Eco camps

Summer is coming, and to many parents, that means just one thing: what the heck are we going to do with the kids?

Summer camps are hardly a new phenomenon, but they have changed over the years. While you can still send your kids to the camps you and your parents fondly remember, there are specialized camps for every taste.

Basketball, computer science, Lord of the Rings fans, countless religious persuasions; you name it, there’s a camp for it. It’s only natural and appropriate, then, for the ecologically-inclined to consider eco-camps.

Some longstanding camps have simply incorporated environmental programs and activities. Located in the Muskoka region of Ontario, Camp Manitou has launched Eco-Adventure, “get active in the environment.” From hiking and fishing, to designing an orienteering course, campers learn about the environment in theory and practice.

Not all camps have to be sleepaway, or even in the country. Even in Canada’s largest city, there are eco camp options. The City of Toronto runs some excellent programs, including Exploring Toronto. Staff lead kids on guided nature walks, “inspiring ecological awareness while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.”

Canada’s smaller centres are getting into the act, too. High River, Alberta used to be known as Joe Clark’s hometown and a place that gets flooded a lot – hence the name. It’s also the home of the High River Eco Camp.

This camp doesn’t condescend to kids with cartoons and busy work. For three days, campers aged five to 14 learn about complex environmental concepts. Biological interrelatedness, carbon footprints, and ecological diversity – these are heavy words for specialists, much less preschoolers.

There’s nothing wrong with archery, arts and crafts, and flirting at the swimming hole. But as times change, so do summer camps.