Camper applications for Camp Phoenix 2024 will open mid-May!
August 28-September 1, 2024
We are excited to be opening our camper applications for Camp Phoenix 2024 mid-May. Please check back back then to submit your camper’s application! If you have any questions or concerns, please email camp.phoenix@bcyp.org
Fast Facts: Camp Phoenix 2023
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. All applications must be received by July 9 2023
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!
Swimming
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 | 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 work with and support the incredible team of volunteers who are involved with running Camp Phoenix 2023.
Sky is the Executive Director and Chair of the Youth Parliament of BC Alumni Society, the organization that is responsible for overseeing the BC Youth Parliament and Camp Phoenix. In his professional life, Sky works as a Political Advisor at the Senate of Canada and is a FRC Captian with the Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue.
Megan Ryan-Lloyd | Camp Administrator | megan.ryan-lloyd@bcyp.org
Serving as Assistant Administrator last year, Megan is excited to serve as Camp Administrator for Camp Phoenix 2023! Megan has a wide range of childcare and summer camp experiences. She has worked various summer camp jobs, most recently being a leadership development counsellor, working with campers aged 15-17! Outside of her summer camp work, Megan is a third-year university student studying political science. Camp Phoenix holds a very special place in Megan's heart, and she is excited to share this memorable summer camp experience will all campers!
Jessana Akehurst | Assistant Camp Administrator | jessana.akehurst@bcyp.org
After attending Camp Phoenix as a Cabin Leader last year, Jessana is ecstatic to be serving as Assistant Camp Administrator for Camp Phoenix 2023. Jessana is currently in her 5th year with BCYP and is entering her final year at McGill University studying political science and gender studies. Aside from Camp Phoenix, she has plenty of childcare experience such as volunteering at a daycare and at an elementary school, tutoring, and will be working at a day camp throughout the summer. Camp Phoenix has been especially influential for Jessana, even helping her decide to pursue elementary education post-grad. Camp Phoenix is especially important to Jessana’s heart as it helped her decide to pursue education as her career. She looks forward to meeting everyone at this year’s Camp Phoenix!
Alex Fraser | Assistant Camp Director | alex.fraser@bcyp.org
Alex Fraser will be taking on the role of Assistant Camp Director for Camp Phoenix 2023. They have many years of camp experience, both attending as a camper and in leadership roles. Camp Phoenix is the reason Alex got involved with the BC Youth Parliament way back in 2014. They have had the pleasure of being a part of the effort to ensure this project can be a part of the experience of a new generation of parliamentarians and continues to do do so as a member of the Youth Parliament of BC Alumni Society. At past Camps Alex has had the honor of being, an Activity leader, Program Director, Administrator, and Camp Cook.
Adrianne Chow | Programme Administrator | adrianne.chow@bcyp.org
After serving as a sport and games activity leader last year, Adrianne is excited to be serving as this year's Programme Administrator! Her previous childcare experience includes coaching gymnastics and volunteering with CISV Victoria as a junior counsellor and Steering Board member. Adrianne's favourite thing about Camp is getting to know all of the lovely campers! Outside of BCYP, she is a first-year science student at UBC. You can usually find her sleeping on the bus, crocheting, or watering her plants. Her favourite camp activity is campfire songs.
Felix Mann | Recruitment Administrator | felix.mann@bcyp.org
Felix Mann is a fifth-year BCYP member and Recruitment Administrator for Camp Phoenix 2023. After attending Camp Phoenix 2022 as a cabin leader and serving as Attorney General in Youth Parliament, he is thrilled to serve on the Camp Phoenix admin team this year. Born in Oregon and raised in Vancouver, Felix is in his third year at the University of Victoria studying Political Science and History. Felix has volunteered in various capacities to give back to his community since he first moved to Canada. He has volunteered for weeklong summer camps hosted by local community centers, organized and executed community events, and was a board member of the UTown@UBC Grants Advisory Committee to help fund community-initiated projects. He was also a recipient of a House of Commons Certificate of Recognition for Volunteer Service. Felix is excited to be a part of the team this year, and can’t wait to see everyone at camp in the summer!