This summer you can discover Canada and learn to camp with Parks Canada! You can learn basic camping skills and start connecting to nature in major cities across Canada, including: Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal or Halifax.
Each workshop will teach the basics of camping such as how to pitch a tent or cook in the outdoors. In addition to actually getting to be outside, participants will have an opportunity to learn alongside experts. You get to learn all the basics without actually having to sleep overnight!
In Montreal participants will have four opportunities to camp out at the Parks Canada Lachine Canal National Historic Site.
Signature Experience
On June 15 and August 17, 2019, 200 lucky campers will take part in the ‘Signature Experience’. Attendees will participate in camp cooking workshops sponsored by MEC, master the skill of pitching tent, make a fire started for your next camping trip, relax in a hammock, roast marshmallows by the campfire, family area with spray-on tattoos and much more. You get to be involved with a show by the Tournée Feu de camps and Rabaska on the Lachine Canal. This requires registration and from what I can tell Rabaska means canoeing.
If that wasn’t enough, you can also take part in in-depth workshops, zumba and my kids favorite: a washer toss tournament! Check out the full schedule here.
What is included?
- Tent and sleeping pads
- Breakfast on Sunday
- All scheduled workshops and activities
- Entrance and camping fees
Parks Canada provides a detailed list of what you should bring camping on their website.
Privilege Experience
Even more intimate is the ‘Privilege Experience’ with a maximum of 50 participants, taking place July 6 and August 3, 2019. This experience offers a lot of the same aspects as the Signature, but without the canoeing, shorter workshops and no La Tournée Feu show. It’s a bit shorter and seems to have less of a ‘family’ focus as the others.
- Participate in the camp cooking workshops sponsored by MEC
- Master the skill of pitching a tent
- Make a fire starter for your next camping trip
- Relax in a hammock beside the canal
- Toast marshmallows on an open fire
- Enjoy the family area with spray-on tattoos, the PARKA mascot and much more!
What is included?
- Tent and sleeping pads
- Picnic table
- Chairs
- Camping Stove
- Breakfast on Sunday
- All scheduled workshops and activities
- Entrance and camping fees
Parks Canada provides a detailed list of what you should bring camping to these activities on their website.
Reservation
The price of the Learn-to-Camp program is $88 per tent (maximum capacity of 4 people) and free for kids 5 and under.
You need to reserve your place in the Parks Canada Learn to Camp program offered in collaboration with MEC. You can reserve by phone: 1 844 365-2646 or email any questions to: pc.initiationcamping-learntocamp.pc@canada.ca.
Parks Canada Backcountry Reservations
Already an avid camper and want to get out in Canada’s National Parks alone? Check out Parks Canada Backcountry Camping.
Each National Park has specific information about the availability, maps, prices and how to make reservations.
