Many parents in Victoria are looking for fun activities to keep the children fit and occupied over the summer school break.  There are so many options for summer sports camps for children in Victoria BC that you will surely be able to find something to suit your child, whether they are exploring a variety of sports, or honing their skills at a high level.

There are programs for younger children, like:

Active Kids – Multi Sport – offered at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre for children aged 5-8.  This half-day camp focusses on developing a love of physical activity at an early age. Classes include games, mini skills lessons and a series of high energy activities.

Sporty Kids Camp – a program for 5-7 year olds at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence that works on your childs’ overall development of fundamental movement skills like running, jumping, catching, kicking and throwing in a well–structured, fun environment utilizing a wide range of sports, games and drills.

There are gender-based programs like:

Abstract Volleyball Camp – for boys aged 12-15.  Led by Jesse Knight who has 15 years of CIS, NCAA, and International Coaching experience, this camp will also include nutritional and mental training strategies, leadership training, a recruiting seminar and yoga training geared towards improving an athlete’s performance.  This program is also offered separately to girls.

Strikezone Girls Softball – at Juan de Fuca Rec Centre, this program teaches girls aged 8-12 how to throw and catch, hit, base run, the rules of the game, and game tactics all in a fun atmosphere.

Summer Soccer Camp – offered by EM Sports Academy is an advanced week long summer camp provide a unique training camp for serious elite male or female players aged 9-17 looking for advanced soccer skills/fitness/agility/power/tactical and technical training.

This representation of summer sports programs for children in Victoria BC is just a drop in the overflowing bucket of possibilities.  Check out your local recreation centre or the website Childs Play 101 for more.

Families that are looking for multi-day summer camps for their children can choose from a number of options in or near Victoria BC.  Some of these choices include:

Horne Lake Adventure Weekend Mother Daughter Camp for girls aged 8-16 and their Mom.  This weekend camp offers outdoor adventure activities like rock rappelling and caving and finishes up with a relaxing soak in the Tigh Na Mara Grotto Spa.  For more info and registration visit the Horne Lake Outdoor Center website.  They also host a weekend Father Son camp and a single parent and kid’s camp.

Adventurous teens 15-17 yrs old might enjoy 5 days of sea kayaking on the rugged West Coast.  Sea lions, seals, blowholes, intertidal explorations, sandy beaches, sea caves, sea arches and maybe even a whale are the highlights of this voyage.  This, along with other marine adventure camps is organized by Glenlyon-Norfolk School.  You can get more info here.

Pioneer Pacific Camp – a Christian faith-based camp, organizes a 10 day sailing adventure in Desolation Sound for teens aged 15-18 yrs.  Spend your days making memories and friendships and learning the skills of navigation, rope work and sail handling.

For younger teens, a five day program culminating in an overnight kayak trip to the beautiful Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is a great introduction to kayaking.  No experience necessary!  This camp is organized by Ocean River Sports.

Zajac Ranch for Children in Mission, BC offers a range of summer camps for children with serious and chronic illnesses and disabilities who might not otherwise have a chance to enjoy a summer camp experience.

Camp Narnia in beautiful Nanoose Bay, a short drive up Vancouver Island provides a summer camp experience for children in a rural setting, offering programs that would build new skills and attitudes, enhance self-esteem, develop independence and create a sense of personal well-being and enjoyment.

This is just a taste of the options for multi day summer camps for children living in Victoria BC.  For a more complete listing please visit Childs Play 101.  There’s no need for your children’s summer vacation to be long and boring – send them to summer camp!

With summer fast approaching have you decided what to do with your children when school gets out?  Here is some information about park and recreation centre summer day camps in Victoria BC to help you.

There are many options when it comes to summer programs and camps for children in Victoria BC, and the day camp programs offered at the local parks and recreation centres are among the most accessible.  Some of these programs offer season-long daily daycare for working families.

Local recreation centres offering summer day camps in Victoria include:

Gordon Head Recreation Centre and Commonwealth Place Recreation Centre run the same general daycamp programs for 51/2 to 8 year old children all summer long.

The Arts Centre at Cedar Hill offers day camps for children 6-12 yrs old with artists and art educators providing supervised activities to keep your child active, energized and imaginative!

