Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is FarmWonders Summer Camp? How to contact us?
- Can my 5 year old child come to the summer camp?
- Why does the summer camp target children age 6 to 11?
- When FarmWonder's camps are full, and/or my child is older than 11, what other Vancouver-based summer camps do you recommend?
- How many staff are on site?
- Are there animals on the farm?
- Do you provide Special Needs support?
- What is your Peanut Policy?
- Before and After Camp Supervision?
- Why is FarmWonders summer camp fee so low?
- Does your summer camp offer camper bursaries?
- What is your camp cancellation policy?
- What is your refund policy?
- When must I pay by?
- How is the summer camp connected to the University of B.C.?
1) Where is FarmWonders Summer Camp? How to contact us?
FarmWonders Summer Camp is physically located at the
UBC Farm Centre
6182 South Campus Road
Vancouver BC
Tel: 604-827-4048 (voice mail only)
Fax: 604-822-6839
But, our mailing address is:
2357 Main Mall
The University of British Columbia
Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4
The Summer Camp can be contacted via email () and snail mail.
2) Can my 5 year old child come to the summer camp?
Due to the educational nature of our summer camp and for the safety of our campers, we do not accept children below the age of 6; we also expect children to have completed kindergarten. Please do not enroll 5 year olds as experience has taught us they are not ready for this camp.
3) Why does the summer camp target children age 6 to 11?
From our experience, this age range allows older children to step into a leadership role and the younger children to learn from them. This creates a sense of care and community amongst the campers that is essential in the development of environmental stewardship. Programs are designed to challenge the older children, while allowing hands-on activities that demonstrate these principles to all ages. From building tree forts to analyzing tree-rings, different aged children can learn a variety of skills and knowledge with proper guidance.
To clarify our age policy, children eligible for the 2010 FarmWonders Summer Camps must be born on (start date of camp),1999 to (start date of camp), 2004.
4) When FarmWonder's camps are full, and/or my child is older than 11, what other Vancouver-based summer camps do you recommend?
FUN Camps is a hands-on environmental leadership summer day program that is run at UBC by Friends Uniting for Nature (FUN) Society, a BC based charitable non-profit organization. Activities include: exciting games, sports, arts, drama, hiking, creation of solar powered cars and ovens, bike maintenance workshops and gardening. The age range for the camp is 6-16. Please visit www.funcamps.ca for more information.
The Moss & Sauce Collective presents SUMMER JAM! Summer Jam is a fun, discovery-based summer day camp for children age 7 to 11 in Point Grey near Jericho Beach. Please visit their website for more information: http://summerjam.mossandsauce.com/
5) How many staff are on site?
FarmWonders Summer Camp maintains a 1:10 staff to camper ratio at all times, and will also have camp volunteers that will help supervise the campers.
6) Are there animals on the farm?
The farm maintains a flock of free-range laying hens that are integrated into the farm's crop rotation. We maintain honeybee hives on site, and sell honey at our markets. This spring we also have 2 Galloway beef cattle as part of a directed studies livestock feasability project. As the farm develops, we hope to incorporate more domestic livestock on a small scale to be part of an integrated, model sustainable agricultural system. Beyond domestic livestock, however, the farm teems with wildlife. We manage the site to maintain different types of habitats that support an amazing population of birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and small and large mammals.
For more information about the UBC Farm site, please visit http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm/faq.php
7) Do you provide Special Needs support?
Currently, as a new summer camp, we do not provide special needs support. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
8) What is your Peanut Policy?
FarmWonders Summer Camp does not limit camper nut consumption. However, for the health and safety of all our campers, we do not explicitely cook with peanuts in our cooking activities. Please note, that our kitchen is a shared space and we cannot guarantee a peanut-free environment. If your child has severe allergies, please remember to include this information in your registration and alert the FarmWonders leaders.
9) Before and After Camp Supervision?
Unfortunately, we do not provide before and after camp supervision.
10) Why is FarmWonders summer camp fee so low?
Our mission as an educational initiative promoting environmental awareness is to reach as many children as possible; therefore, we endeavor to keep the camper fee as low and as accessible as possible through the generous support of our sponsors and donors. If registrants are able to afford more for their child's summer camp experience, we strongly encourage them to donate to our Bursary Fund, the Education on the Farm Fund or the UBC Farm Fund.
11) Does your summer camp offer camper bursaries?
Yes. Register for a camp and follow the instructions to apply for a bursary at the time of registration. Please make note of the bursary application deadline.
12) What is your camp cancellation policy?
UBC Farm reserves the right to cancel a camp week by 3:00 pm one week prior to the start date. In such cases, all fees for a cancelled program will be refunded, or participants will be given the option of joining another camp week if space is available.
13) What is your refund policy?
All requests for refunds must be made in writing. Cancellations up to TWO WEEKS (14 days) before the first day of the camp week will be refunded by cheque or credit, less a $50 administrative fee per cancellation program. There are NO REFUNDS given in the two week period prior to the first day of the camp week. Pro-rating and refunds are NOT available for days absent, or for any other reasons, including injuries or illness. T-shirts are non-refundable.
14) When must I pay by?
Camper fees must be paid by credit card at time of registration. Payment can be made by cheque, however, it must be received within two weeks after registering or the spot will be offered to another camper. Please make cheques payable to "UBC Farm."
15) How is the summer camp connected to the University of B.C.?
We are a joint initiative of:
- UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems
- UBC Faculty of Education