Evans Lake Forest Education Society

Yes. During programs that are run by our association we require one lifeguard (over the age of 19) for every 40 swimmers.

During programs run by our association we require an adult supervisor and the instructor must be adequately trained. Our summer camp staff are trained at the beginning of each year.  All participants always wear a PFD while in and around the canoes.

Every cabin has 1 cabin leader that works with the campers during the day, and sleeps in the cabin with the campers at night.

No, please do not bring food to camp as it could be problematic for other campers with severe food allergies. We are also a peanut and tree nut free zone. All meals are provided by our kitchen team.  Food left in cabins attracts wildlife. During Summer Camp, food brought up by campers will be taken away upon arrival.

The cabin leader that is staying in the cabin is the first to deal with a situation. If additional help is needed, instructors are sleeping only a few meters away from all of the cabins.  We have clear emergency procedures which all staff receive training for.

The Squamish General Hospital is located just 20 kilometers away. If there is an emergency, an ambulance can come directly into camp. There is also a medical clinic in Squamish for minor injuries.

No. But because we live in the forest there is always an opportunity that an animal may be seen. Camp staff are trained in dealing with all the wildlife and we take many preventative measures to assure your safety.

The Evans Lake staff has special training and procedures to follow during an emergency. Our staff will help make sure everyone is safe.

Campers are welcome to join a camp session as long as they turn the listed age group within the calendar year (ie. a 12 year old child with a birthday in December would be able to do OAK, and Teen Camp this summer, as they turn 13 this year)

OVERNIGHT CAMPS

Old Yale Road School

10135-132 St, Surrey (132nd Street & Old Yale Road, 1km West of King George Hwy)

Departs for Camp: 10:00AM       Return from Camp (Approximate time): 5:30PM

Patterson Skytrain Station

Located across from Central Park on Beresford Street at Patterson Street

Departs for Camp: 10:30AM      Return from Camp (Approximate time): 5:00PM

Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal

Meet the bus at the entrance to the Foot Passenger loading area.

Departs for Camp: 11:00AM

• If arriving on the ferry, arrival should be planned for no later than 10:45AM or the first ferry prior to that time.

Return from Camp (Approximate time): 4:30PM

• If taking a ferry home, campers will be placed on the first ferry departing 15 minutes after the bus arrives.

Sea to Sky Hotel

40330 Tantalus Way, Garibaldi Highlands (Easy access off of Highway 99, 4km north of downtown Squamish)

Departs for Camp: 12:00PM Return from Camp (Approximate time): 3:30PM

DAY CAMPS

Old Yale Road School

10135-132 St, Surrey (132nd Street & Old Yale Road, 1km West of King George Hwy)

Departs for Camp: 10:00AM       Return from Camp (Approximate time): 3:30PM

Patterson Skytrain Station

Located across from Central Park on Beresford Street at Patterson Street

Departs for Camp: 10:30AM      Return from Camp (Approximate time): 3:00PM

Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal

Meet the bus at the entrance to the Foot Passenger loading area.

Departs for Camp: 11:00AM

• If arriving on the ferry, arrival should be planned for no later than 10:45AM or the first ferry prior to that time.

Return from Camp (Approximate time): 2:30PM

• If taking a ferry home, campers will be placed on the first ferry departing 15 minutes after the bus arrives.

Sea to Sky Hotel

40330 Tantalus Way, Garibaldi Highlands (Easy access off of Highway 99, 4km north of downtown Squamish)

Departs for Camp: 12:00PM Return from Camp (Approximate time): 1:30PM

The Evans Lake Forest Education Society is proud to uphold human rights, values the inclusion of all members of our community and strives to create a safe and fun environment for everyone to explore forests.

We aim to create a welcoming environment irrespective of someone’s real or perceived sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, in particular but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, Two-Spirit, queer, and those who are questioning (LGBTTQ+).  As an organization that recognizes everyone’s inherent uniqueness and value, we have a responsibility to create as safe a space as possible for our community.

We recognize that aspects of our infrastructure do emphasize gender binaries (such as gendered washrooms and cabins), but we pledge to accommodate people on a case-by-case basis, as a solution that works for one may not work for another.

As communities and people change, so too will terms and definitions.  In that spirit, we refer readers to definitions commonly available in documents such as the ones listed below in the Links section.

Policy

Evans Lake is committed to:

• Self-identification and determination – an individual is the authority on their own gender;
• Confidentiality – that it is protected and respected;
• Encourage open communication with anyone who requires accommodation to ensure the best experience possible;
• Define appropriate language and behaviour expectations prior to arrival at camp through our orientation materials, and once campers arrive at camp in our first day orientation;
• Ensuring that our site infrastructure is welcoming and aligns wherever possible with this policy; and
• Ensure that our staff team has appropriate training that aligns with our policies and the needs of our community.

 This policy applies to all members of the Evans Lake community including, but not limited to, campers, staff, volunteers, board members, contractors, parents, guests and all other persons who are invited to or who work on Evans Lake property.  This policy also applies to harassment which may take place outside of Evans Lake property but which has the effect of or results in adversely affecting Evans Lake’s camp environment.

 Links:

• Vancouver School Board’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities policy
• Sea-to-Sky School District’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity policy
• Promoting Trans-Literacy Supplementary Resources
• Ottawa-Carleton School Board’s Gender Identity and Gender Expression policy
• Girl Guides’ Guidelines for the Inclusion of Transgender Members 
• Toronto School board’s Guidelines for the Accommodation of Transgender and Gender Independent/Non-Conforming Students and Staff

Legal References: 

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; BC Human Rights Code; BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;

The Volunteer Work Crew are the support staff team for our Summer Camp. They assist with: program (working with campers), facilities (upkeeping site), food services (dishwashing), and admin (taking photos). Work Crew members commit to at least three sessions during July/August and a 3-5 day training period in late June.

For additional FAQs about our Volunteer Work Crew, including timelines for the 2020 season, please see the link below. 

20-03-02 Volunteer Work Crew FAQs

For overnight camps: Our staff to camper ratio is quite high relative to the BC Camps Association standard of 1:8.  While, in cabins, it is 1:10, once you factor in our Instructing team and support team we are typically no lower than 1:5.5.  For the parts of the day when our volunteers are involved in programming, we drop closer to 1:4.   For day camps: 2020 was the first year we operated day camps, so this may change in 2021.  In 2020, we operated at just over 1:4 (pods of 1:7 with additional programming staff to support).

For overnight camp this varies by program: youth camps (ages 8-12) and junior teen camps, campers return to their cabins after campfire at around 9pm.  Our wake ups are around 7:15-7:30AM.  Teen campers stay up a little later, and return to their cabins around 10 pm. We should flag that, particularly on the first night, there is a lot of excitement in the cabins and the exact time that the Cabin Leader gets their group to sleep by can vary a little.  There is also a rest period in cabins, called BOSS Time, of around 30 minutes at about 2:00pm most days.