AutismBC
Website: www.autismbc.ca/
Phone: 1.604.434.0880
Address:
3688 Cessna Drive
Richmond, BC, Canada
V7B 1C7
The following listings include agencies and organizations who have an offering of inclusive summer programs or services.
Please note that there may be other summer camp options not listed in this booklet, as this is not inclusive of every summer camp or service on the southern Vancouver Island. We hope that the listings provide you with references to many such camps but we encourage you to explore.
Best Coast Adventure Therapy
Website: www.bestcoastadventure.com
Contact: Meghan Cosgrove
Phone: 250-361-6793
Email: bestcoastadventure@gmail.com
Inclusive Outdoor Adventure Program
Join an inclusive nature-based summer camp which celebrates individuals of all abilities. Best Coast Adventure Therapy combines outdoor adventure activities with therapeutic processes to reach desired goals for all ages. This small-group summer camp program is designed to meet the various interests, strengths and needs of each participating individual and their family.
Nature has a prominent influence in the therapeutic process as it has been shown to improve emotional, cognitive, behavioural, spiritual, and physical well-being. These experiences can lead to positive changes and can benefit all ages with skills of awareness, regulation, coping, coordination and focus while also providing the opportunity to pursue recreational interests.
Programming can include outdoor nature exploration, recreational activities, sports, and physical education. Sports such as soccer, tennis, badminton, basketball, hockey, pickleball and archery can take place. Participants can also try water activities such as kayaking, swimming and paddleboarding. Other activities include yoga, meditation/mindfulness, hiking, scavenger hunts, nature walks, group games and more.
COST
$30/hour
(eligible for autism funding)
AGES SERVED
6+
LOCATION
Community based throughout Victoria, Saanich and the Westshore.
Registration is ongoing.
Canucks Autism Network
Website: canucksautism.ca
Phone: 1-604-685-4049
Fax: 1-604-685-4018
Email: info@canucksautism.ca
Programs for Children, Youth, Adults & Families with Autism Opportunities:
Canucks Autism Network (CAN) provides programs for individuals with autism and their families, while promoting acceptance and inclusion through community engagement and training initiatives across BC and beyond.
Programs:
For children with autism (ages 3-12), our programming focuses on sports and recreation opportunities. For youth and adults with autism (ages 13-17 and 18+) our programming focuses on providing opportunities to develop physical and mental health, arts and technology, work and volunteer skills, and social and life skills. We also offer Family Events (all ages) that provide opportunities for families with autism to enjoy a wide range of activities together throughout the year (i.e movie matinees, outdoor rec events, etc.).
*Become a CAN member in order to access program registration by visiting: canucksautism.ca/join. Some programs require members to pay a highly subsidized fee which vary by program and length as a means to ensure program sustainability. CAN does not wish a fee to act as a barrier to participation – please see payment options by visiting: canucksautism.ca/payment.
Autism Training Opportunities:
We provide training and accessibility resources for many sectors, including sport, recreation, first responders, schools, and a range of community spaces. To learn about customized training solutions, please visit: canucksautism.ca/training.
COST
$25 (Annual Membership)*
Free (family events)
AGES SERVED
3-6, 7-12, 13-17, 18+
(year-round programs)
All Ages (family events)
LOCATION
Victoria & Nanaimo
Ongoing registrations
Community Living Victoria’s Teen Community Connections
Website: www.communitylivingvictoria.ca
Contact: Rachel Knoop
Phone: 250-477-7231 local 237
Fax: 250-477-6944
Email: rknoop@clvic.ca
Teen Community Connection Summer Camps 2024
This program is run by Community Living Victoria and is subsidized through funding from the Supported Child Development Program. All activities are community-based and promote access, recreation, leisure, and FUN! Throughout the week, teens are in locations that may include local beaches and parks, recreation centres, local attractions, community events, and more. Activities may include nature walks, hiking, swimming, mini-golf, bowling, rock-climbing, physical literacy sessions (PISE), arts and crafts, cooking, theatre, movies, gardening, outdoor programs run by Power to Be, and time for leisure. Our goal is to provide a positive and welcoming environment that encourages personal growth, life-skills, and social interaction. Applicants can request up to 5 weeks of summer camp, depending on available space.
Dates: July 2 – August 23rd, 2024. Weekly, Monday to Friday (excluding stat holidays). 9am – 4pm daily.
Location is TBD
Suitable for:
Teens with intellectual disabilities aged 13-18 yrs. Applicants must register with the Supported Child Development Program through QACCH and be eligible to receive services and funding through MCFD-CYSN.
COST
5-day camps: $150
4-day camps: $120
AGES SERVED
13-18 years
LOCATION
Camp will begin and end at the Garden Activity Centre located at Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health.
