Powell River Salmon Society’s coastal ecology summer camps have been providing outdoor activities for six- to 10-year old children at Willingdon Beach and Lang Creek.
Salmon society education coordinator Chantal Dunning, who has been coordinating the camps, said the first three sold out, with two having been run already.
“They've been a lot of fun,” said Dunning. “So far, we've had one week at Willington Beach park, and another week at Lang Creek. During those weeks, the kids just had a fantastic time, exploring the creeks, examining bugs or searching for bugs in the creek.
“They have been playing a bunch of different forest-themed games – different games about plants and animals and just getting into their environment, using their hands to explore the plants and the earth. It's been just an awesome time to see them learn and see these kids grow over a week.”
Activities have included things such as a little survival challenge where the children learned to filter water, set up a shelter and search for different plants that are edible in the environment, said Dunning.
“It's been fun seeing them kind of come together as a team on those different challenges,” she added.
She said numbers for this first time out have been kept small to 14 children per week. In the future, it’s hoped that the size of groups can be expanded, as well as the age range.
“We’re really excited to provide an opportunity for the local kids to get out into their environment and explore,” said Dunning. “They have already learned so much amazing information at school or through their families, going out into the environment. It's cool to see them use that knowledge they have, as well as build upon that and build those skills in the outdoors.”
Dunning said there will be one kid who really knows the trails and is passionate about taking the map and leading the group to their spot using the map.
“Then, you have another child who has amazing leadership qualities and they want to help us explain the game that we're about to do,” said Dunning. “We're trying to follow the children's passions and follow their curiosity when we're outside.”
Dunning, who has a background in outdoor education, said it is hoped that through these camps, a greater understanding about the salmonid resource and the environment can be created.
“There is so much curiosity, whether we're searching the creek and the campers find a bug that they don't know, or a crayfish in the creek or a little small coho salmon fry,” said Dunning. “It's cool to see how curious they are, grabbing magnifying glasses and looking at different things that we find in nature.
“There’s nothing better than seeing the smile on the kids’ faces throughout the day, or hearing from the parents that their child is so excited to come back the next day. It's very heartwarming.”
Dunning said the camp has received amazing support.
“The volunteers have not only come with fantastic, creative ideas to share with the campers during the day, but have helped support the sign-in and sign-out process at the beginning and end of day,” said Dunning. “Likewise, we have a wonderful university summer student named Hannah Cross who is also a summer camp instructor with me this summer. She is great with the children and encourages them to be curious about their environment and have fun while in nature.”
Dunning said all proceeds from the camp are going back toward enhancing the local salmon population and going toward continuing to educate local residents about Pacific salmon.
“It's amazing to see that support from the community and to know that we can carry on doing what we're doing here.”
There is still space in the final camp, from August 21 to 25, at Lang Creek.
“That should be an exciting week because there's going to be some action around the hatchery with the fish counting fence going down in the river, and we might have the possibility to see some adult salmon coming back up the river,” said Dunning.
To register, go to salmonpreservation.org/camps.
Parent Undine Andreae said her son loved summer camp.
“He was always beaming when I picked him up and so excited to go back the next day,” said Andreae. “It was truly a very amazing experience for my child, with so much fun and learning and playing outside in nature. He came home dirty and very happy every single day.”
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