Overnight

Ahh! The great outdoors! With 144 acres of ocean-front property, lush rainforest and quiet creeks, YMCA Camp Elphinstone is an ideal location for learning in the great outdoors. Located on British Columbia's beautiful Sunshine Coast, YMCA Camp Elphinstone is just two kilometres north of the Langdale Ferry Terminal and a 40-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver.

Through meaningful outdoor experiential learning, kids develop strong and healthy minds and bodies while they learn and grow with their classmates. Students are challenged outside the traditional classroom and benefit from hands-on learning as they explore the serene forests and rocky shoreline of beautiful YMCA Camp Elphinstone.

Programming is customized for each group and designed to fulfill BC Ministry of Education prescribed learning outcomes. Participants benefit from:

• Structured activities like our discovery hike or marine beach study that teach about marine wildlife or the ecosystem.
• Programming that focuses on skill development such as archery, orienteering or outdoor living skills.
• Activities like our high or low ropes courses that encourage leadership and team building.
• Water-based programming such as kayaking, canoeing and swimming.
• Games and sports with an emphasis on physical activitiy, strategy and teamwork.
• Interactive leadership sessions that focus on conflict resolution, group dynamics, public speaking and more.

Bring the museum to your classroom with our new inquiry-based education kits. Each kit contains activities, worksheets, crafts and artifacts that support core competencies and connect with the big ideas in the BC curriculum.

Navigation skills can be taught anywhere! Teach your students how sailors in the past found their way using mathematics, science and basic observations with this new education kit.

The first in a series of community Edukits and created in collaboration with members of Surrey's Punjabi community, this kit will explore aspects of history, immigration, arts, music, language, food, clothing, celebrations, stories and Surrey residents.  

Students follow the lives of three children that attended Cloverdale Elementary for a whole school year (1910-1911). From the exciting arrival of the first BC Electric Railway train to the Surrey Agricultural Fair, students discover what life was like in Surrey’s old city center more than a hundred years ago. The Edukit tells the story of Nathaniel Hunter, Ruth Isabel White, Cecil Heppell and their families, and includes storybook, touchable artifacts, comprehensive teachers’ notes and suggested extension activities. Three week loan/ $53.00

Students roll up their sleeves to assess, interpret and analyze archival documents and hands-on artifacts related to seven people of varied genders, ages, and ethnic backgrounds who lived in Surrey during World War One. The Chinese head tax, Komagata Maru incident and German internment are just a few of the challenging social and political issues during this time period that this teaching kit covers.
Three week loan / $53.00

Nordic: At Manning Park Resort, Nordic skiers can explore over 60 km of classic and skate ski groomed trails, as well as 160 km of backcountry trails. This is cross-country skiing at its finest—in forests and valleys, with a scenic mountain backdrop. Equipment rentals and lessons are available. The Nordic Centre also offers guided cross-country skiing and snowshoeing tours. 


Snowshoeing at Manning Park Resort is a fun and adventurous way to get into the park. With access to over 300km of trails for individuals of all abilities, individuals new to snowshoeing can follow marked trails through the surrounding forest.  Equipment rentals are available.

Guided excursions: We offer both day and evening excursions with our friendly and knowledgeable guides. Prices are based on group numbers, and packages are available with or without rental equipment.

Ice Skating: Ice skating at Manning Park Resort is available to all our guests when our outdoor rink is open. We also have everything you need to rent for a day of skating or a rousing game of hockey, including skates, hockey sticks, helmets and soft pucks. To protect guest safety, hard pucks are not permitted on the rink.  See our friendly staff at the Nordic Centre for all equipment rentals. Please note that access to the outdoor rink is weather dependent. The ice rink can be reserved exclusively by request. 

It is said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ but how do we actually learn from photographs?

Using images from the Archives of North Vancouver's collection, students will explore Squamish themes and stories. The photographs feature local landscapes and individuals. Students will learn to analyze each image and to record relevant observations while learning aspects of Squamish culture. Topics include family life, education and art. The Kit includes lesson plans which encourage team work, group discussion and critical thinking.

https://monova.ca/squamish-community/