Easter Seals Summer Camps
Website: eastersealsbcy.ca/summercamp/
Address:
Camp Inquiries
Phone: 604-873-1865
Fax: 604-873-0166
Email: camp@eastersealsbcy.ca
Check out Easter Seals website for details on 2024 camps, including the Virtual Camps:
**Please note: Week 5 is for Youth (6-18) at both Camp Shawnigan and Camp Winfield and is for children on the Autism Spectrum only. (This camp was made available through a partnership with Canucks Autism Network.)
AGES SERVED
12-49 years (split into two groups 12-18 and 19-49)
LOCATION
In and around Victoria. Exact locations tbd based on activities booked.
Embrace Arts: Adapted Dance and Music Camps
Website: embracearts.org/camps
Contact: Tiffany Tjosvold
Address:
Vertical Performing Arts
6021 West Saanich Road
Email: info@embracearts.org
Embrace Arts Foundation offers small scale, performing arts-based day camps for individuals of all abilities. Our camps include a wide variety of dance and music activities as well as visual arts, games, and more.
Our camps are split into three age groups: ages 5 to 10+, ages 9 – 15, and ages 14 and up
Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. Fees can be found on the website: https://www.embracearts.org/camps
AGES SERVED
5 to 10+, ages 9 - 15, and ages 14 and up
LOCATION
Vertical Performing Arts
6021 West Saanich Road
To register visit: www.embracearts.org/camps
Little Steps Therapy Services
Website: mylittlesteps.net/summer-programs/
Phone: 250.386.1171
Email: admin@mylittlesteps.net
Camp Registration will open on April 1st, 2024 at 9:00am PST
New Clients can schedule screenings NOW
Welcome to our exciting summer camp! We are thrilled to invite all registrants, whether they have a diagnosis or not, between the ages of 4-18 to come join us for a fun-filled summer adventure. Our camp is a place where children can explore and discover new things in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. We offer a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, crafts, games, and more that are designed to engage and challenge campers while encouraging them to make new friends and create lasting memories. For our teenage campers, we offer the opportunity to not only enjoy camp as a camper but also to take on minor leadership tasks within the camp setting to build their confidence and skills. If this is something that interests you, simply state it in the comments section of the registration form. We can’t wait to see you at camp!
REGISTRATION PROCESS — See website for details: https://mylittlesteps.net/summer-programs/
All clients: The registration form will be available here on the Little Steps website on April 1st, 2024. You are welcome to register for as many weeks as you are available for and that your funding/personal finances can cover. Due to the popularity of this program, you may not initially receive all of the weeks that you registered for and will be waitlisted for any remaining weeks.
The Camp Coordinator will reach out to you by mid May to inform you of which weeks you have successfully been approved for and which weeks you have been waitlisted for (with the understanding that additional weeks may be added closer to, based on any cancellations from other clients).
Weeks are specified as half-day (morning: 9:00 am-12:30 pm or afternoon: 12:30-4:00 pm) and full-day (9:00 am-4:00 pm). For the half-day weeks, you are welcome to select both a morning and afternoon slot, as well as either or, depending on your availability. 4 day weeks refer to weeks in which Monday is a statutory holiday, in which half day and full day options are available.
Children are expected to bring their own booster seats/car seats, as well as enough snacks and lunches to sustain them for the entire time that they are at camp each day.
Cancellations, Client Absences & Late Registrations: In order to withdraw your child from camp, we require advanced notice. The cancellation date is two weeks before the start of the registered week, for a full refund.
Any cancellations later than that will be charged the full camp fee for the week registered for. Any absences during the registered week (eg. due to illness) will still be billed in full.
We will try to accommodate late registrations; however, space is limited.
OneAbility is a collaborative of community partners that aims to provide leadership to enhance the adapted sport and physical activity landscape through knowledge sharing, building capacity and increasing awareness.
Stay Connected on Facebook
www.facebook.com/oneability
Find out about upcoming programs, events, services
PISE (Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence) – Summer Camps
Website: pise.ca/summer-inclusion/
Phone: 250-220-2510
Fax: 250-220-2501
Address:
4371 Interurban Rd,
Victoria BC, V9E 2C5
Email: summercamps@pise.ca
PISE Summer Camps focus on FUN ways to develop the fundamental movement skills and patterns that enable children and youth to be active for life! Whether that is learning how to throw properly or learning the correct technique of a squat, these movements are essential to being active, healthy and injury free. Participants learn a broad range of movement skills through explorative play-based activities, developing the confidence and competence to take on any challenges that they may encounter both within sports and in general day to day life. For camp descriptions, pricing, and registration info please visit the website.
