Why we cap our groups at 12 kids (and what that means for yours)
Twelve is not an arbitrary number. It's a decision we made deliberately, and it's one we'll never compromise on — even when there's a waitlist.
Here's why.
The research on group size and young children
Child development researchers have studied group size in early childhood settings for decades, and the findings are remarkably consistent: smaller groups lead to better outcomes on virtually every measure that matters.
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) found that smaller group sizes in early care settings are associated with more positive caregiving behaviours, more language stimulation, and better social development outcomes. Children in smaller groups receive more individual attention, form stronger attachments with caregivers, and show fewer behavioural problems.
In an outdoor setting, group size matters even more. When 12 kids are hiking a forest trail, two adults can see every child at all times. When 30 kids are on the same trail, children at the back are invisible to the adult at the front. The group moves at the speed of the slowest walker, and the fastest kids are bored. The quiet child who found something amazing in the creek doesn't get noticed because the adult is busy managing the group.
What 12 actually looks like
Twelve children with two adults means:
Every child is known by name — not just by the staff, but by every other child in the group. By the end of the first week, these twelve kids have formed a small community. They know each other's favourite bugs, who's good at climbing, and who always finds the best sticks.
Every child gets a turn to lead. In a group of 12, there's space for the quiet child to speak up in the circle without competing with 25 other voices.
Every child can be seen. On a forest trail, 12 kids in hi-vis vests with two adults is a manageable, visible group. Headcount takes 10 seconds. Nobody gets lost in the crowd.
Activities work better. Capture the flag with 12 kids is a great game. Capture the flag with 30 kids is chaos. Nature art with 12 kids means everyone gets individual guidance. With 30, it's a free-for-all.
Why not 8? Why not 16?
Eight would be wonderful for the children but economically unviable for a first-year camp. Sixteen would be economically comfortable but would require a third staff member and would dilute the small-group experience that is Camp Howl's entire reason for existing.
Twelve, with a 1:6 ratio (two adults), is the sweet spot: small enough that every child is genuinely known, large enough that the group has social richness and variety, and operationally sustainable.
For context, the BC Child Care Licensing Regulation sets maximum group sizes for licensed preschool programs at 20 children with a 1:10 ratio. Camp Howl's 12-child cap with a 1:6 ratio significantly exceeds these standards — by choice, not by requirement.
What this means for parents
It means spots are genuinely limited. We're not saying "spots are limited" as a marketing tactic. There are 12 spots per week and that is the physical maximum. When they're gone, they're gone. We maintain a waitlist, but the group does not expand.
It also means your child will have a fundamentally different summer experience than they would at a larger camp. They'll be known. They'll be seen. They'll come home and tell you about their friend who found a salamander, not "there were a lot of kids and we played games."
That's the camp we want to run. Twelve kids, two adults, one forest.
Camp Howl is a nature-based outdoor day camp in Stanley Park. 12 children maximum, 1:6 staff ratio, ages 5–8. Register your interest →