Nature Camps

The Preserve’s Operational Plan has been approved and endorsed by YG’s Environmental Health’s COVID Team. The plan details how camps will be carried out (including cleaning schedules, approach to group management, etc) and follows the guidelines for Summer Camps provided at yukon.ca/covid-19. 

Several significant modifications were required to adapt the Preserve’s Nature Camps to the Summer Camp Guidelines. CANNOR has provided the Preserve with the financial to make these changes possible (while maintaining our typical registration fees).

Camp Numbers:

Camps will operate at full capacity (14 kids / Discovery Camp and 8 kids / Explorer Camp) – we are not planning on reducing attendance.

Camps Hours:

Camp hours will be reduced by 30 minutes to allow for enhanced cleaning measures.

Typically: pick-up from 8:30 to 8:45am and drop-off from 3:45pm to 4:20pm

Modified plan: pick-up from 8:30 to 8:45 and drop-off from 3:15 to 3:50pm.

Camp Groups:

Camp Groups will not exceed 10 people (including Camp Leaders and drivers).

Discovery Camps (age 6-8), typically 14 in size, will be split into two groups of 7 (“Moose Group” and “Red Fox Group”).

Please let us know if you would like your child to remain in the same group as another child (i.e. friends, siblings, etc). We can also put siblings in separate groups if preferred. We’ll be doing our best to accommodate everybody’s needs.

Explorer Camps (age 8-12) will remain as a group of 8 (“Raven Group”)

Transportation:

We will continue to provide transportation to/from the YWP.

Each Camp Group (max 10 including driver) will be transported on their own 24 Passenger Bus.

Specific procedures for pick-up / drop-off will be provided in pre-camp emails (typically sent 1 week ahead of time).

Screening and Exposure:

Daily screening of all participants will be required before leaving kids. Anyone answering YES to any of the following will not be allowed to attend that day:

• Do you, or your child attending today, have any of the following symptoms? Fever, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?
• Have you or anyone in your household, travelled outside of Yukon in the past 14 days?
• Have you, or anyone in your household, been in contact in the last 14 days with someone who is currently being investigated for or confirmed to have COVID-19?
• In the past 14 days before your symptoms, did you have close contact with someone who had symptoms of COVID-19 within the 14 days of their return from travel?
• Have you, or anyone in your household, been instructed to self-isolate?

If kids develop symptoms during the day, they will be separated from the group, provided a mask and parents/guardians will immediately be asked to come and pick up their child.

In the event of a known exposure to COVID to any kids (including those in their family bubble), or staff, that Camp Group may be suspended for a period of 72 hours to allow for contact tracing.

At the YWP:

A dedicated toilet facility will be available for each camp group.

A dedicated shelter will be available for each camp group (i.e. Large 20’x20′ Event Tent, Learning Centre, etc)

Hand sanitizer will be provided by Camp Leaders. At this time we don’t have hand-washing stations available for each group. We are working on it, but can’t yet confirm if, when and where they will be available.

Programming will be adapted to comply with physical distancing rules:

We will be putting additional measures in place to encourage physical distancing; however, we know that it will not always be possible – especially when providing first aid and during behavioural incidents.

We will not plan close-contact activities.

Animal Care camps will not be able to access the Animal Care building as they have in past years – we have a heightened responsibility to protect the health of our small Animal Care team.

Each Camp Group will be based out of a different area at the Preserve.

Enhanced Waiver

We are preparing an enhanced waiver that we will be asking parents/guardians to sign before attending camp.

This waiver acknowledges that participants are aware of the risk of virus transmission, waive liability from the Yukon Wildlife Preserve Operating Society, and agree to disclosing information required for daily screening.

Risk of Cancellation:

The YWP will follow the recommendations and guidelines of the CMOH. As they state, there is a risk of reinstating public health measures that would require us to cancel Nature Camps without notice.  The YWP reserves the right to cancel or change programming due to the evaluation of the public health emergency.  

YWP’s Cancellation Policy:

Given the uncertainty we all face, we are modifying our cancellation policy for this season. These updates are intended to enable you to make the right choice, should COVID come into your life. As a non-profit charity in these uncertain times, our ability to absorb additional financial stress is also limited. If you need to cancel, we can provide a full refund; however, we ask that you consider leaving a portion of your registration fee invested in the program. Our cancellation policy for Summer 2020 will now state:

For cancellation occurring prior to the Nature Camp start date, a full refund or transfer will be given. 

Should cancellation during a Nature Camp be required, parents/guardians can submit a request to cancel to education@yukonwildlife.ca. A prorated refund for the remaining full days (at the time of request) will be provided. 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.

NOTE: Due to COVID Modifications, the camp day will be 30 minutes shorter. The last pick-up time will be 3:50pm (instead of 4:20pm).

Camps run weekly from June 15th 2020 – August 14th 2020. Each camp is five days in length (Monday to Friday) from 8:30am to 3:50pm 4:20pm. We meet downtown daily at Whitehorse Elementary School at 8:30am to pick-up your child and again between 3:15pm and 3:50pm 3:45pm and 4:20PM for camper drop-off.

Please see our online store for schedule, theme descriptions and up-to-date availability.