Grant: https://www.pise.ca/grant/
Inclusion Support: https://www.pise.ca/summer-inclusion/
We’re proud to offer Play Your Way, a funding opportunity for children and youth under 19 years who require full or partial funding in order to participate in PISE Community Programs or Camps.
At PISE we do our best to provide inclusion support to as many participants as possible, while still providing the opportunity for participants to have the best camp experience possible! Participants are eligible for up to THREE weeks of Inclusion Support services each summer, on a first come, first serve basis. Our staff are unable to provide personal care such as toileting or feeding.
COST
Varies- Refer to website for information
AGES SERVED
3-15 years
LOCATION
Onsite Camps at PISE
Camp registration is open now.
Power To Be Adventure Therapy Society
Website: www.powertobe.ca
Contact: The Inclusive Adventures Team
Phone: 250-385-2363 or 250-507-3054
Address:
4633 Prospect Lake Road
Victoria BC, V9E 1J5
Power To Be Adventure Therapy Society
Contact: The Inclusive Adventures Team
Have A Go Days
These events are for people who are interested in a day of fun and opportunity to try new activities with Power To Be.Activities available to try include Hiking (with and without a TrailRider), Canoeing, Lawn Games, Arts & Crafts, and more! Some activities will be drop-in, while others will be facilitated by Power To Be staff. You can sign up for facilitated activities upon arrival; be sure to arrive with lots of time to sign up for an activity.
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
2024 Have A Go Dates:
-
Saturday April 13
-
Saturday July 13
-
Sunday August 11
-
Sunday September 22
-
Saturday November 2
Suitable for:
Families and individuals ages 7 and up living with physical, cognitive, health, neurological, or financial barriers, seeking access to nature
Victoria Conservatory of Music
Website: www.vcm.bc.ca
Phone: 250-386-5311 ext 2030
Address:
a) 900 Johnson St, Victoria
b) 201-1314 Lakepoint Way, Langford
Email: brodeur@vcm.bc.ca
Music Therapy Summer Camp 2024 – FREE Camp (1-12 yrs. old)
NEW SCHEDULE / NEW SESSIONS FOR 9 TO 12 WITH IMPROVISATION, JAMMING AND RECORDING
As of May 1st, please look at website for full descriptions for each age group.
Sessions will take place in groups the two first weeks of July. Please check our website for details and more information on our FREE Summer Camp!
Sessions at both Downtown and Langford/Westhills location
Dr. Johanne Brodeur to lead sessions for 1-6 years old and for the sensory groups for children with complex health, and Julien Amar to lead sessions for 7-12.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone to the camp this year!
SUITABLE FOR:
Those with exceptionalities, special abilities, conditions, or illnesses. Must be accompanied by caregiver or parent for groups up to 8 years old and for sensory groups. Please carefully read the description for our new pre-teen sessions format for 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12 years old
Music Therapy
Music therapy is for children as young as 12 months old to the elders; those of all ages with exceptionalities. Sessions take place at our 2 locations (Victoria & Langford), online, or in the community in these areas. The studios are equipped with hundreds of large and small music instruments, therapeutic equipment, recording equipment, Soundbeam (which transfers movements into sounds) and a multi-sensory studio at our Victoria site. Come play instruments, sing, dance, compose, record, improv with our incredibly dedicated Music Therapy faculty members. Sessions designed to meet specific participant’s goals.
Registration opens for the Summer camp on May 1st, 2024
https://vcm.bc.ca/program-areas/therapy/programs/#music-therapy-summer-camp. Info: vcm.bc.ca (search under the Music Therapy page or VCM Summer Intensive Programs)
https://vcm.bc.ca/program-areas/therapy/programs/#music-therapy-summer-camp. Info: vcm.bc.ca (search under the Music Therapy page or VCM Summer Intensive Programs)
COST
Offered all year round starting at $89/hr (in-house and online session) $69/hr + mileage (in-community)
AGES SERVED
1 to 100 years old
LOCATION
Victoria & Langford
Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association
Website: www.vtra.ca/summer-programming
Contact: Katleen Chateau, Participant Coordinator
Phone: 778-426-0506.
Email: admin@vtra.ca
Program Description: These camps will involve a mix of riding, stable management, horsemanship, crafts, games and activities.
Registration start dates: April 22, 2024.
- Camp dates:
- Youth (ages 6-13): July 8-12 & August 12-16. Half day camp 9am to 12:30pm. $375
- Teen (ages 13+): July 15-19 & August 19-23. Full day camp 9am to 4pm. $625
- Website link: Summer Programs | VTRA
- Eligibility criteria: Participation in camps requires completing the regular intake process for VTRA programs, including completing the physician’s forms. Those that require substantial assistance with tasks such as eating or toileting should have an aid with them at all times during camp.