WEA's Youth Hiking Summer Camp is run as a partnership between WEA and Western Educational Adventure Society (WEAS). Your youth will get to experience what Vancouver Island alpinisim is all about in this action packed, 6-day backpacking program. The mountain hiking trip takes place in the stunning alpine environment of Strathcona Provincial Park in Central Vancouver Island, near Courtenay BC, a few hours from Greater Victoria BC. We begin our hike at Raven Lodge on Mount Washington, BC, travel through the alpine meadows, pristine lakes and awe-inspiring peaks of the stunning Forbidden Plateau area. We may even summit the famed Mt. Albert Edward! While it may be a few hours from Victoria in one of WEA's vehicles, the drive is more than worth it!
This program is intended for kids with lots of energy who are physically fit and able to push themselves (within reason). For more info on physical fitness for this camp, CLICK HERE.
The WEA Expedition Summer Camp Advantage - Click here
| AGE | GENDER | PROGRAM LENGTH | TRIP LENGTH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ages 13 - 16 | Inclusive | 6 days | 5 days | |
| TIME | PRICE | |||
| Price Before May 15 | $1,050 + GST | |||
| Full Price | $1,450 + GST | |||
| PROGRAM DATES | AVAILABILITY | |||
| August 18 - 23, 2024 | Space Available | |||
| SHARE | ||||
Availability updated Apr 19, 2024. Live availability can be found on our registration software.
| SHARE | ONLINE REGISTRATION | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| REGISTER NOW |
Call us now at 250-888-1622 and talk to a real person!! or, if you can't talk now, please click on the following button to take you to the contact information survey (takes 1 to 2 minutes to complete) and we will get back to you within 2-5 business days. If you are inquiring about financial assistance, Click here.
While we may stage our Strathcona Park hiking camp at another location, we typically start and end our mountain youth hiking camp at Camp Kingswood, 611 Linnet Lane, Saanich, BC V9E 2B1. WEA's Victoria-based overnight hiking expedition program runs from 15:15 on Sunday to 15:15 on Friday. Campers spend their first day getting to know each other and preparing for the hiking trip. On Monday morning, the kids will be transported from Victoria to Mount Washington to start their hike. Families living up island may be able to pick-up their youth at Raven Lodge on Friday morning. This must be arranged in advance.
| START/END | LOCATION | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Camp Kingswood, 611 Linnet Lane, Saanich, BC V9E 2B1 | 15:15 |
| End | Camp Kingswood, 611 Linnet Lane, Saanich, BC V9E 2B1 | 15:15 |
Typically we require families to pick-up and drop-off their kids directly at our staging location (above). If you need transportation for your camper to and from camp or are wishing to pick you camper up on the final day of the program up-island, please CONTACT US.
Below is an informational package for our Mountain hiking program. It is designed to give you a better idea about our overnight hiking summer camp program, including pick-up times, activities, etc. Please note that schedules, days, activities & trip locations may vary depending on the weather, logistics, group input and group dynamics.
As we operate our programs outside and often in wilderness environments, it is essential that all families pack all items on our packing list. Failing to do so may compromise your childs safety and experience. Base items can be rented or loaned depending on your financial situation. Other items can be purchsed from WEA, for more information click the rental gear & add-on button below.
MOUNTAIN PACKING LIST RENTAL GEAR & ADD-ONS
We believe that youth programming should be safe, fun and staffed by the best people in the industry.
"My 14 year old son had a great time at summer camp. It was a multi-age camp which is a bit unusual, but provides a unique experience for kids to learn and be a leader outside of their usual school age cohort. I like that the camp is fairly low-key and provides time for reflection and personal growth. I imagine this may be a less competitive atmosphere than some of the larger camps. The programming was good and varied. A great bonus from the camp was my son willingly offered to take out the garbage and recycling when he arrived home. He has continued to offer to do chores and contribute more to the household routines! Thanks Landon!"
- Karla Benson
Call us now at 250-888-1622 and talk to a real person!! or, if you can't talk now, please click on the following button to take you to the contact information survey (takes 1 to 2 minutes to complete) and we will get back to you within 2-5 business days. If you are inquiring about financial assistance, Click here.
