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What to look for in an outdoor day camp in Vancouver

•5 min read

You've decided your kid needs more time outside this summer. Maybe it's the screen time. Maybe it's the fact that they haven't climbed a tree since last September. Maybe you just want them to come home dirty and tired and full of stories about bugs.

Whatever brought you here, you're now staring at a list of Vancouver summer camps and trying to figure out which one is actually good. Here's what to look for — and what to ask — before you hand over your credit card.

Staff-to-child ratio matters more than you think

This is the single most important number. A 1:6 ratio means one adult for every six children. A 1:12 ratio means one adult is responsible for twelve kids on a forest trail.

The BC Child Care Licensing Regulation sets ratios for licensed childcare, but many summer day camps operate as recreational programs exempt from licensing under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act. That means the ratio is up to the operator. Ask what it is. If they can't give you a number, that's your answer.

At Camp Howl, we run a 1:6 ratio — two certified adults for a maximum of twelve children. Every day, no exceptions.

Ask about certifications — and be specific

"Our staff are trained" is not the same as "Our staff hold WorkSafeBC-approved first aid certification." Ask which certifications, specifically. For an outdoor program in BC, you want to see at minimum:

  • First aid certification — WorkSafeBC sets the standard. Occupational First Aid (OFA) or Emergency Child Care First Aid with CPR B & AED are the ones to look for.
  • Criminal record checks — All adults working with children should have a Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP) check through the BC Ministry of Public Safety.
  • Early childhood credentials — Not required for recreational camps, but an Early Childhood Education Assistant (ECEA) or ECE certificate from the BC ECE Registry shows the staff have formal child development training.

What's the emergency plan?

Any outdoor camp operating in a public park should have a written emergency action plan covering, at minimum: medical emergencies, lost child protocol, wildlife encounters, severe weather, and evacuation routes.

In Stanley Park specifically, coyotes are a well-documented reality. Ask the camp what their coyote protocol is. If they look surprised by the question, keep looking.

Also ask: where's the nearest hospital? (For Stanley Park, it's St. Paul's Hospital, about 12 minutes by car.) What's the rally point? Who calls 911?

Group size is about experience, not just safety

A camp with 30 kids might be perfectly safe. But your 5-year-old will have a very different experience in a group of 12 than in a group of 30. In a small group, the counselors know every child by name. They notice when someone is quiet, when someone needs a break, when two kids are about to become best friends.

Research from the Canadian Paediatric Society consistently supports small-group outdoor play for social-emotional development in young children. Smaller groups allow for more child-led exploration — which is where the real learning happens.

Location, location, location

Where in the park does the camp actually operate? What's the drop-off and pickup spot? Is there parking? Where are the washrooms?

For Stanley Park, the Vancouver Park Board maintains washroom facilities at several locations including the Pavilion near Second Beach, Lumbermen's Arch, and near the Aquarium. A good camp will have mapped their route around washroom access — ask to see it.

Camp Howl operates out of the Rose Garden area on Pipeline Road, with a daily walking route through the Aquarium forest trails and Lumbermen's Arch. Every stop on the route has washroom access within a 2-minute walk.

What happens when it rains?

Vancouver averages 166 rainy days per year. If a camp cancels every time it drizzles, your child will miss half the summer.

Good outdoor camps operate rain or shine. Rain is part of the experience — puddle stomping, watching the forest come alive, learning that being a little wet is not the end of the world. The camps that cancel only for genuine safety risks (lightning, dangerous winds, poor air quality) are the ones that understand outdoor education.

Ask: what's the cancellation policy? How will you be notified? Are makeup days offered?

Insurance and permits

Any legitimate operator should carry commercial general liability insurance — typically $2 million minimum. Ask to see proof. If they're operating in a city park, they should also have appropriate permits from the Vancouver Park Board.

Trust your gut — and your kid's

Visit the camp if you can. Watch how the staff talk to children. Do they get down to eye level? Do they use names? Do they look like they actually want to be there?

And if your child is nervous, look for a camp that offers a trial day or a gradual entry option. Starting at a new camp is a big transition for a 5-year-old. The best camps understand that and build space for it.

Camp Howl is a nature-based outdoor day camp in Stanley Park for children ages 5–8. Small groups, certified staff, forest trails. Register your interest →