Oak Bay Recreation Centre offers programs for preschoolers (3-6 yrs), school aged (6-12 yrs), and teens (10+ yrs) children throughout the summer.

West Shore Parks and Recreation Society provides all sorts of summer programs at its facilities including; Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, Bear Mountain Arena, JDF Golf Course and Centennial Centre.

Panorama Recreation has over 50 exciting camps this summer for children living on the Saanich Peninsula!

Esquimalt Parks and Recreation provides a number of day camps for local children at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre and Archie Browning Sports Centre

The City of Victoria offers ‘Crystal Camps’ the majority of which are located at the Crystal Pool facility, with others situated at local Victoria community centres.

Most of these recreation centres have programs that take place in whole or in part at nearby community parks.  After all, it’s a good time of the year to get the kids outside to play!  With so many options, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding park and recreation centre summer day camps in Victoria BC for your children.

One year after a terrible accident that saw thousands of litres of fuel spilled into the river at Goldstream Provincial Park, 3000 Coho salmon fry were released into the river as part of the ongoing remediation work.

Goldstream Provincial Park holds a special place in the hearts of many people living in Victoria.  There are few places where, very close to a major city, people can visit and see the miracle of salmon migration amidst the ethereal beauty of a mature west coast temperate rainforest, or explore a sheltered estuary brimming with life, or hike to the top of a mountain to enjoy fantastic views.

When the tanker truck crashed last year, spilling its toxic load, many were horrified at the thought of the damage done to this pristine park.  Repairs and remediation began immediately and the combined efforts of Columbia Fuels (the company whose driver crashed the tanker) and the Ministry of Environment have restored much of the area to, while not exactly its original state, at least a much less toxic, recovering natural habitat.

Around 617 tonnes of contaminated soil has been removed and water quality has improved dramatically, according to provincial government testing.  According to the Goldstream Hatchery, chum salmon returned to spawn last fall, despite poor conditions, but chinook and coho numbers were well off.

Cleanup efforts are ongoing, and expected to take a number of years.  Columbia Fuels has committed to continue working with the provincial government to ensure the restoration of Goldstream Provincial Park.  People who are living in Victoria are relieved to see that this work is being done, and no doubt will be monitoring the situation.  We hold this park in high esteem, and expect no less!

Yachting; the very word conjures up the fresh scent of salt air, the sound of snapping sails and visions of sunlight on sparkling water.  Perched on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria BC offers ample opportunities to get out on the water, and boasts no less than three yachting organizations.

The Royal Victoria Yacht Club founded on June 8, 1892, and over the years has been a regular host of the annual Pacific International Yachting Association Regatta and conducted international world championship events. Since 1930, the Club has organized the Swiftsure International Yacht Race, now the largest annual offshore yacht racing event held in the Pacific Northwest.  The RVYC has also been represented in many world class international regattas. In 1988, a junior member was selected for the Canadian Olympic Team, and several members participated in a Canadian challenge for the America’s Cup in 1987. Since that time, our sailors have had continuing successes, including a bronze medal at the Olympics, the current Women’s World Laser Champion, and many other high placings in national and international regattas.

The Royal Victoria Yacht Club owns two local venues: a main clubhouse and foreshore facility maintained at 3475 Ripon Road in Victoria, BC located on picturesque Cadboro Bay; and a smaller facility located in Tsehum Harbour on the Saanich Peninsula just north of Sidney, B.C

While there is a waitlist for membership in this popular organization, new applications are being accepted, and some activities, such as the instructional sailing programs are available to both members and non members.

The Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club (SNSYC) was founded in 1981 by a group of people with an interest in boating. From the beginning it was intended to be an affordable and accessible club serving both the sail boat and powerboat communities. The club has about 800 members and an active and evolving junior program. Our beautiful clubhouse is located on the west shore of Tsehum Harbour.

SNSYC’s on-water activities include cruises, racing, junior sailing and junior summer school programs. The junior summer school is open to members and non-members alike and trains about 200 youths between the ages of 8 and 18 each year.

