camp.
As such times are as follows:
Drop-off
- For our morning and full day camps drop-off takes place between 8:55am and 9:05am.
- For our afternoon camps drop-off takes place between 12:55-1:05pm.
Pick-up
- For our morning half-day camps pick-up is between 11:55am-12:05pm
- For our full-day or afternoon camps pick-up is between 3:55-4:05pm
Drop-off and Pickup times for private camps will be offset by half an hour.