Wild Explorers Nature Camp
Some of the BEST learning happens when kids don't know they're learning at all.
Wild Explorers is a hands-on outdoor day camp for children ages 7-12, designed for kids who are ready to get outside, get curious, and get a little muddy. Rooted in the same nature connection philosophy that underlies all of Danu's programming, this summer camp gives children the time and space to do what they do best — explore, discover, create, and play — in the company of experienced mentors and a small, welcoming group.
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Days unfold outdoors in Japanese Town Park and the surrounding forest, including the amazing Perseverance Creek Conservation Area and maybe even a day trek down to Coal Beach on Comox Lake. Moving between guided activities and free exploration, the group's curiosity leads whilst kids learn to read the land around them: to notice the bird before they hear it, to navigate without a phone, to build a shelter that would keeps the rain out.
Alongside these practical skills, there's room for the slower, quieter discoveries too — the insect under a log, the plant that smells like something they can't quite name, the feeling of knowing a place well enough to call it their own.
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Wild Explorers draws on the Coyote Mentoring tradition that runs through all of Danu's youth programming — an approach that follows children's natural curiosity rather than directing it, and trusts that given the right environment, kids learn deeply and joyfully on their own terms.
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Camp highlights:
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Nature games and outdoor play
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Basic navigation skills
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Shelter building
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Bird and plant identification
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Sensory awareness activities
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Child-led exploration and discovery
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This is a small group experience, limited to 14 participants, which means every child gets real attention and the group develops a genuine sense of community over the course of the week. Core Danu Stewards Dani and Allie lead this camp, planned to be a perfect fit for nature lovers, curious kids, and anyone who simply does better with dirt under their feet and the canopy overhead.
Expect kids to leave with new skills, new confidence, and — more often than not — a few things they can't wait to show you when they get home.​
"As a homeschooling family, we are always looking for programs that align with our educational values. This forest school program has been an important part of our homeschooling journey for the last four years. We appreciate the child-led approach to learning and the focus on relationships with peers and mentors. My children have made lasting friendships and learned valuable lessons about the local flora and fauna. Rain or shine my kids come home beaming and full of stories after each day."
- Petra, parent
Program Stewards
Dani
Allie
“Dani has been a wonderful mentor to both of my daughters. She has a kind, caring and nurturing approach to working with youth in an outdoor setting. I would highly recommend any program she is running, or involved with. My girls always come home happy after a day out with Dani learning, crafting and playing games. Overall awesome human.”
- Ally, parent