The Canadian Forces Sailing Association (Esquimalt Squadron) is located at Munroe Head on the north side of Esquimalt Harbour.  The CFSA supports recreation, primarily for military personnel of CFB Esquimalt, their families and civilian members of DND, their dependants and a wide range of employees of Federal Government agencies.  The Victoria Branch of the Disabled Sailing Association of British Columbia also finds a home here.

The main purpose of the CFSA is to offer training, recreational and competitive sailing opportunities for serving military members and their families.

CFSA celebrated its 60^th Anniversary in 2008 with berthage for about 130 sailboats and around 300 active members.  CFSA is an affiliated club of the Canadian Yachting Association (CYA).

People who are living in Victoria BC are fortunate to be surrounded by the ocean and to have these diverse choices in yachting clubs when they want to get out on the water.

Victoria BC is known as the Garden City, due to a temperate climate that allows people who are living in Victoria to garden pretty much year round.  More and more people are exploring vegetable gardening, whether for exercise, tasty fresh veggies and fruit, or to save a few bucks at the supermarket. But what if your home is an apartment, condo or townhome with little or no growing space?  Community gardens provide “room to grow” and in Victoria they are very popular.

The trouble is, demand is higher than supply, so many are forced to add their names to a waiting list for a community garden plot.  At present there are about 1,000 garden plots in Greater Victoria, according to 2010 estimates made by the Capital Regional District (CRD), within about 34 community gardens.

A new community garden is under construction at Cecelia Ravine Park near the Gorge Waterway.  Over the past few weekends fifty-five volunteers have put in many long hours constructing 24 above-ground garden plots.

A lucky few will be planting these new plots soon, but many more are waiting their turn.  New projects are in high demand and wait lists for plots stretch anywhere from three to seven years, according to LifeCycles Project Society, a non-profit organization that promotes food security in Victoria.

The municipality of Saanich contains several community gardens, including:

• Agnes Street Gardens has been in continuous operation for over 30 years, managed by the Agnes Street Gardener’s Association. There are approximately 140 plots (some shared) 90 sq. metres (1,000 sq. feet) in size. Visitors are welcome. Gardeners rent plots for the calendar year.  The garden is located at 649 Agnes Street.

Contacts:

www.members.shaw.ca/agnesstcg/

agnesstcg@shaw.ca

Dorothy Fitzsimmons 250-474-6215 (membership/rental enquiries

• Capital City Allotment Association  - The allotment gardens been around since the 1970s.This community garden is located on land between the Pat Bay Highway and Carey Road with more than 140 plots (some shared as half plots) that are typically 90 sq. metres (1,000 sq. feet) in size. 641 Kent Road

Contacts:

Gwen Smith, President 250-589-0592

yllaurenaugusta@gmail.com

With demand outstripping supply for community garden plots, it’s good to see groups like the LifeCycles Project Society organizing to support the creation of more community gardens.  Hopefully we will see even more initiatives to address the needs of people living in apartments, condos or townhomes who want access to a plot for growing some fresh, healthful food.  After all, if you’re living in Victoria BC, the garden city, you might want to grow a garden!

Victoria BC was made for cycling!  Diverse topography and a mild climate that allows for year round cycling means that Victoria is popular with those who like to get around on two wheels.

In fact, Victoria is considered the cycling capital of Canada, and hosts Canada’s biggest cycling celebration, the Victoria International Cycling Festival.  For 2012, the festival runs from June 1-24, with pedal-pushers from all over converging on the city to enjoy dozens of different cycling events and activities including:

