If there’s one thing that many Southern B.C. residents like to do, it’s packing up a cooler, a tent, and a campstove and hitting a camp site to “rough it” overnight.
What do those new to this outdoor phenomenon do? How do they learn about camping and all the details? They can attend a Learn to Camp overnight session at the Fort Langley National Historic Site. The final session is Sept. 12 and 13.
Together with Mountain Equipment Co-op, Parks Canada hosts Learn to Camp events to give those less familiar with spending time in the great outdoors a safe, fun learning experience.
Surrey resident Satich Chamtran attended a Learn to Camp event last summer at the Fort with his wife and two daughters.
“I did camp before, a long time back,” he said. “But this was the first time with the little one.”
At the time his youngest daughter was just one and a half and his older daughter was four years old.
“They had a great time,” he noted of the kids’ enjoyment. “The kids had lots of activities.”
Chamtran added that his older daughter still has some of the craft items in her room that she made at Learn to Camp last year.
“We really liked it,” he said, noting that the family would definitely camp at the Fort again.
Campers will learn how to pitch a tent, start a fire, and stay safe when it comes to wildlife. There will be fun activities, new friends to share time with, and beautiful breathtaking scenery.
“To see the history of Canada that way is an amazing experience,” Chamtran said. “Even the campfire and the marshmallows.”
Space is limited for the Learn to Camp weekends which are $44 per camper, $22 for campers age three to five, and the littlest campers – those under age two – are free.
Find out more information at www.pc.gc.ca/eng/media/ltc-dlc/index.aspx#a8 where checklists and detailed camping information can be found.
To register for a Fort Langley Learn to Camp session, call 1-888-773-8888.