Camper applications for Camp Phoenix 2024 are now open!
August 28-September 1, 2024
Click here for our camper application.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email camp.phoenix@bcyp.org
Fast Facts: Camp Phoenix 2024
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applications must be received by July 14, 2024.
Dates
Wednesday, August 28 to
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Location
Camp Barnard
3202 Young Lake Rd
Sooke, BC V9Z 0J6
Format
Sleepover summer camp
Camper Age Range
Ages 8 to 12
Fees
Variable depending on need.
Partial and full subsidies available!
Contact Email
Our Mission With Camp Phoenix
Camp Phoenix is an annual project of the British Columbia Youth Parliament, with one primary goal: to provide the experience of summer camp for youth who, for social or financial reasons, could not otherwise attend camp. This year, Camp Phoenix will be held at Camp Barnard in Sooke, BC, as a five-day sleepover camp for campers aged 8 to 12.
Camp Phoenix is, above all else, designed to give youth who could not attend camp the opportunity to do so. Beyond recognizing the social and developmental benefits that come with participating, we, as a youth group, feel that every child deserves to experience the fun, educative experience of camping in a safe and supportive environment.
About the British Columbia Youth Parliament
The British Columbia Youth Parliament is a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-denominational youth service organization. Each year, we fulfill our motto of “Youth Serving Youth” through a variety of individual and group projects organized to serve the youth of British Columbia. The largest of these is Camp Phoenix. In the past, Camp Phoenix has run as a five-day sleepover camp for youth who would not otherwise be able to experience camp.
““There is something so special about the atmosphere of summer camp, because the purpose of everything we do is just pure fun. In my time at Camp Phoenix, I have seen first hand the way affects campers who had not experienced this kind of environment before, and we want to give that to them. Even if it’s only for a week at a time, summer camp is such an important part of growing up.”
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Activities at Camp Phoenix
At Camp Phoenix, there will be a jam-packed five days of various activities all made to fit an exciting surprise theme to be revealed closer to the event! Campers will be grouped by age, and will take part in activities on a rotational basis. There will be some camp-wide games and field trips!
All photos on this page were taken in 2017 and 2018.
Arts & Crafts
Show off your creativity by making a unique craft that you can take home as a souvenir after Camp!
Science Activities
Learn something new by participating in exciting science activities!
Sports & Games
Have fun playing your favourite sports and running games in the huge field at Camp Barnard!
Theatre Games
Explore your inner imagination through playing theatre and acting games!
Waterfront
Go for a swim and play some super cool games with your new friends!
“There is nothing quite like seeing kids who otherwise may miss out on these camp experiences, for reasons far beyond their control or choice, getting to be kids.
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Join Us for Camp Phoenix 2023!
Helping Your Child Experience Camp
Camp Phoenix is open to all children aged 8 to 12, regardless of social or financial need. We offer full and partial subsidies to all campers to ensure Camp is place for everyone!
We also operate with a high ratio of staff to campers, allowing for more attention and one-on-one support to best accommodate campers with unique needs.
Our Camp Staff
All our staff at Camp Phoenix are volunteers who are leaders within their own communities across the province. They take the time out of their busy lives to be staff at Camp Phoenix and make the project a reality. Our staff is led by a team of volunteers who are experienced in summer camp operations. All staff over the age of 18 must complete their Criminal Record Check prior to becoming staff at Camp Phoenix.
For further inquiries regarding Camp Phoenix, please contact our administrative team at camp.phoenix@bcyp.org.
Meet the Camp Phoenix Team!
Sky Losier | Co-Camp Director | sky.losier@bcyp.org
Sky Losier has spent over 13 years working at and running summer camps throughout British Columbia in roles ranging from Camp Director to Camp Cook, and everything in between and has been actively involved with Camp Phoenix since 2016. Summer camp, and Camp Phoenix specifically, has a very special place in Sky’s heart, and he is excited to support this incredible team of volunteers at Camp Phoenix 2024.
Sky is the Chair of the Youth Parliament of BC Alumni Society, the organization responsible for overseeing BCYP and Camp Phoenix. In his professional life, Sky works as a Political Advisor at the Senate or Canada and is a FRC Captian and Instructor with the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue.
