Girl Guides of Canada-BC

• Where: Camp Barnard, Sooke, B.C.
• When: July 25 - 31, 2026
• Who: One Hundred (100) campers born between 2014 and 2008, as well as selected Guiders (preference given to those Guiders with adventure experience who will use the knowledge in their local communities).
• Why: Through participating in this camping event, participants will not only have gained experience doing the adventure activities, but they will also have expanded their camping and leadership skills. Best of all, they will have made new friends while doing it.
• Accommodations: While on-site at Camp Benard, most participants will be staying in bunk cabins with canvas slings or simple plywood platform bunks. Some groups may opt to stay in tents, depending on their preferences and group needs. Meals will be served from a central kitchen and mess hall, with patrols rotating through duties such as meal preparation and dishwashing.
• Costs: Youth campers will receive a Provincial subsidy of $250, making the cost to the youth $850 plus GST. This includes all costs associated with this trip (program, meals, accommodation, local travel). Not included in the event fee:
• Kit list and uniform requirements.
• Transportation: to one of the departure locations: Kamloops BC, Langley BC, Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, Victoria BC or Camp Barnard Sooke BC. (These locations are subject to change slightly depending on where the youth are coming from.)
• *Please check with your Area Camping Adviser to see if your Area and District Councils can assist you with this event. Girl members may fundraise part of their trip cost by following the fundraising policy and procedures (Governance Policy 01- 19-01).

• Good physical fitness.
• Have attended four (4) previous Girl Guide camps (minimum of two nights in a row).
• Ability to adapt and work co-operatively.
• Ability to cope with daily camp activities.
• Completed swim or boat test record in iMIS no later than June 30, 2026.
• Guiders with Standard First Aid or higher, and Guiders with adventure experience who will use the knowledge in their local communities, will be given preference.
• Any required skills training for adventurous activities will be provided at camp, but participants will be asked to do some pre-training for their chosen activity, such as going for bike rides or hikes.

• Youth Application
• Adult Application

While applying for camp, keep in mind that we want you to be successful. Please reach out to your Guiders, District Commissioners, and Camping Advisors for help and advice. You are also welcome to contact us: Joy Bernardo (bc-adventuretrex@girlguides.ca) and Riley Haslinger (bc-campingoutdoors@girlguides.ca).

• As you are applying for this camp, it is considered a Selected Event. Most Areas and Districts have directives that supply subsidies for these selected events. This is not a handout; it is money from cookie sales designated for this purpose. It is appropriate to send a thank-you and help out at a local Girl Guide event to express gratitude to the council that supported you.
• If your Area or District does not have designated funds, you can ask about financial subsidies.
• Almost everything you will need is supplied, but if you need items like a sleeping bag or hiking boots, ask for help. Very often, you will be able to borrow gear or get a hand-me-down from an older youth.

You will need to have the name and contact information of a Guider (adult volunteer) who is familiar with your abilities. Please have answers to the questions below ready when you apply:

• What is your Guiding Area?
• How many years have you been in Guiding?
• What is your favourite part of Guiding?
• What relevant skills have prepared you for this camp?

List any other experiences or certificates you have earned, in Guiding or outside of Guiding, that pertain to this camp/event.

• What are your interests and hobbies outside of Guiding?
• Explain what you hope to contribute to, and what you hope to gain from, this camp.
• How will you share your experiences with your unit and district?
• Provide dates and short descriptions of some relevant camps you have participated in.

• Where: Locally throughout BC, to be decided by your unit, district or area
• When: October 18, 2025 (you can receive your kit as early as September 11, if you let us know if you have an early camp booked)
• Structure: You will receive a PDF booklet with full instructions and a planned program for a day event or a weekend camp. We would love to see you book extra educational opportunities to enrich the camp, such as:
• Fish hatchery tours
• Learn to Fish programs
• Guest speakers on aquaculture, conservation or watershed science
• Participants: Sparks, Embers, Guides and their leaders
• Hosts: Enthusiastic hosts to organize the Spark, Ember and Guide Camp with the support of Trefoil, Rangers, Trex and Pathfinders willing to volunteer.
• Costs: Thanks to the support of BC Council and cookie fundraising, this resource is being subsidized 50%. Kits are $10 per five girls (previously $20) and extra crests are $1.50 each. A $5 flat-rate shipping fee applies per order. Earlier orders will be charged this new, lower price.
• Program Supply Box: Each 5-youth kit contains six (6) camp crests (1 per youth + 1 for ratio guider), one (1) deck of fish playing cards, a book (books will vary based on the size and age of the group) and a camp planning guide.

To order your Up The Stream Program kits, please complete the Camping Committee Specialty Order form no later than October 18.