PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU REGISTER
AGE RESTRICTIONS: Summer Camps at VanDusen Botanical Garden are run by the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association (VBGA) and are designed for children ages 5-10. Children must be 5 years of age or older on the day of the program AND have completed or be currently be attending Kindergarten.
COVID-19 SAFETY: All VBGA Youth Programs follow guidelines and recommendations from the BCCDC, Vancouver Coastal Health, WorkSafeBC, and the BC Ministry of Health to ensure that staff and participants remain safe at this time. An increased emphasis on hand hygiene and physical distancing will take place, along with a reduction of shared materials. We have increased cleaning and sanitation in camp spaces and of camp materials in accordance with the VBGA’s COVID-19 Health, Safety, and Sanitation Policy. Masks are worn by VBGA staff at all times during programs (with exceptions made for eating and drinking), and all VBGA staff are double-vaccinated. Masks are encouraged in all indoor public spaces for visitors ages 5 and up. We encourage you to send participants to camp with a mask, but additional disposable masks are available from Camps Staff. Please also note that cohort sizes will be increasing from 14 in 2021 to 24 for 2022. Campers are not required to provide proof of double-vaccination in order to attend camps, except for adults that accompanied children on international travel and have returned in the last 14 days.
PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS: Summer Camps will take place mostly outdoors - rain or shine, with some covered outdoor spaces available for lunchtime and stationary activities where physical distancing can be maintained. Please ensure campers are dressed for the weather and have additional layers or a change of clothes available if needed. To decrease use of shared indoor spaces, youth attending our programs will be using porta-potties located throughout the Garden and their accompanying outdoor hand washing stations.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: Please also note that although we strive to provide an inclusive environment for campers, we are unable to provide 1-to-1 support at this time due to our current program format. During registration, you will be asked whether the child has any allergies, medical conditions, or other specialized needs that may require support from staff. We welcome guardian-provided support aids to join children in our camps, but this must be pre-arranged with our administrative team.
Please consider these factors when determining if this program is the right fit.
MEMBER DISCOUNT CODE: Enter rebate code MEMBER at checkout to receive your discount. You must have a valid Family or Individual-plus-Child membership (valid while the child is attending camps) to qualify. You will be required to enter your membership pass number. Leave the member pass number blank if you haven't received your number yet or can't locate your pass number. We can check for validity using your name.
CANCELLATION POLICY: If you would like to cancel your registration, please provide a written request at least three weeks (21 days) in advance of the start of the program(s) to nfriedmann@vandusen.org. If we receive the request with the required notice and are able to fill the spot, we will provide a refund minus a $15 administrative fee. If we receive the request with the required notice and are unable to fill the spot, we will provide an equivalent credit to be used in future programs, valid for 365 days.
No refunds or credits (either complete or partial) will be issued for the following:
Requests made with less than three weeks’ (21 days’) notice
Requests made over the phone, by voicemail, or in person
Expulsion due to disruptive/unsafe behaviour or similar
Absence from a program due to illness or COVID-19 symptoms, injury, travel, or similar
Individual COVID-19 regulations, as mandated by the Federal and Provincial governments
As per current government orders, unvaccinated, partially-vaccinated, and fully-vaccinated children that have returned from international travel within 14 days of attending camps ARE permitted to attend camps as long as all accompanying adults are able to provide proof of at least double-vaccination status upon arrival at Gate 2. If the adults that recently returned from international travel are unable to provide proof of this vaccination status, the child/children will not be permitted into the child-care space for 14 days, and the account holder that registered the child/children will not be eligible for a refund or credit based on time missed.
Program cancellation by the VBGA due to Public Health Restrictions will result in education program credit equivalent to the value lost.
CONTACT: Natasha Friedmann (Camp Coordinator) nfriedmann@vandusen.org | 604 257 8443