Kerry Simmons | Co-Camp Director | kerry.simmons@bcyp.org
Kerry Simmons is excited to return to Camp Phoenix as Co-Camp Director in 2024. Kerry has been the Camp Director five previous times and has trained camp staff throughout the past 30 years. Her enjoyment in working with kids at Camp Phoenix led her to her degree in Child and Youth Care from UVic in 1996 and engaging with children and youth in volunteer roles. She has held senior leadership responsibilities in the Youth Parliament of BC Alumni Society and is passionate about raising young people who care about others and the world around them. In her professional life, Kerry is the Chief Executive Officer of CBABC, the lawyers’ professional association in BC.
Jessana Akehurst | Camp Administrator | jessana.akehurst@bcyp.org
Jessana is ecstatic to be serving as Camp Administrator for Camp Phoenix 2024! Previously, Jessana has served as the Assistant Administrator, a cabin leader and activity leader at Camp Phoenix, and has a range of other childcare experiences, most recently leading a summer day camp with kids aged 6-13. Outside of Camp Phoenix, Jessana is wrapping up her final year at McGill University, and can usually be found making music and art of various sorts, volunteering,or in any sort of pink attire. Camp Phoenix means the world to Jessana and she is beyond excited to share the wonderful experience of Camp with everyone this year!
Adrianne Chow | Assistant Administrator | adrianne.chow@bcyp.org
After serving as a program administrator last year, Adrianne is excited to serve as one of this year’s assistant administrators! Her previous childcare experience includes working as a summer camp counselor, coaching gymnastics, and volunteering with CISV Victoria as a junior counselor and Steering Board member. Adrianne’s favorite thing about Camp is getting to know all of the lovely campers! Outside of BCYP, she is a second-year Food, Nutrition, and Health + Master of Management student at UBC. You can usually find her reading, hiking, or watering her plants. Her favorite camp activity is campfire songs.
Ashlin Amjad | Assistant Administrator | ashlin.amjad@bcyp.org
After serving as a resource staff last year, Ashlin Amjad is very excited to work as an assistant administrator for this year’s Camp. Since the age of 12, Ashlin has been involved with childcare, including helping different organizations provide proper personal and educational necessities for kids. During COVID-19, she was involved in an organization back in India called Anvaya, where she worked as a volunteer teaching kids ages 8-12 English and Maths. She has been actively involved in taking care of kids part-time in Canada for the past two years. Her favourite thing about camp is the campers and the sense of community and solidarity that all form by the end. Outside of BCYP, she is a second-year Psychology student with a minor in Political Science studying in Kamloops. She loves reading, drawing, talking to people and fashion (which is a shared interest with this year’s Minister of Camp!).
Kevin Nicklin | Programme Administrator | kevin.nicklin@bcyp.org
Kevin is ecstatic to serve as this year’s Programme Administrator at Camp Phoenix, after previously volunteering in both the Sports & Games and Camp-Wide Games Activity Leader positions. Prior to his work with Camp Phoenix, he volunteered with STMC Bookmarks, a program in which he assisted elementary-aged immigrant students in their English reading proficiency. Currently, Kevin is attending post-secondary at the University of British Columbia, aspiring to major in Political Science. He became involved in student governance as an Events Director within the Arts Undergraduate Society’s First Year Committee and is an active member of the Latino Leaders Association. Now as a part of the Admin Team, Kevin is grateful to volunteer at Camp Phoenix for his second time, and is looking forward to providing campers with a memorable experience. Finally, of all the activities camp has to offer, Kevin is most excited for Waterfront!
Luciana Brewer | Recruitment Administrator | luciana.brewer@bcyp.org
Luciana is very excited to serve as the Camp Recruitment Administrator for this year! She will be in charge of leading the Camp Recruitment Committee, which will work to recruit campers for Camp Phoenix. Camp Phoenix could not run without its most important aspect, the campers, so the Recruitment Committee is Luciana’s main responsibility and focus within her role as Camp Recruitment Administrator. Outside of this position, Luciana is in her second year of BCYP and this summer will be her second year as a staff member at Camp Phoenix. In her everyday life, she works for a branch of the provincial government and helps to teach kids classes at her Taekwondo school. Luciana loves working in environmental organizations and playing various sports, such as cross country, dance and martial arts. She also likes public speaking, playing the piano and collecting wacky stickers/magnets to put on her car. Luciana is super excited to lead the Camp Recruitment Committee and make sure that this year’s Camp Phoenix is a success!