Our mountain hiking expedition for kids in Strathcona Park is a super exciting program for youth. The group hikes through unique, delicate, alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems that take years to grow. They do this while experiencing stunning panoramic vistas and pristine alpine lakes. When tourists visit Vancouver Island, they think of rainforests and wild beaches. This trip gives kids a chance to see the vast alpine terrain of Vancouver Island, the other, lesser known side of Vancouver Island that is just as amazing. The experience doesn’t stop there! Campers learn about nature, including the various forms of terrestrial and alpine flora and fauna, while gaining backcountry camping skills, leadership skills and more – skills they won't even know that they have mastered!
The first day and a bit of the program is all about preparing for the trip. How do we pack bags? What gear do we need? Who is carrying what?
Strathcona Provincial Park - Official BC Parks Website: Click Here
Modern youth do not get very many opportunities to learn life skills such as how to lead others, manage conflict and think for themselves. Western Education Adventure’s Victoria BC hiking summer camp focuses specifically on these skills.
During the Mt. Albert Edward and Lakes Area hiking trip, participants are split into pairs. Daily, a pair is selected to be responsible for leading the entire group, acting as the hike leaders. In the evening, the pair debriefs their experience, talking about what they learned and how it can be applied in the future. In short, participants learn what it means to be an adult!
Youth learn many of the skills required to run a successful backcountry hiking trip. Everything from making a meal plan to planning a route to cleaning up after it's all done. Kids come away from this experience with a serious backcountry skill set.
Leadership • Decision Making • Conflict Management • Group Management • Route Panning • Navigation • Hiking • Camping Practices • Food packing • Cooking • Fire building • Knife and Stove Safety • Backcountry Safety • Backcountry Equipment Maintenance
Western Educational Adventures takes safety seriously. Not only do we want our participants to have an exceptional time, but just as importantly, we want them to return home safe and sound. All of Western Educational Adventures staff are certified in high level first aid and have years of experience managing risk in the outdoors. You won’t find a more qualified staff team anywhere else!
"Landon took our family on a sea kayak paddle starting out of Victoria. This was our first time sea kayaking but we felt confident in Landon keeping our trip safe and enjoyable. In little time we were safely paddling and navigating the water. It was a great day!"
-Alex Damjanovic
We believe that a good experience starts with good nutrition. Proper diet and eating habits are lacking in today’s society - a result of readily available fast foods, processed foods and a lack of nutritional education. We strive to provide quality, simple, wholesome meals with limited processed ingredients – in addition to the occasional smores and limited other tasty treats. This is part of why we include our participants in all meal planning, purchasing and cooking.
We are also very experienced in dealing with dietary restrictions and serious food allergies. Great care is taken to avoid serious participant food allergens whenever possible. Where this is not possible, we take great care to avoid cross contamination of ingredients.
"Landon guided an overnight trip for our family on the Juan de Fuca trail. Healthy eating is important to us. Landon helped our kids build an outdoor oven and they were soon baking an amazing dinner. It’s an incredible feeling knowing that you can look after yourself in the outdoors."
-Carole Damnjanovic
If you want to sign up, the process is simple. Here’s what you do:
Fill in your email and create a password
Input your information. This is a one time step, your info will be there for the rest of the summer!
Input your child (or children's information), select the program(s) you wish to register for.
**All personal information provided will not be shared with third parties unless it is relevant to the participants well being or quality of experience**
Call us now at 250-888-1622 and talk to a real person!! or, if you can't talk now, please complete the following contact information survey (takes 1 to 2 minutes to complete) and we will get back to you within 2-5 business days. If you are inquiring about financial assistance, Click here.
WEA climb to new heights, join us!
OK, I am curious about this hiking program!
It's not all complete wilderness....
Just hangin' out on our way up Albert Edward!
I feel like that is Mount Washington but something is missing.....
Wow I made it all the way up here!!
Go team, but we may need a break...
This hike rocks!
There are some flat spots in the mountains...
That looks an aweful lot like a castle frozen in stone.
This trip brought our friendship to new heights!
We have to go all the way up there?!
The beauty of this place is blinding!
We were all the way up there! I guess it's almost all over....
