Kids’ Guide to Summer 2022
Whether here for a visit, for the season or year-round, kids in Fernie have it pretty good in the summer months. I can’t get over the options available to them – from bike camps to horse riding, gymnastics to river exploration, drama to reading clubs… it can be almost overwhelming to decide!
Luckily, we have pulled together this overview of the programs and clubs available to help you to plan your kid’s social schedule this July and August. Additionally, there are many events and also weekly opportunities available. Stay on top of what’s coming up by visiting our events calendar online and/or picking up the monthly issues of the Fix!
ARTS
The Arts Stations - Club Cre8
Every Monday this summer, your kids have the opportunity to get creative with Heather and Rachel! Half or full day options are available for kids K to Grade 6. Everyone is welcome for activities indoors and outdoors on the Arts Station premises and supplies included.
The Arts Station – Theatre Workshop
Join Sadie and Rachel at the Fernie Arts Station for this workshop aimed at kids ages 7-12 intrigued with drama. The workshop includes singing, acting, poetry and movement with a performance to follow. Running July 5-7. Stay tuned for more youth workshops and camps at The Arts Station including pottery and street art for all ages. theartsstation.com
Fernie Heritage Library - Reading Club
Every year, the Fernie Heritage Library hosts a reading club. This year’s theme is “All Together Now” and children will explore a range of books, activities and games, as well as craft projects and opportunities to give back to the community. In person programming runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the library garden, July and August for children aged 7-10. fernie.bclibrary.ca
Fernie Heritage Library – Stories Outdoors
Offering drop-in, pre-school programming for kids on the move age 3-5 Tuesdays and Fridays at 11am. Includes stories, singing, games and more. Wednesdays at 11am, younger kids age 0-2 can attend an interactive program with caregivers, lots of lap bounces, stories, tickles and giggles.
ATHLETICS
Gymnastics
Elk Valley Gymnastics is hosting eight weeks of summer camps filled with gymnastics, parkour, crafts and games! Available for ages 3-5 (9am-12:30pm) and ages 6-9
(12:30-3:30pm) with three weeks available for ages 5-9 from 9am to 2pm. Visit elkvalleygymnastics.ca for more details or to register.
BIKING
Fernie Alpine Resort
Fernie Alpine Resort hosts regular biking clinics for a variety of ages, abilities and styles of riding throughout the summer months. Additionally, they have weekly races on Wednesdays for youth! Make sure to visit skifernie.com to see what they are running this year.
Mystic Mountain Adventure
Whether it’s putting tires on dirt for the first time or mastering jumps and drops, Mystic Mountain Adventures is passionate about creating opportunities for kids ages 5+ to learn new skills, build confidence, improve physical dexterity, connect with nature, and have fun on bikes. Using a combination of skill and game-based teaching makes it easy and enjoyable to learn and practice techniques before hitting the trails. mysticmountainadventures.com
Ride Theory
This summer, Ride Theory is offering half and full-day camps for ages 4+, weekly club sessions and enduro-specific training designed to encourage progression and nurture passion in youth. Clubs include Youth Trail for ages 5-7, Youth Beginner Jumps for ages 8 and under, Youth Dirt Jumps - Intermediate/Advanced ages 8-14, Youth Trail - Advanced, ages 9-14, and a girls only program! ridetheory.ca
OUTDOOR AND ADVENTURE
Blue Lake Camp
A popular summer camp for kids, Blue Lake offers Youth Summer Camps for ages 6-14, as well as Junior Outdoor Youth Leadership for those ages 13-14, Summer Outdoor Youth Leadership for those ages 15-18 and a Teen Adventure camp for ages 14-18. columbiaoutdoorschool.com
Elk River Watershed Discovery Camps
The Elk River Alliance hosts fun and engaging hands-on field camps for youth age 7+. Explore the Elk Valley Watershed through hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, rafting and cultural learning. Camp 1 is for ages 7-10, running July 11-15 and 18-22. Camp 2 is for ages 10-14 running August 8-12 and 15-19. All camps are Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm. elkriveralliance.ca/camps, call COTR at 250-423-4691 to register.
Fernie Alpine Resort – Outdoor Adventure Camps and Mini Griz Rangers
Explore the outdoors this summer with these camps that are action packed and guaranteed fun. For ages 6-12, running 10am-4pm daily. For those ages 3-5, FAR has half and full day camps full of games and activities. skifernie.com
Fernie Forest School - Summer Camp
Join the Fernie Forest School this summer for camps Monday to Thursday from 9am to 1pm. Camps run July 4-7, 11-14, 18-21 and August 2-4, 8-1 and 22-15. Each week there is a different theme! Email kristapreschool160@gmail.com.
Fernie School Aged Care - Summer Camp
A licensed program with professional and qualified staff, FCAC runs week-long sessions for eight weeks of the summer, 8:30am to 5:30pm, with weekly themes full of crafts, outdoor games, nature play and field trips. Kindergarten - Grade 6, fernieschoolagedcare.com
Horse Camps
Love it or Leave it Ranch hosts three-day camps throughout the summer, all levels welcome. If your child loves horses, getting dirty, all animals, and learning about how to help out on a farm, this one is for them. Visit @LoveItOrLeaveItRanch on Facebook for details.
Uplift Association - Summer Camp
Sign up for weekly camps with UPLIFT, offering jam packed weeks of summer camp fun for ages 6-12, 8:30am to 4pm July 4-8 and 18-22, August 8-12. upliftassociation.com, @upliftassociation.
Uplift – Tuesday Crew Youth Club
Uplift is hosting weekly events every Tuesday from 6-8pm throughout the summer for ages 11-14 with special guests leading activities like skateboarding, nature hikes, painting and more. upliftassociation.com
Trit Trot Farm
After a short hiatus, Trit Trot Farms is opening back up and will be offering kids camps and lessons this summer season! Call 250-430-1933 for more details or to register.
SWIMMING
The Fernie Aquatic Centre offers Swim Lessons, Parent and Tot and Family swimming opportunities. Visit fernie.ca/recreation for the online program schedules, special events and to register for activities.
Mountain Kids offers private lessons outdoors at Tie Lake for one to two swimmers, as well as parent and tot lessons. Sarah Laverick is a qualified National Lifeguard and Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. mountainkidsswimlessons.com
TENNIS
Fernie Sports Co is hosting Tennis summer camp from 9:30am-12:30pm, Monday to Thursday for 8 weeks starting July 4. A supervised lunch is available from 12:30-1:30pm. No experience necessary! ferniesportsco.com
DISC GOLF
New for 2022, Fernie Sports Co is offering Disc Golf summer camps, running from 1:30-4:30pm Monday to Thursday for 8 weeks starting July 4. A supervised lunch is available from 12:30-1:30pm. No experience necessary! ferniesportsco.com
If your child is interested in attending summer camps, but you are having difficulty affording them this opportunity, visit emilybrydonyouthfoundation.com which support the youth in pursuing their dreams.
Photo by Matt Kuhn