Nature Camps

Nature Camps

Nature camps are a chance for kids and youth to engage with animals and the environment, explore nature, and have fun doing it!

Full-day camps run during school breaks: winter, spring, and summer.

Camps may include transportation between Whitehorse and the Preserve daily. You will find transportation information in your camp’s description.

 

Register Here

 

Transportation Changes

For those who have attended Nature Camps in the past, please note that the way we run transportation from Whitehorse to Yukon Wildlife Preserve changed in February 2024. Check the “Dates, Times, and Transportation” button at the bottom of this page for more details. You can also find more details under your specific camp’s information.

When booking a camp, make sure you select one of the new transportation options! 

 

2024-25 Camps

Registration for Nature Camps is now open for Winter Break and Fall PD Day camps!

Registration for Spring Break and Spring PD Day camps will open in November 2024.

Registration for Summer Break 2025 will open in January 2025.

PD Day and School Holiday Camps

Join us on days when school is not in session for a single day of camp! Each day has a different theme, based on the changing seasons, but will always involve chances to get outside and meet some of the Preserve’s residents!

Camps are available for ages 6-8 and 9-12.

Camps run:

  • 2024 (now available for registration):
    • September 26
    • September 27
    • November 12
  • 2025 (registration opens in November 2024):
    • January 20
    • February 21
    • February 24
    • April 21

Winter Break Camps

Join us to explore Winter Snow Survival from learning from the experts: Yukon’s animals! Campers will join Preserve staff to get out in the cold to see how Yukon Wildlife Preserve’s amazing animals manage to survive a frozen winter.

This year we are offering each day for purchase individually, to best support campers with complex holiday plans. You can book a single day, all eight, or anything in between.

Camps run:

  • December 23
  • December 24
  • December 26
  • December 27
  • December 30
  • December 31
  • January 2
  • January 3
Register Here

More About Nature Camps

Overview

Nature Camps are day camps at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve.

Gift your child with the opportunity to explore the great outdoors and connect with the world around them. We believe in the importance of positive outdoor experiences to support physical, mental and emotional health.

Our Nature Camps are a series of day camps for outdoor enthusiasts. Camps are conducted in small, age-appropriate groups; eligible ages vary based on season, program, and capacity. Check the camp registration page for more information.

The majority of camp takes place at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, located 30 km from downtown Whitehorse. Camps may also include field trips to local attractions.

The bulk of Nature Camp will be conducted outdoors. Camps are based out of a dedicated 1600 sq. foot learning centre at the heart of the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. This space is great for inclement weather.

Dates, Times and Transportation

For full information on schedules, available camps, and more details please see our online booking system. The online system updates automatically when spaces are filled or become available.

Transportation is available for most camps from one or more elementary schools in Whitehorse. Check your camp’s details to find transportation details, availability, and costs. When you book a camp you will be prompted to choose a transportation option.

Please note: in past, Yukon Wildlife Preserve included the cost in transportation from Takhini Elementary School in the price of camps. Starting in February 2024, this is changing for two main reasons:

  • Campers dropped off at the Preserve were still paying full price despite receiving an hour less staff time than those who were dropped off in town;
  • A majority of guardians who answered our camp survey indicated that they would prefer to drop off their campers at a location in their own neighbourhood. To reflect the different costs in picking up campers in Hidden Valley, Riverdale, Copper Ridge, or elsewhere, we are moving to a model where each pick up and drop off location has a different cost associated with it.

We have lowered the core price of camp to partially offset the costs of this change.

 

Cost and Discounts

Camp Cost

  • Week-long camps (i.e.: March Break) and week-end camps (also 5 sessions long) are $365
    • Transportation for the week is an additional $45 from Selkirk, $35 from Takhini, $25 from Jack Hulland, and $0 for drop-off at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve.
  • One day PD/holiday camps are $80
    • Transportion is an additional $9 from Selkirk, $7 from Takhini,  $5 from Jack Hulland, and $0 for drop-off at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve.

