FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This page contains answers to some of our most common questions. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us!
Topics: Registration | Parking & Navigation | Camp Day | Camp-Specific
How do I register?
The easiest way to register is through the online registration site, which you can access .
If it is your first time using our registration system you will have to follow these steps to make an account before you will be able to register.
I created an account but the system did not send me an activation link. What happened?
Please double check your email, especially your junk folder. If found, please cut and paste the link into the internet address bar. If it is not there, please contact us during business hours.
I registered and paid for a camp but have not received my receipt or login information.
If you selected the option to keep your email private, the system will block our communications, including the receipt email. If you want to receive recipets and confirmations, please contact us during business hours to have your email unblocked.
Is there a time limit for transactions in the online registration system?
Yes, the system will time out after 20 minutes from your first action. Any camp added to your account and basket at that point will not be saved. If you are registering for several camps, we recommend you break up your transactions to ensure you retain your spot in a specific camp.
What if the participant does not have a BC Personal Health Number?
You can provide your personal health number from your province or territory. For international campers, please ensure you have travel insurance.
Can I switch camps once my camper is registered?
Transfer requestions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Main Recreation Office for availability by calling 778-782-4142 or emailing at camps@sfu.ca.
Should I join the waitlist?
Yes, we encourage you to sign-up for the waitlist and you will be notified as soon as there is a spot available. Once a space is open, it will be filled on a first-come first-serve basis from the waitlist.
When is the latest to cancel my registration?
Registrants can cancel registration one or more weeks before start date and receive a full refund (minus a 15% admin fee). Please view our full refund policy here.
What is self sign-out?
Self sign-out is available for 12 year old or older campers. By authorizing self sign-out, campers are able to sign themselves out of their camp at the end of the day without a parent present.
Self sign-out can also be authorized by talking with the applicable camp's instructors.
How do I add an authorized pick-up after I've already registered?
Please email camps@sfu.ca with your camper's name, your name, and the new authorized pick-up's name & phone number.
You can also talk to instructors at sign-in/out to verbally add the same information.
I'm trying to register my camper but am getting an age restricted error message. How does that work?
Our age categories are set up on a calender year system. For example, if a camp has 7-9years in the title, campers must be 7 at the time of registration OR turning 7 by December 31 2025. For the maximum age, campers cannot be turning older than the age listed within the calendar year, so for the 7-9yrs example, a camper may be 9 years old at the time of registration but turning 10 years old in September 2025 OR already turned 10 years old in 2025.
If you are still encountering issues please contact us for more support.
Is there free parking for drop off and pick up?
Yes, we are able to offer 20 minutes of free parking during drop off and pick up times. If you would like to stay on campus for longer, please visit the SFU Parking website to see permit and payment options. If you receive a ticket during the 20 minute window, please bring it to a Camps Programmer or Instructor.
What do I do if I want to drop-off or pick-up outside the designated sign-in/out times?
If you know more than 24hrs in advance, please send an email to the camps@sfu.ca account and include camper's full name, camp name, and expected change in drop-off/pick-up.
If it is a last-minute change (i.e. less than 24 hours), please call 604 782 4965 and include the same information. You can also communicate the change to the camp instructors if applicable.
Do you offer Express Drop-Off or Pick-Up?
At this time, we only offer Express Drop-Off during the summer months (July-August). If using Express Drop-Off, please make sure your camper knows what camp they are registered in.
We do not offer Express Drop-Off for Spring Break and do not have Express Pick-Up at any time.
What does a typical day look like?
In general, a camp day is divided into classroom/lesson time, recreation time, and snack and lunch breaks. For our more educational based camps (e.g. Sciences), the lesson time is typically in a classroom and then recreation time is outside, weather permitting. For our more recreational and active camps, the lesson time is typically outdoors and will focus on learning content related to the camp theme. For example, Mountain Madness spends time outside learning knot tying and other shelter building skills and then will have time for recreation games and movement.
Half-day and sport-specific camps will follow a different structure.
An example day outline from Chemistry Camp:
8:30-9:00AM | Sign-in |
9:00-10:00AM | Recreation time |
10:00-10:15AM | Snack and transition to classroom |
10:15-11:30AM | Classroom time |
11:30AM-12:00PM | Clean-up/transition time |
12:00-1:00PM | Lunch and lunch recreation |
1:00-2:20PM | Classroom time |
2:20-3:00PM | Recreation time |
3:00-3:30PM | Clean up/transition to sign out |
3:30-3:45PM | Sign out |
How does it work if my camper is registered in two half day camps? Is there supervision over lunch time?
If a camper is in two half day camps, they will be signed out from the AM camp by a staff member, brought to a supervised space to eat lunch, and then will be signed into their PM camp by a staff member. Parents/guardians do not need to come in person to sign out from the AM camp.
