Please register online, email our camp team or call 604-709-4679 with any questions or to inquire about waiting lists. We are unable to accept registrations in person at BC SPCA branches.
For full camp information, including hours, refund policy, bursary program, Leadership Camp and more, please continue scrolling to the bottom of the page.
2019 Okanagan & Kootenays camp schedule
Castlegar (West Kootenay)
Location: BC SPCA West Kootenay Community Animal Centre
- July 2-5: no camp
- July 8-12: no camp
- July 15-19: for kids born 2010-2012 – FULL
- July 22-26: for kids born 2008-2011 – FULL
- July 29-August 2: for kids born 2008-2012
- August 6-9: for kids born 2008-2012
- August 12-14*: for kids born 2006-2011 – Autism-friendly camp (email Stephenie Campbell to register)
- August 19-23: for kids born 2008-2011 – FULL
Activities run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parents are welcome to drop off their child(ren) between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. and pick up between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.
*For the week of August 12-14, activities run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Parents are welcome to drop off their child(ren) between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. and pick up between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m.
Four-day camp registration fee: $120
Five-day camp registration fee: $150
Cranbrook (East Kootenay)
Location: BC SPCA East Kootenay branch
- July 2-5: no camp
- July 8-12: for kids born 2008-2011 – FULL
- July 16-19: for kids born 2011-2013 – FULL
- July 22-26: for kids born 2008-2011 – FULL
- July 29-August 2: for kids born 2008-2011
- August 6-9: for kids born 2011-2013 – FULL
- August 12-16: for kids born 2008-2011
- August 19-23: for kids born 2008-2011- FULL
Five-day camps run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Four-day camps run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Parents are welcome to drop off their child(ren) between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. and pick-up will extend for half an hour after camp ends.
Four-day camp registration fee: $125
Five-day camp registration fee: $165
Kamloops
Location: BC SPCA Kamloops branch
- July 2-5: no camp
- July 8-12: for kids born 2010-2012
- July 15-19: for kids born 2008-2010
- July 22-26: for kids born 2010-2012
- July 29-August 2: for kids born 2008-2010
- August 6-9: for kids born 2012-2013 & 2005-2007 (Leadership Camp – FULL)
- August 12-16: for kids born 2010-2012
- August 19-23: for kids born 2008-2010
Activities run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parents are welcome to drop off their child(ren) between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. and pick up between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.
Registration fee: $170
Kelowna
Location: BC SPCA Kelowna branch
- July 2-5: for kids born 2012-2013
- July 8-12: for kids born 2008-2011
- July 15-19: for kids born 2008-2011 – FULL
- July 22-26: for kids born 2008-2011
- July 29-August 2: for kids born 2008-2011
- August 6-9: for kids born 2012-2013 & 2006-2007 (Leadership Camp: by application only. Please scroll down to learn more.)
- August 12-16: for kids born 2008-2011
- August 19-23: for kids born 2008-2011
Activities run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parents are welcome to drop off their child(ren) between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. and pick up between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.
Registration fee: $220
Nelson
NEW Location: Drop off & pick up at Nelson Covenant Church (702 Stanley St, Nelson)
- July 2-5: no camp
- July 8-12: no camp
- July 15-19: for kids born 2010-2012 – FULL
- July 22-26: for kids born 2008-2010
- July 29-August 2: for kids born 2010-2012
- August 6-9: for kids born 2012-2013 & 2006-2007 (Leadership camp: by application only. Please scroll down to learn more.)
- August 12-16: for kids born 2008-2010 – FULL
- August 19-23: for kids born 2008-2010 – FULL
Activities run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parents are welcome to drop off their child(ren) between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. and pick up between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.
Registration fee: $175
Penticton (South Okanagan-Similkameen)
Location: BC SPCA South Okanagan-Similkameen branch
- July 2-5: no camp
- July 8-12: for kids born 2008-2011 – FULL
- July 15-19: for kids born 2008-2011 – FULL
- July 22-26: for kids born 2008-2011
- July 29-August 2: for kids born 2008-2011 – FULL
- August 6-9: for kids born 2012-2013 – FULL
- August 12-16: for kids born 2008-2011 – FULL
- August 19-23: for kids born 2008-2011
Activities run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parents are welcome to drop off their child(ren) between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. and pick up between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.
Registration fee: $175
Vernon
Location: BC SPCA Vernon branch
- July 2-4: for kids born 2011-2013
- July 8-12: for kids born 2008-2011
- July 15-19: for kids born 2008-2011
- July 22-26: for kids born 2008-2011
- July 29-August 2: for kids born 2008-2011 – FULL
- August 6-9: for kids born 2011-2013 – FULL
- August 12-16: for kids born 2008-2011
- August 19-23: no camp
Five-day camps run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Three and four-day camps run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Parents are welcome to drop off their child(ren) beginning at 9:00 a.m., and pick-up will extend for half an hour after camp ends.
Three-day camp registration fee: $100
Four-day camp registration fee: $130
Five-day camp registration fee: $160
Bursaries
We have a limited number of bursaries available for families who need financial assistance. If you would like to apply for a bursary, please download and complete an application (PDF) and submit it to camp@spca.bc.ca or fax it to 604-681-7022 (attn: Humane Education). The deadline to apply is May 31, 2019.
Leadership Camp
Youth who want to learn about animals and how to use their own voice to speak up for important animal welfare issues, are invited to apply for a week of Leadership Camp. Successful applicants will demonstrate passion, knowledge and a drive to help animals in their community, along with a desire to learn to educate others and develop leadership skills. Once an application is approved, the applicant’s parent/guardian will receive instructions on how to complete their registration online. Apply today!
Refund policy
A full refund will be issued with four weeks’ notice of cancellation. Refunds will be prorated for fewer than four weeks’ notice. Exceptions may be made for medical/family emergencies and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please abide by the age ranges set for campers. Campers registered outside of a camp’s specified age range without prior approval will not qualify for a refund.
Activities & time spent with animals
Campers are immersed in animal-themed activities and are challenged, in fun and engaging ways, to learn about responsible animal care, discover fascinating new animal facts and develop positive, respectful relationships between people, animals and nature. They leave feeling inspired to be ambassadors for animals in their community.
Activities range from active games, both indoors and outdoors, to quiet hands-on projects and include art projects, guest speakers and time with animals. All activities have been designed by the BC SPCA to incorporate positive animal welfare themes.
We do our best to provide some hands-on time with animals throughout the week though we know kids always want more. Sometimes, animal time is limited because we must be cognizant of the stress levels and health of the animals and that the shelter is a working adoption facility. When possible we do bring shelter-approved animals into the education space and allow campers to interact with them in small numbers. We take the campers on a shelter tour to introduce them to the animals and share the stories of how the animals came into our care.
Age range
Please adhere to the age range posted. Our camps are designed by age range and having younger or older campers in these camps can be disruptive to the learning experience of all participants. No exceptions to the age ranges posted will be made unless our camps are not full and we are able to accommodate your request. This means that only two weeks before a camp date are we able to consider any age exceptions. If you would like to be put on an age exception waitlist please let us know which location and date you are interested in and your child’s year of birth. Please note, even if camps do not fill up, we may not be able to approve all age exception requests. If you register a child in a camp that is outside the age range, without our consent, you will not be given a refund.