The Nature Vancouver Summer Camps are designed to foster sharing of experience, knowledge, and tasks to create a small community immersed in wilderness, hiking, birding, and botany opportunities. The Camp Committee organizes two annual summer camps running back to back. The camps are normally fully catered including meals that address dietary restrictions. Most participants use a tent although a few arrange lodging on their own at an additional cost. The majority of participants are middle aged to senior adults, but all age ranges are represented. Families are welcome in the second week. The minimum age for participation is 8 years old.

Camp Committee

Co_Chairs: Diane Fast and Sally McDermott

Registrar: Elena Klein

Members:  Laura Cottle, Brian Livsey, Paul Vasicek, Vivian Neal, and Cindy Cooper

Sub Committee members: Teresa Gagne, catering.

To join the main camp committee, a sub committee, provide suggestions on locations or for other general enquires contact the camp committee at nv.campcommittee@gmail.com. More information about the various roles within the committee is available from VOLUNTEERS.

2026 Summer Camp at Camp Potlatch

Our 2026 camp will be on the Sunshine Coast along Howe Sound, at Camp Potlatch, which is operated by the Boys and Girls club of British Columbia. It is accessible only by boat (included in the fee). This camp will be different from our usual summer camps – there is a very different itinerary, no tent set up and no camp chores (except to tidy up after yourself). For all the information and to register please use the link below:

Nature Vancouver Summer Camps

General information about our summer camps is available from the links below:

Itinerary      Camp Roles     Suggested Equipment        Camp Chores  

Future of Nature Vancouver Summer Camps

In 2024, The Camp Committee surveyed Nature Vancouver members to determine what types of changes may be necessary to attract new participants, maintain current ones and how members would feel about eliminating hired cooks. You can read a report of results from Membership Survey.

A Word About Food and Dietary Restrictions.

Our cooks are professionals.  Our menus strive to reduce waste yet provide enough for any appetite. There is always several choices for breakfast and lunch. Dinners are hot and hearty and accompanied by a dessert. At registration you will be asked if you have any dietary restrictions.  If so, a follow-up, five-minute survey will be sent to you.  Using that information, we ensure that there will be a satisfying meal available for you.  However, due to the cramped cooking quarters and buffet style meals we cannot guarantee there will not be some cross contamination.  If you have a serious dietary restriction such as Crohn’s disease, we suggest you consider if this is an appropriate event for your condition. 

Some Testimonials 

“I have always been impressed with the meals in our Summer Camps.  But the 2024 Camp far exceeded my expectations.  As someone that does not eat pork or any of its byproducts and who also does not drink alcohol, the thoughtfulness, organization and preparation that went into the menu for this camp was far more than I had expected.  There was even turkey bacon for me! which was a first.  Each meal was not only delicious but healthy.  There were even non-alcoholic drinks for some of us who do not drink alcohol.  I believe all effort was made to accommodate every dietary needs.  A special thank you to Teresa G. and everyone in her team for a job well done.” – Nashrah S.

“As a first time Nature Vancouver camper, and someone who really enjoys cooking, I was amazed and delighted with the quality, diversity, and bounty of delicious food that was served on this summer’s Manning Park trip.  I am both vegetarian, and lactose intolerant, and my dietary needs were met with genuine care and attention, and I ate very, very, very well during the entire trip.  It was such a treat to be camping in a beautiful setting, and enjoying meals prepared with such creativity, and flare by two professional cooks who put their heart and soul into every meal.” – Rudi L. 

Past Summer Camps

Camps have been an important tradition since 1918, providing magical experiences for our members. Click below to view the complete list of past Nature Vancouver summer camps, an article published in Discovery – VNHS Summer Camps from the Beginning to Present by Kitty Castle and some historic photos. 

Camp Photos & Reports

The photos from past camps and /or lists of flora and fauna observed at these camps are available from the link below. 

The complete reports of all camps are published in Discovery. All the PAST ISSUES of DISCOVERY are available on line.