Get your children outdoors this summer with hands-on, fun-filled activities at the Grist Mill. Each week will feature a different theme and every day will be full of fun as we explore art, science, food, crafts, games and history on this amazing piece of property–a true Similkameen oasis.
Spaces are now available for our Summer Day Camps in July and August; each camp runs from 9AM to 3PM, Monday to Friday. Children aged 6 to 12 are welcome to register and all weeks of camp will have a wide range of age-appropriate activities that fit the theme. Price is $140/week, although Household Season Pass holders get a 20% discount on their registration.
Week 1: Nature Explorers (July 8 to 12)
Join us as we explore the many plants, animals and insects that call the Similkameen Valley home. Learn how to safely catch insects, study scat and much more!
Week 2: Food Adventures (July 15 to 19)
Come discover how food goes from field to plate as we explore the Grist Mill gardens and use our summer kitchen to make bread, fresh apricot jam, butter and so much more. Be sure to pack an appetite.
Week 3: A Child’s Life in the 1880’s (July 22 to 26)
Get in costume and take part in the sorts of chores and games that would have been a part of a kid’s life around the time when our historic mill was built. We’ll try dipping beeswax candles, tending a garden, building a log house and more… It’s going to be a busy week!
Week 4: Art in the Garden (July 29 to Aug 2)
Take inspiration from the rugged splendor of the Similkameen and channel it into painting, pressing flowers and many other arts and crafts.
Week 5: Working with Wood (Aug 5 – 9)
In early settler times, wood was the most abundant resource and it was used to make almost everything. Pick up some heritage tools and learn about how to create a bunch of useful thing without power tools, but with a ton of ingenuity.
Week 6: Mad Science (August 12 – 16)
Carry out experiments while forming hypotheses and predictions. Bottle rockets, Elephant toothpaste and so much more. Spend the week having fun, getting messy all while learning!
What You Need To Know
- Registrations must be done online.
- Buying a Household or Community Ambassador Season Pass gives you a 20% discount on your summer camp registration. Do that first to get your discount code.
- You can add multiple tickets (camps) to your cart before checking out.
- Once you’ve registered for camp, please fill out this Family Information form. It must be filled for each child participating in the camp.
- Please make sure your child has a packed lunch and snack
- Programs will go ahead, rain or shine – please ensure your child comes prepared for the weather!
- Wear supportive walking shoes
- Bring a hat, jacket, and water bottle
- Apply sunblock before bringing your child to camp
The Family Information Form is required to be completed once for each child participating in camp. Your booking is not finalized until both payment and Family Information Form are received.
- Requests for cancellations must be made more than 2 weeks (14 days) before the start of the camp session to receive a full refund, minus a $30 administration fee.
- Cancellations made less than two weeks before the start of the camp session may receive a 50% refund.
- Cancellations with less than 1 week (7 days) notice may not be eligible for any refund.
The Grist Mill may cancel a camp if enrollment numbers are not met. Full refunds will be given.
At the Grist Mill and Gardens we work to create a safe, inclusive environment for everyone. Our staff use positive reinforcements, empowering language, and friendly reminders of what appropriate behaviour looks like, sounds like, and feels like. When conflicts arise, we guide children through conflict resolution discussions so they can develop empathy and interpersonal skills. When necessary, staff will discuss with parents/guardians strategies for improving behaviour.
However, in some cases a Camp Leader may need to remove the child from the camp. Parents/guardians will be asked to pick up the child immediately. A refund will not be given in this event. Examples of behaviour that will result in removal include (but are not limited to): violence to themselves or others, bullying, damaging property, refusing to follow safety rules, repeatedly running out of sight, or continued disruption of the program.