• The Russ Hays Time Trial, a 5km race along Victoria’s scenic oceanfront on Dallas Road. Known as the “Race of Truth”, it pits competitors against the clock along the course at breakneck speeds of up to 60 km/hr. Whether you are a beginner or expert cyclist, this event challenges each racer.
• The Condo Group – Bastion Square Grand Prix has been a staple in B.C.’s cycling history for 19 years. Past winners have included several Olympians — and Victorians. Racing on a short, fully enclosed 900 metre loop through Victoria’s historic Bastion Square, this European-style event features thrills and spills. Watch out for the infamous “Crash Corner” at Yates and Wharf Streets and witness the “prime” and finish line sprints at Fort and Langley Streets.  Thousands of spectators line the route each year to watch riders reach speeds of 65 km/hr, side to side, wheel to wheel.
• The Hotel Grand Pacific Harbour Sprint Series returns to the Victoria International Cycling Festival in 2012! Watch local and international favourites compete in a series of leg-tearing ¼ mile drag races in front of the picturesque Provincial Legislature.
• Jumpship 2012 showcases the worlds best freeride mountain bike riders competing in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. This exciting event features intrepid riders who will battle for cash and bragging rights on the surface of a floating barge in Canada’s most beautiful city.
• The 2012 Victoria Gran Fondo is where experienced cyclists put all those weekend rides to good use; a full day in the saddle touring Southern Vancouver Island. This year we are introducing segment timing so you can separate time spent at support stations from time spent riding. It may take a little longer to get final results out, but will provide a more accurate view of your efforts.
• The Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria-Powered by GoodLife Fitness is a world class, fully supported mass participation road cycling event that offers all levels of cyclist the same cycling experience that Tour de France heros like Ryder Hesjedal get to experience.  Participants can choose from three distances-140km, 100km, and 50km.
• The Family Bike Festival invites everyone out for fun events geared towards family cycling. Events include a bike rodeo, training wheel freedom, family bike equipment showcase, on site bike mechanic, helmet fitting, learn to play bike polo, mini races, ‘bling your bike’ contest and much more.

Cycling is just one of many outdoor activities for which Victoria is famous. Come ride with thousands of other like minded cyclists, and see why Victoria is the “Cycling Capital of Canada”.

Track and Field in Victoria BC is getting under way!  The season runs from mid April through July. During April, May and June the Vancouver Athletics Association (VIAA) clubs host seven track meets at different locations on Vancouver Island. Athletes, 9 years and older, compete against their peers in a wide range of events. Athletes may also travel to the mainland for competitions. In July, qualifying athletes compete at the BC and Canadian Championships.

Track and Field clubs in the Greater Victoria area include:

Victoria Track and Field Club is a non-profit, competitive track and field club which has been operating in Victoria for over 50 years. The club is involved in training athletes, coaches and officials in the Greater Victoria area.  Training sessions are held at the Oak Bay Secondary School track and field facility on Tuesday and Thursday nights.  Visitors and those interested in joining the club are welcome to come out and meet with us at the track.  For general inquiries about our programs contact:  saraandjo@shaw.ca or trackvictoria@shaw.ca

Peninsula Track and Field Club provides an opportunity for athletes from the Saanich Peninsula to participate in the sports of track and field and cross country running. The club’s emphasis is on personal development by athletes at all levels of ability. We encourage participation in club activities by athletes of all ages, 6 years and older.  The club practices at the Blue Heron Track (by Parkland School). Some of the cross-country training is done at the Saanichton Fairgrounds and Centennial Park.  Club President Ravi Gunasinghe can be contacted at:  carolravi@shaw.ca

Pacific Athletics Track and Field Club For information about Pacific Athletics Track and Field Club contact:  ronparker66 at shaw.ca

If you or anyone in your family is interested in track and field in Victoria BC, contact one of these local clubs to find more information or register as a member.

If you’re looking for a summer activity to keep you children busy and fit this upcoming summer, you should investigate summer swimming programs in Victoria BC.  The British Columbia Summer Swimming Association (BCSSA) operates a comprehensive learn to swim and competitive swimming program that runs from May through August each year, culminating in provincial championships for those who qualify.

The BCSSA promotes, and encourages the development of athletes and volunteers through participation in speed swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming.  Summer swimming is a great option for kids who play other sports and helps them to build their fitness as well as learning valuable ( some would say necessary) swimming skills.