What should a camper pack for the day?
In general, participants should always come with a water bottle, a lunch, 1-2 snacks, and weather appropriate gear. Weather appropriate gear for a sunny day can include a hat, sunscreen, and light clothing. For a colder day, gear can include a rain jacket, extra socks, and waterproof shoes. We recommend also packing a change of clothes if relevant to your camper.
Please refer to the Welcome to Camps letter sent out before your registered week for any camp-specific notes.
How much time do campers spend outside?
In general, all camps will include some portion of the day outside but this will vary greatly depending on what camp a participant is in. For example, a Science camp may be outside for lunch time and a recreation game block then head back inside. In comparision, Mountain Madness spends the majority of time outdoors and go inside only for short classroom lessons or when there is extreme weather.
No matter the camp, please ensure campers are prepared to spend some of the day outdoors.
Is my camper able to access a microwave or fridge?
No, we do not have microwave or fridge access for campers.
Is my camper able to buy food on campus?
We ask that campers come prepared with snacks and food packed for the day and do not rely on buying food at camps. Campus food options are not consistently accessible to all groups and for the safety and supervision of all camps we are not able to walk individual campers to purchase food.
What camps get the camper t-shirts?
All our full-day camps receive camp shirts. This includes: ELL Teen, Junior, Outdoor Sports, Mountain Madness, Girls Rock, Junior Leadership, and all sciences. Leadership Level 1 campers will receive our special SFU Camps Leadership shirt.
Half-day camps and all Varsity camps do not receive camp shirts.
Do you have a Lost and Found?
We do! The Lost and Found bin is located in the Programmers office. Please ask a volunteer or staff for help accessing it.
Please note that we clear out our Lost and Found at the end of every month in order to keep it clean and hygenic. Please contact us ASAP if you notice a missing item.
Note: Please label all belongings going to camp with a first and last name.
What is your mask policy?
We support staff, volunteers, and campers to continue to wear masks based on their own comfort and risk factors.
What is the difference between Science Junior and the 6-7yr old age group for Chemistry, Engineering, and STEM?
Science Junior is open to campers aged 5-6 and covers an overview of key concepts and theories from all science disciplines, including Chemistry, Engineering, and STEM. Science Junior typically also does an hour more of recreation time per day, as we find this helps the youngest age group stay focused and engaged during the classroom time.
In Chemistry, Engineering, and STEM, campers will learn the key concepts from that specific topic and then go more in detail about each concept through class discussions, group projects, and instructor-led lectures.
How much repetition is there between weeks of the same science camp? For example, I want to register my child for 3 weeks of Science Junior but want to know if it will be the same content every week.
We aim for our educational camps to have at least two different week plans to alternate week to week but there will be some repetition of key concepts and activities week to week. Staff are trained on strategies to keep repeat campers engaged and continue to challenge their learning, week to week. This can look like those campers helping with demonstrating the activity, providing additional details about a certain scientific concept, and collaborating with the camper to see what they are most interested in.
How much repetition is there between weeks of the same recreational camp? For example, I want to register my child for 2 weeks of Outdoor Sports.
Camps like Outdoor Sports and Mountain Madness include the same general learning goals each week but the activities will differ depending on the make-up and dynamic of the camper group. For example, Mountain Madness will always cover knot tying and shelter building but one week they may do this once and then spend more time on hiking preparation, and the next week they may do shelter building a couple times with different challenges each time, all dependent on camper interest and abilities.
Similar to our science camps, staff are trained on engaging with repeat campers by asking questions and following their lead to provide a fun experience each week.
Will my 12-year-old camper in Tennis be in the same group as the 6-year-olds?
All Tennis campers will be on the Tennis Court at the same time and be split up into groups based on age and ability. Warm-ups and recreational games may be done as a large group with all ages together but will then be split off again for skill practice and development.
How will ELL Teen camp support campers who do multiple weeks?
There will be similar activities each week but Campers will continue to be challenged in their English language learning by adding complexity, length, and details to the camp projects and activities.
For example, for daily journal prompts, a repeat camper will be given different prompts with higher level vocabularly needed and more structured paragraph format.
For activities like the campus tour or a group presentation, repeat campers may be asked to help explain certain features to the new campers, in order to work in verbal practice and some public speaking.
Does my child need experience in the specific sport to participate in a Varsity Youth Camp, like soccer?
No, previous experience is not necessary to sign up and participate in a Varsity Youth Camp. These camps are intended to be foundational and will cover the basic skills and movements relevant to each sport.
GOT QUESTIONS?
camps@sfu.ca
(778) 782-4965