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 include transportation between Whitehorse and the Preserve daily. Pickup and dropoff is at Takhini Elementary School, in the bus loop off of Range Road.

 

 

Winter Break

We are excited to be running our first ever Winter Break Nature Camps in December of 2023 and January of 2024. Registration opens on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 12:00pm.

Winter Animal Survival Camp is for ages 5-7. This camp will introduce campers to some of the amazing animals that call the Yukon Wildlife Preserve home. We’ll see how these animals survive the winter and use what we’ve learned to have our own wintery adventures!

Arts and Crafts and Snow Camp is for ages 7-9. We will show campers new ways of looking at the world! Through artistic exploration, campers will better understand what makes a winter so beautiful.

Both camps run 8:30am-3:30pm on the following days:

  • December 21-22 (Thursday-Friday)
  • January 2-5 (Tuesday-Friday).

Camp is $150 for the two day camp or $300 for the four day camp, plus GST.

* Yukon Wildlife Preserve Members get a 10% discount! Before registration, renew or purchase membership here, then use the discount code mightymoose when registering to receive your member discount.

 

Register Here

2023-2024 Schedule

 

Registration OpensCamp Runs
Winter CampSeptember 12, 2023

December 21-22

January 2-5

Spring CampTo be determined, likely late 2023 or early 2024

March 11-15

March 18-22

Summer CampTo be determined, likely January 2024Weekly, June 17-August 16

Last updated September 11, 2023

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

The Preserve offers camps during school breaks: spring, summer, and winter. For spring and summer, camp usually runs Monday-Friday. Winter Camp runs a reduced schedule around the holidays.

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

We are at Takhini Elementary School each morning from 8:30am to 8:45am to pick-up your child.

We are back at Takhini Elementary School from 3:15pm to 3:45pm (3:30pm in winter) to drop-off your child.

 

Cost and Discounts

Camp Cost

Full weeks of camp cost $375* + GST. Reduced schedules, such as Winter Break Camp, are discounted from that rate.

Our prices include transportation to and from Whitehorse.

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. Please check the camp-specific information on this page or in the registration system for more information.

New forwinter 2023-2023: Campers ages are now tied to the start of camp, rather than the old system of tying ages to the school year. If you camper meets the minimum age requirement on the first day of camp, they are able to register.

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