Camps cost $285 + GST / camper / week.

Our prices include transportation to and from downtown Whitehorse.

Member Discount

If you are hold a current YWP Family Membership, use the code muskoxrule at checkout to get a 10% discount. Please note, we will invoice you for the amount of the discount if you use the code without a valid membership.

Get a Membership!

Go here to buy or renew a family membership online. This entitles you to a 10% discount at checkout using the code muskoxrule. Memberships are good for 1 year from the date of purchase. Find out more about YWP memberships here.

To participate in 2020 Discovery camps children must have turned six (6) years old by December 31st 2019. The December 31st 2019 age policy follows that of the school system and ensures that camp participants have finished Grade One by the start of camp.  

To participate in 2020 Explorer camps children must have turned eight (8) years old by December 31st 2019. 

My child is 8 years old as of December 31st 2019. Which camp should I register them in?

This is your choice based on the needs and personality of your individual child! Both camps will be good options for this age. Here are some things to consider when registering your individual child:

• Both camps have activities designed to suit this age
• Older 8’s registering in Explorer camp allows more 6 & 7 year olds the opportunity to participate in Discovery Camp
• If your child will be 9 by the start of camp, please register them in Explorer Camp
• Eight year olds in Discovery Camp will have more skill and mastery over the activities they participate in
• Some eight year olds in Discovery Camp enjoy stepping into a mentorship role for younger participants in their group
• Eight year olds in Explorer Camp will be a little fish in a big pond. They may be in a group with 11 & 12 year olds
• Explorer Camp Activities are geared to also meet the needs of the upper age-limit campers. These activities may challenge younger group members as they refine their skills

NOTE: Due to COVID our ability to accept support/inclusion workers is more limited. Please connect directly with us to ensure arrangements can be made!

Inclusion & Support Workers

We can typically accommodate support workers. Please contact our Manager of Programming & Education at 867-334-3338 / education@yukonwildlife.ca to make arrangements.

Some things to consider:

For summer 2020, we are transporting using three 24 passenger busses, but group sizes cannot exceed 10 people (including adults).

We have a 24- passenger bus, which will carry 22 campers plus two Wildlife Educator staff. For Inclusion and Support Staff, this means that we need to make sure we have a plan for transportation, as space may be limited. The more notice we have, the easier it will be to accommodate.

For campers who may experience challenges throughout a typical school day related to learning or behavioural needs, it is fair to be prepared for this to affect their camp experience. Our goal is to do everything we can to make camp accessible for all, while ensuring the comfort and safety of all campers. Please let us know any tips or wishes you might have regarding how we can make sure your camper has the best possible experience.

NOTE: Cancellation Policy updated due to COVID

Given the uncertainty we all face, we are modifying our cancellation policy for 2020. These updates are intended to enable you to make the right choice, should COVID come into your life. As a non-profit charity in these uncertain times, our ability to absorb additional financial stress is also limited. If you need to cancel, we can provide a full refund; however, we ask that you consider leaving a portion of your registration fee invested in the program.

Our cancellation policy for Summer 2020 will now state:

• For cancellation occurring prior to the Nature Camp start date, a full refund or transfer will be given. 
• Should cancellation during a Nature Camp be required, parents/guardians can submit a request to cancel to education@yukonwildlife.ca. A prorated refund for the remaining full days (at the time of request) will be provided. 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.

If cancellation occurs TWO WEEKS OR LESS prior to the Nature Camp start date, NO REFUND OR TRANSFER will be given.

If cancellation occurs more than two weeks prior to the Nature Camp start date, an 80% refund will be provided. The Yukon Wildlife Preserve will retain a 20 per cent administrative fee.

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.

Guardians may register their child(ren) on waiting lists through the 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.

The majority of camp takes place at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, located 30 km from downtown Whitehorse. Camps also include field trips to local attractions (that fit with the camp theme).

NOTE: Due to COVID no more than 10 people will be using the Learning Centre (or any other shelters) at a time. The Preserve will have 2 additional shelters (large 20’x20′ event tents) so there are appropriate shelters for all 3 groups.

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.

NOTE: Due to COVID, the YWP will be providing daily transportation to and from town transportation via three 24 passenger busses to keep group sizes to 10 or less. End of day drop-off times have also been modified to allow for appropriate daily cleaning.

We provide daily transportation to and from town with the YWP’s 24 passenger bus. YWP staff make daily pick-ups and drop-offs at Whitehorse Elementary School.

Our staff will be at the pick-up location from 8:30am to 8:45am to pick-up your child. The bus will depart at 8:45am sharp.

Our staff will return to Whitehorse Elementary School at 3:15pm 3:45pm and you must pick up your child by 3:50pm 4:20pm. Late pick-up fees may apply.

Please ensure that your child brings everything they need for a day outdoors. This includes a backpack with:

• Rain gear;
• A hat & sunglasses;
• Sunscreen;
• Packed lunch & snacks;
• Refillable water bottle; and
• Extra change of clothes;
• Extra layers for chilly days

Other items may be encouraged for specific camps and may include PFDs (Personal Flotation Device), rubber boots, long pants, etc.

Note: We have a no electronics rule at nature camp, please encourage your children to leave their devices at home!