Learn-to Camp in Vancouver
Are you interested in camping but don’t know where to begin? The Parks Canada Learn-to Camp program gives you the knowledge and skills to feel confident planning your first camping adventure!
Located in major cities across the country, including Vancouver, the Learn-to Camp program offers a variety of pop-up activities, workshops, and overnight experiences for participants to learn the basics of camping in a fun and accessible way.
Follow us on Twitter @ParksCanadaVan or Facebook @ParksCanadaVancouver for updates on where we might be this upcoming season!
Pop-up activities, workshops, and overnight events have wrapped up for 2023. We are offering a couple of public workshops in March 2024. Check back in May to register for our 2024 summer programming.
Pop-up activities
Join us throughout the summer at pop-up outreach booths around the Vancouver region. We introduce participants to Parks Canada, educate the public on how to camp in the great outdoors, and provide information on wildlife safety.
Workshops
Free in-person workshops to help participants acquire basic camping skills and learn about outdoor activities. If your organization is interested in our staff delivering a Learn-to Camp workshop next summer, please refer to the ‘Contact us’ section.
Trip Planning 101
Program Description: Discover how easy and enjoyable camping can be! Parks Canada’s Learn-to Camp team will guide you on packing necessities for a front-country camping experience. This family-friendly program will teach you everything you need to pack so you will feel prepared for the trip ahead.
Offered:
- Saturday, March 9 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Coquitlam Public Library - City Centre Branch
- Saturday, March 23 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fort Langley National Historic Site
Animal Aware
Program Description: An amazing part of spending time in nature is seeing wildlife in their natural habitat. Parks Canada’s Learn-to Camp team will provide tips on how to safely view animals while keeping a respectful distance.
Offered:
- Saturday, March 9 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Coquitlam Public Library - City Centre Branch
- Saturday, March 23 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Fort Langley National Historic Site
Overnight experiences
Join the Parks Canada Learn-to Camp team for an overnight experience in the Vancouver region! The team will introduce you and your family to topics such as how to prepare for a camping trip, wildlife safety, how to set up a campsite, cooking in the outdoors, and other fun games and activities. Tent, foam sleeping pads and camp stove provided.
Contact us
For more information on the Learn-to Camp program, or if your organization is interested in hosting a workshop or event, please email the Learn-to Camp Coordinator.
See what it’s all about
Take a look at some of our past Learn-to Camp events!
Interested in embarking on your first camping trip but don’t know where to begin? Parks Canada's Learn to Camp team has you covered!
In March 2019, the Vancouver Learn-to Camp team hosted a winter camping trip in Mount Seymour Provincial Park. Check out all the fun they had, and think about signing up for a future event!
After you learn to camp
After attending a Learn-to Camp event, you will be comfortable camping on your own. Parks Canada has many options for those who wish to begin planning their next experience.
Partners
By working in collaboration with respected organizations that share our values, Parks Canada is able to better deliver its promise to Canadians of protection and presentation of natural and cultural heritage. We believe in sharing leadership and working with partners to offer unique, inspiring opportunities for people to discover treasured places and to achieve extraordinary results.
The Parks Canada Vancouver Learn-to Camp team works with partners to promote inclusion in the outdoors and help remove barriers to provide more people an opportunity to increase their access to nature.
We are proud to be formally collaborating with the following partners:
- BC Parks
- Canucks Autism Network
- City of Coquitlam
- City of Richmond
- Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria
- Mountain Equipment Company
- Power To Be
BC Parks
BC Parks is responsible for the establishment, management and stewardship of a system of parks, conservancies, ecological reserves, recreation areas and protected areas distributed throughout the province of British Columbia.
Canucks Autism Network
Canucks Autism Network provides programs for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families, while promoting acceptance and inclusion through community engagement and training initiatives across BC and beyond.
City of Coquitlam
The City of Coquitlam’s Parks, Recreation, Culture and Facilities Department maintains this city’s parks, public green spaces and outdoor recreational spaces; plans and delivers recreation activities for all ages; develops and organises events and supports local community and cultural groups; and maintains the health, safety, and reliability of the city’s facilities.
City of Richmond
The City of Richmond's Parks Department provides people with opportunities to connect with each other, their community and their natural environment within an urban setting while fostering healthy active lifestyles in this culturally diverse and geographically unique city in Metro Vancouver.
Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria
The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria helps individuals and organisations to connect across cultures by providing information, support and tools to help immigrants and refugees reach their goals, while engaging people through networks, education, employment and arts programming to create welcoming communities.
Mountain Equipment Company
Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) is a national partner and is participating in the Learn-to Camp program at Parks Canada places from coast to coast. MEC encourages Canadians of all ages to experience the outdoors and have a connection to nature.
Power To Be
Power To Be helps people living with a disability or barrier to access nature and empowers people to explore their limitless abilities through inclusive adventures rooted in nature They work to remove cognitive, physical and social barriers to the outdoors, while providing workshops and support to communities to move inclusion forward.
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