The BC SPCA is offering week-long summer camps which feature fun animal-themed activities for kids while empowering them to create a better world. Camps will be offered this year throughout July and August in 14 communities across British Columbia.

One of the main goals of the camps is to help children develop empathy by teaching them to regard the world as a shared space with other living beings, not only pets but farm animals and wildlife too. These skills are developed through a range of educational and fun activities, including animal-themed games, skits, crafts, guest speakers and more. “The highlight for many of the kids is the time they spend every day interacting with, and learning about animals such as cats, dogs, rats, and other small furry creatures” says Paula Neuman, BC SPCA humane education manager. All dogs participating in the camps have been temperament tested by BC SPCA animal welfare professionals.

“By gaining this compassion and knowledge, children become attuned to the needs of other people, animals, and the environment,” says Neuman. “It helps them build confidence to follow their passion and take their love of animals to the next level. They leave feeling inspired to be young ambassadors for safer, more humane communities.”

The BC SPCA summer camps offer a unique experience for children. As Neuman explains, it may be challenging for some children, especially boys, to express nurturing behaviour in a competitive society where such a virtue is often not encouraged. “Compassion and empathy towards other living beings are characteristics of nurturing behavior,” she says. “By providing an opportunity for children to express these behaviours in a positive environment we hope to build children’s confidence so they incorporate this into their daily lives.”

Camp spaces fill up quickly, so please register early. Registration begins online May 1 for the Lower Mainland or by phone (604-599-7209, Monday-Friday).

Camps are Monday or Tuesday through Friday, and cost $95-170, depending on location and week. There are also one-day and two-day camps offered at certain locations. Camps run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and are open to children ages 6 through 13, also varying by location and week. Kids can be dropped off as early as 9 a.m., and picked up as late as 4 p.m. For more information about SPCA summer camps being offered in locations around B.C., visit spca.bc.ca/camp.

Photo caption: Kids interacting with and learning about guinea pigs

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.