Youth Programs
Outdoor fun for all ages
Our outdoor youth programs focus on exploration, adventure, skill-building, health, physical activity and most importantly, fun. Participants learn life-long skills like teamwork, leadership and problem solving.
Enjoy a have a wide range of outdoor summer camp choices designed for different age groups and conveniently centralized on campus, with low leader-to-camper ratios and weeks of fun activities.
Summer Camps and School Break Camps
Our summer camps offer a variety of activities for youth including hiking, biking, climbing, paddling and more! Choose from a variety of options for a fun-filled week of outdoor activity for children entering grades 1-8.
Teen Camps for youth entering grades 8-12 include instructional courses and wilderness expeditions designed to build skills and explore exciting landscapes.
Weeklong camps during winter and spring school breaks offer indoor and outdoor activities tailored to the age group and conditions.
Outdoor Summer Camps for Kids
Calgary is surrounded with natural wonders to explore and enjoy all summer long. Dive into an adventure on our refreshing rivers or pedal the city’s extensive pathways. Get into nature with our hiking and photography camps. Kick up the adrenaline with some mountain biking or relax with a little fishing and other fun games. The outdoors is waiting to be discovered this summer!
Outdoor Teen Camps
Get outside with other teens entering grades 8-12 and learn some new skills this summer. Day programs include canoeing, climbing, and mountain biking camps to build skills and check out different areas, or explore the wilderness on a 3- to 5-day backpacking or canoeing expedition. Multiple level/difficulty trips available.
Winter Break Camps
Winter break camps include snowshoeing and xc skiing in Kananaskis depending on conditions, as well as city activities including wall climbing and swimming. Camps are organized by date and age group depending on the year's schedule.
Spring Break Camps
Spring Break camps include a variety of indoor and outdoor activities in Calgary and Kananaskis. Climb on the Outdoor Centre indoor walk, and hike, snowshoe, ski, or bike depending on the conditions. Programs are offered during both public and separate school board break weeks.
Youth Climbing
Let your kids climb our walls!
Our experienced climbing instructors offer progressive skill-building series to children aged 4-17 on our climbing and bouldering walls. No experience required.
Multi-week series are offered Thursday evenings or Saturday mornings.
This play-based program introduces young climbers to the vertical world, focusing on confidence-building and physical literacy. Participants will develop essential skills through bouldering activities and games in a safe and fun environment as well as some excursions to the roped wall with instructors belaying.
This beginner climbing series is designed to ignite excitement for being active and discovering new heights. The program introduces bouldering and top-rope climbing skills in a supportive, play-based environment for children aged 7-11. Participants will learn to climb, belay, and explore their limits in a safe and structured setting.
This exciting, progressive series for youth aged 12-17 will teach fundamental climbing skills and belaying techniques with lots of practice. Develop body awareness, coordination, and strength while having a blast in these weekly session. No previous experience required.
Bunnies and Jackrabbits Cross-Country Skiing
Our cross-country ski lessons introduce students to the trails of Kananaskis over multiple weeks of lessons covering classic technique, games, and practice skis. Choose from morning or afternoon sessions for Bunnies (ages 4-6) and Jackrabbits (ages 7-14).
Our Bunnies Ski Series for children aged 4-6 teaches classic ski techniques though games and activities for weeks of outdoor adventure. A caregiver must accompany each child for this lesson, and is welcome to wear skis and learn alongside the kids.
The Jackrabbits Ski Series for children aged 7-11 consists of four levels of instruction for brand new skiers and those looking to further advance skills. Participants will be grouped by ability to ensure personalized instruction for technique refinement through drills, games, and ski tours.
Jackrabbits Plus is for children aged 12-17 who have completed the Jackrabbits level 4 or have an equivalent solid foundation in skiing. Participants will build strong classic skills and refine technique through drills and games before embarking on faster ski outings covering 5-10km in most lessons.
Looking to rent outdoor gear or equipment? Rentals & Services
Highlights
Natural Adventure Park returns
Summer campers get creative, interact with nature in pop-up play area
Exploration, creativity and unstructured free play are the focus of a popular program that will be returning to the UCalgary Outdoor Centre summer camps schedule in 2019, after being successfully piloted last year.
In the News: Come on in, the water's fine!
Kids unplug with a paddle in UCalgary’s Outdoor Centre paddling programs
When you’re outdoors on a paddle board learning about forward strokes, sweeps and draws, you might spot muskrats or beavers, eagles, hawks and herons, deer coming down to the water’s edge for a drink, and families of ducks and geese floating peacefully nearby.