Member Discount

* Members get a 10% discount! Before registration, renew or purchase membership here, then use the discount code mightymoose when registering for Nature Camp to receive your member discount. Please note, we will invoice you for the amount of the discount if you use the code without a valid membership.

Eligible Ages

The age ranges for each camp vary based on the camp’s content and activities. You camper will need to be the required age on the first day of camp.

Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. If your camper is close to the age requirement (usually within about 3-4 months of eligibility) please email education@yukonwildlife.ca for more information. Exceptions are not available when most of the campers currently registered are much older or much younger than your camper. Exceptions are also not available for camps that are already fully booked.

Learning Differences and Accommodations

Inclusion & Support Workers

We welcome support workers at Nature Camps. If a typical school day would not be accomplished without a support worker, your camper will likely need a support worker to help them at camp. Please let us know so we can plan to include your child and their support worker. Please contact our Manager of Programming & Education at 867-334-3338 / education@yukonwildlife.ca to make arrangements.

 

Campers with Additional Needs

Our goal is to make every camper feel comfortable and safe at Nature Camp. Especially if your camper experiences challenges during a normal school day or at other day camps, we want to be prepared to help them have the best camp experience! Please let us know if your camper has any additional needs and how we can help them have a positive camp experience.

Cancellation Policy
If cancellation occurs more than two weeks prior to the Nature Camp start date, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve will retain 20 per cent as an administrative fee on refunds. Generally, for cancellations occurring two weeks or less prior to the Nature Camp start date, no refund or transfer will be given.
 
However, should cancellation within two weeks of the start date or during a Nature Camp be required due to medical or compassionate reasons, guardians can submit a request to cancel to education@yukonwildlife.ca, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A prorated refund for the remaining full days (at the time of request) may be provided depending on the circumstances. No shows, missed days during the week, and missed days prior to a cancellation request are not eligible for refunds.
 
The Yukon Wildlife Preserve reserves the right to cancel camps that are less than half full. In this event, a transfer or full refund will be provided. In the event the Yukon Wildlife Preserve needs to cancel a camp mid-week, a prorated refund for the remaining full days will be provided. 
Winter Weather Cancellations
Camper and staff safety is extremely important to our team. For camps taking place during the winter, the following additional procedures are in place:
  1. The week prior to Winter Nature Camp, staff will be monitoring the weather forecast. If the forecast weather calls for severe winter storms or sustained temperatures below -30 degrees, camp will not run. Camp staff will notify you by email and issue refunds.
    1. If the weather is forcast to change significantly throughout the week, camp staff may issue a partial cancellation for the first day(s) of camp. Refunds for partial cancellations will be issued at the end of the camp.
  2. Each day prior to Winter Nature Camp starting, staff will check the current conditions and forecast weather. If the weather does not allow for safe camp operation, you will receive a phone call before 7:30am informing you of the cancellation. Refunds for day-of cancellations will be issued at the end of the camp.

 

What to bring?

Please ensure that your child is dressed suitably for spending time outdoors, with potential inclement weather conditions, and brings everything they need for the day. The following are essential to your child’s enjoyment, health and wellness:

All-season

  • Clothes to play outside
  • Backpack
  • Lunch, snacks, and refillable water bottle;
  • Sunglasses;
  • Rain boots;
  • Extra change of clothes;
  • Rain Jacket

Summer-only

  • Bug spray
  • Close-toed shoes (sandals are not appropriate for all camp activites)
  • Sunscreen;
  • Sun hat.

Winter-only

  • More layers of clothes than you think – we will be outside a lot, and it’s nice to have dry things to change into.

Please make sure your child is prepared!

Note: We have a no electronics rule at nature camp.

Waiting Lists

Guardians may register their child(ren) on waiting lists through the camp registration website. In past years we have had waiting lists on almost all weeks. When a spot becomes available, ALL individuals on the list for that week will automatically receive a notice that a space is available. Registration for the newly available spot will be first come, first serve.

For more information, please contact:

Neil Tracey
Manager of Programming and Education
Yukon Wildlife Preserve
education@yukonwildlife.ca
867-334-3338