Nature Camps

We are optimistic that camps will be a delightful part of our summer this year. The Preserve’s Operational Plan for camps in 2021 will be submitted to YG’s COVID Team in the weeks to come. The plan will detail how camps will be carried out (including cleaning schedules, approach to group management, etc) and will follow the guidelines for Summer Camps provided at yukon.ca/covid-19. 

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:

There will be a total of 22 campers and 3 YWP staff.

Decisions are being made regarding how safe physical distancing will be supported to protect the health of your children and our team. Masks will be required, regardless of age, for significant portions of the activities throughout the day and on the bus without exception.

Transportation:

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

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? (This may change depending on restrictions.)
• 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 an extra 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:

Decisions are being made regarding shelters and toilet facilities. Updates will be announced as soon as the information is available.

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.

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 continue to 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 due to COVID-19, we can provide a full refund; however, we respectfully invite you to consider leaving a portion of your registration fee invested in the program if this is an option for you. Our cancellation policy for Summer 2021 will now state:

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 14th 2021 – August 13th 2021. 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 $290 + 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 to be provided to members 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 to be provided. Memberships are good for 1 year from the date of purchase. Find out more about YWP memberships here.

To participate in 2021 Discovery camps children must have turned six (6) years old by December 31st 2020. The December 31st 2020 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 2021 Explorer camps children must have turned eight (8) years old by December 31st 2020. 

My child is 8 years old as of December 31st 2020. 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: If your child benefits from an inclusion and support worker in school, we welcome this to continue in camp! Please connect directly with us to ensure arrangements can be made!

Inclusion & Support Workers

We can typically accommodate support workers. If a typical school day would not be accomplished without a support worker, it is very important to communicate this in advance. Please contact our Manager of Programming & Education at 867-334-3338 / education@yukonwildlife.ca to make arrangements.

Some things to consider:

For summer 2021, we have a 24-passenger bus, which will carry 22 campers plus 2 Wildlife Educator staff. For Inclusion and Support Staff, this means that we need to make sure we have a plan for transportation, as space will 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 essential to be prepared for this to affect their camp experience. Please communicate this prior to the first day of camps, so that staff can prepare to do their best. 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 continue to 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 due to COVID-19, we can provide a full refund; however, we respectfully invite you to consider leaving a portion of your registration fee invested in the program if this is an option for you. Our cancellation policy for Summer 2021 will now state:

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).

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, masks will be mandatory when the YWP will be providing daily transportation to and from town via our 24 passenger bus. End of day drop-off times have also been modified to allow for appropriate daily cleaning.

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 daily backpack with:

• Rain gear;
• Good sturdy shoes that they can run in;
• A hat, jacket & sunglasses;
• A mask and a spare mask;
• Sunscreen;
• Packed lunch, water & 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!