Minutes away by boat from Deep Cove, but miles away from city life there is a sanctuary where kids climb trees and dip their toes in the glacial ocean inlet.
Where seals splash about, their sleek skin glistening in the midday sun – and kayakers are seen gliding along the placid water near the shoreline.
Halfway up Indian Arm, a long and narrow body of water surrounded by cascading mountains, the sound of kids at play and exploring the outdoors carries across Camp Jubilee.
“We just do traditional, regular summer camp,” says office manager Tracy Kiefer, who helps run the show at Camp Jubilee.
Giggling after lights out, canoeing, skit night and campfires – all of your classic summer camp activities are rolled into the fun at Camp Jubilee, which has more than 128 acres of mostly untouched, oceanfront property for the kids to explore.
There’s archery, rock climbing, low ropes and high ropes, where kids climb a statuesque 20-metre Douglas fir tree. If you’re parent and cringing at that picture, don’t worry – you can follow along from home.
“When they’re up at camp we post pictures like every other day on our Facebook so they get to see their kids having fun. We do little videos and stuff,” says Kiefer.
The kids, however, are unplugged for the week and tuned into nature. Kiefer extols the virtues of the Indian Arm setting. The remote area is home to beautiful hiking trails without the Quarry
Rock crowds.
There’s beach combing, all the while kids are taught about indigenous plants and the different wildlife and marine life in Indian Arm.
“Sometimes you can see the deer swimming,” says Kiefer. “It’s not something you see every day.”
Camp Jubilee programming staff takes full advantage of the water. The older kids kayak down to Granite Falls for some swimming during the overnight trip. There’s always a lifeguard and a safety boat nearby.
Meanwhile, the younger kids camp in the Everglades – a picturesque area on the Camp Jubilee property.
At mealtimes kids scamper towards the mess hall and eat at long wooden tables. Your traditional summer camp fare is served – hot dogs, chicken fingers and hamburgers, etc. – with a fresh twist.
All the food is handmade at Camp Jubilee by a new chef they have hired. Nothing is deep-fried and there are vegan and gluten-free options – plus a salad bar.
Every night there is new menu and “the desserts are to die for,” says Kiefer. For those with food allergies, there is a special diet kitchen where items are prepared to prevent cross contamination.
The drop-off area for summer camp and spot for prolonged hugs from parents is at Cates Park, where kids catch a water taxi to Indian Arm. It’s about a 30-40 minute boat ride depending on the vessel running that day.
The boat ride up Indian Arm is part of the summer camp adventure, as the kids get a tour along the way and some history of the area.
Jubilee’s goal is to send kids to camp – even if they can’t afford it.
“If families can’t quite afford camp we have a little process where they can apply and we help them with some funding, because we don’t want to turn any kid away,” explains Kiefer.
The first camp starts June 29 and they run right through until Aug. 20.
The seven-day camps costs $599, with a rolling registration until they are full. There is also a four-day camp at the end of the summer which costs $349.