In the Vancouver Island region there are 10 summer swim clubs, with three operating in the Greater Victoria area, including the:

GreaterVictoria Aquatics Society– aka the Juan de Fuca Royals is a summer swim club that holds practices at:

• Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre Pool
• 1767 Island Highway,
• Colwood, BC, and

• Naden Pool
• Building 88, CFB Esquimalt
• Esquimalt, BC

For more information about our club, or to register, please contact

• Kevin Stacey, Registrar
• 250-474-7602
• swimvictoria@ymail.com 

Oak Bay Orcas– swim club, established in 1997, swims out of:

• Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre
• 2275 Quadra Street
• 250.361.0732, and

• Oak Bay Recreation Centre
• 1975 Bee Street, Victoria BC, V8R 5E6
• 250-595-SWIM (7946)

Saanich Peninsula Piranhas– summer swim club based out of:

• Panorama Recreation Centre
• 1885 Forest Park Drive
• North Saanich, BC
• V8L 4A3
• Tel: 250.656.7271

Summer swimming in Victoria BC at any of these clubs focusses on learning to swim with confidence and enjoy the excitement of competition in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Swimmers make new friends and develop valuable life skills such as teamwork, goal setting, and sportsmanship.  To register your children for the upcoming season contact the summer swimming club nearest you.

Along with other sports more traditionally associated with spring, the Greater Victoria Minor Football Association is gearing up for the season.  The GVMFA has been providing children between the ages of 7 and 14 the opportunity to learn and play football for the past 18 years.

The spring football season runs from March through May, focussing on teaching youth the principles of fair play, sportsmanship, teamwork and friendly competition.  This year the season kicks off with a Preseason Jamboree on March 23-25 at Royal Athletic Park.

Regular games take place at a number of locations throughout Greater Victoria including:

Windsor Park – 2544 Windsor Road

Directions – Drive east along Oak Bay Avenue (towards Beach Drive), turn right onto Hampshire Road, turn left on Windsor Road. Windsor Park is on the right side at the corner of Windsor Road and Transit Road.

Copley Park – Parkridge Street

Directions – Driving North on Glanford Avenue (Towards Royal Oak), turn left onto Vanalman. Follow road until till you come to Parkridge and turn right. The Park is to the left.

Coming from Colwood: Turn left off Highway driving to Victoria onto Wilkinson Road. Continue driving down Wilkinson Road. Turn right onto Mann Ave. Turn right again onto Vanalman. You will come up to Parkridge and there is a “Copley Park” sign on the corner.

Coming from Quadra Street: Driving down Quadra from Victoria you will enter Royal Oak. You will cross a bridge. You will want to be in the left hand turn lane that will turn into Glanford Street. Driving down Glanford you will turn right onto Vanalman. Follow road until till you come to Parkridge and turn right. The Park is to the left.

Royal Athletic Park – 1014 Caledonia Avenue

Directions – Drive South on Blanchard Street just before Downtown Victoria, turn left onto Caledonia at the Save on Foods Center. Drive 2 blocks, it is on the left hand side.

Greenglade Community Center – 2151 Lannon Way

Directions – Take the Pat Bay Highway towards Sidney. Just before Sidney turn left onto McTavish Road. Turn right onto Canora Road (keep right at fork in road continuing on Canora).  Turn right onto Northbrook Drive. Turn right onto Lannon Way.

McAdam Park, Cowichan – 1080 Wharncliffe Road

Directions – Coming from Victoria, turn right onto Trunk Rd (lights and a first choice haircutters for landmarks), right again at the next set of lights which is Mckinstry and finally a left onto Wharncliffe and we are about a block down on the left hand side

Eagle Ridge Community Center – 1089 Langford Parkway

Directions – Coming from Victoria, follow the Trans Canada Highway north. Take exit #14 and stay in Sooke lane to head south on Millstream. Turn right on Langford Parkway (just before Superstore). Follow Parkway to the end

Belmont Park (Gear Up Trailers)

Directions – From Victoria, go north on Hwy 1, take Colwood exit just after Victoria General Hospital. Follow road passing Juan de Fuca Rec Center. Just past JDF turn left onto Ocean Boulevard. Follow road until you come to the old firehall on the right. Turn right at firehall, trailers are behind it.

Edward Milne School – 6218 Sooke Road

Directions – Head out onto Sooke Rd. (Heading to Colwood). As you travel on Sooke Rd you will near Sooke High School (it is on the right hand side of the road). Edward Milne is right before you reach the bridge and just before Sooke River Road.

Now you know where to go to see (or play) minor football in Victoria BC.  For more details visit the Greater Victoria Minor Football Association website.