In a spectacular oceanfront setting at the edge of Maple Mountain on Vancouver Island, Camp Qwanoes offers kids an ideal opportunity to experience unique adventures and connect with others.
At camp kids can just be kids and enjoy an escape from our fast-paced, plugged-in world.
Over 75 activities are available for campers who come from Vancouver Island, Greater Vancouver and beyond. In the words of a camper, "The Aqua-Park, challenge course, and land activities are all so different and amazing and there's something for everyone."
As part of the camp's 50th anniversary celebration in 2016, a breathtaking, 1,000-foot double zip line known as the Jet Stream was added, where campers fly from the top of the bank overlooking the ocean to a brand-new tower at Qwanoes Beach in the heart of the Aqua-Park.
From this tower, called the Beach Port, campers can try out a giant rope swing, dive or jump off, or ride another zip line to the beach.
"At the beach you can go wakeboarding, jump on floating trampolines, splash down floating slides or play on a giant floating teeter totter with your friends," says executive director Scott Bayley. "You can even scale a 14-foot tall iceberg or soar through the air off a 40-foot blob."
A number of exciting plans are in the works for summer 2017, including a major addition to the challenge course called the Airwalk Village.
"We always offer new adventures each year," says Bayley. "We love to get ideas from campers and staff and see if we can make them reality."
While making new discoveries and learning new skills, campers make friends and grow in confidence.
Last summer, over 4,000 campers from a wide variety of backgrounds came to camp and were served by staff from 12 countries.
One camper said, "I feel really accepted here by all my leaders and my friends. I made so many new ones."
Another said, "I have this confidence in me now that I just can't explain."
Speaking of the impact camp has on kids, Bayley says, "What really makes a week at Qwanoes so special is that we love kids. Our staff work together as a team to provide the greatest week of a child's life. Qwanoes is a safe place where kids are not only accepted but valued."
Camp Qwanoes, a Christian camp, is located about an hour north of Victoria in Crofton. Check out a summer 2017 video at www.qwanoes.ca/summer/media.
