Aquatic camps and watersports for kids in Vancouver
Vancouver’s close proximity to lake and ocean – and its many public pools – make the city an ideal destination for trying out watersports with your little ones as they grow. So grab the sunscreen, pack the water shoes and swim trunks, and encourage your kids to learn valuable skills in and out of the water at some of Vancouver’s top aquatic camps this summer. [Photo credit: iStock.com/GOTO_TOKYO]
WazSUP Paddleboarding Camps
1300 Homer St, Vancouver, BC V6B 6A7These camps start in pools and shallow water before introducing children to deeper areas of the ocean. Paddleboards are provided, as are daily lessons for a variety of experience levels. Participants will explore False Creek and Stanley Park, feeling safe and secure in the care of experienced, first-aid-certified instructors, while also finding peace and serenity – and improving their skills – away from the pulse of the city.
Cove Watersports
105-4323 Gallant Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7G 2C1For the past 13 years, Cove Watersports has offered quality lessons in water-related activities at their breathtaking Deep Cove location. Your kids will jump at the chance to spend their summer wakeboarding and waterskiing with some of the best instructors on the North Shore. All kids camps run Monday to Thursday through July and August, starting at $225 per week.
Mac Sailing Academy
1300 Discovery St, Vancouver, BC V6R 4L9Have you ever wished you knew how to sail but now just don’t have the time to learn? Give your kids the gift of sailing by enrolling them in one of MacSailing’s premier camps taking place at their Jercicho or Kitsilano sailing outposts. A diverse program means there are plenty of camps to choose from including beginner, full- and half-day sessions, and multi-week-long racing camps for experienced youth. All camps combine fun with learning and skill building for an unforgettable summer experience on the water.
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre
845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2Viewing sea life may not be a sport, but it’s just as exhilarating an experience for your little ones. Participants at the Vancouver Aquarium’s summer camps enjoy hands-on activities such as touching tanks filled with sea anemones and starfish, crafts and outdoor excursions to various sites around the aquarium. Each activity is paired with a lesson so your child will return home with a deeper appreciation and understanding of the sea and its creatures.
Aquaventures Swim Centre
1630 5th Ave W, Vancouver, BC V6J 1N8AquaVentures offers experiences for children unlike any other program in the city. Inside their colourful, child-friendly (and child-proofed) centre, a specially designed pool area features a Baja-inspired mural, warmer waters, a wide entrance cove, and an ultra-modern dehumidifying system that ensures parents are comfortable as they watch. Lessons and camps adapt to suit a wide range of ages and abilities – from toddler to grade-schooler and everyone in-between.
Soaring Eagle Nature School
1496 Frederick Rd, North Vancouver, BC V7K 1J8With an emphasis on the value of connecting with and learning about our coastal environment, Soaring Eagle’s Ocean and Forest Camps will allow your kids to feel like Charles Darwin on Easter Island for a week. Participants aged 6-12 meet each morning for at Acadia Beach; from there, they explore the ocean’s edge, tidal pools and surrounding forests accompanied by experienced leaders, most of whom are certified in wilderness expedition skills, ecology, biology and other similar disciplines.
