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Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are requiredThe YES (The Youth Excellence Society)
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Focus
Leadership (multi) -
Cost
$325 to $1,100/week -
Main language
English -
Ages (Gender)
14 to 18 (Coed) -
Capacity
40 to 65 -
e-Brochure
View e-brochure
Vancouver Island leadership programs serving BC teens through overnight summer camps, school workshops & online courses. Our programming changes the lives of participants, providing them with the tools and skills to create positive change in their family, school, and community. A charity with no religious affiliation supported through the co-operatives & credit unions.
- Special needs: Yes, mild support. A few of our campers have special needs.
- LGBTQ+ friendly community
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Focus
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Programs, Rates & Dates
Programs and Sessions Calendar
The YES is a co-operative leadership camp. We believe in helping youth experience and learn what it takes to build a strong community, strong friendships, resilience and self-worth. With a focus on self-awareness, cooperation, communication and leadership, we provide life skills that everyone needs to both succeed and find fulfillment. Because of our incredible volunteer staff team, our camp is both fun and life-changing. Youth get to experience what it is like to be part of a supportive community, be celebrated for who they are, and have the opportunity to learn about themselves and others, all while having a ton of fun on 40 acres of beautiful lakefront wilderness.
The YES (The Youth Excellence Society) currently has 3 programs available.
Filter by activities .
Filter Activities
Ages: 14 - 18Virtual Program
(Coed)Adventure (multi)
$100 to $400Virtual Program,
VirtualNov 01, 2025-Dec 31, 2026 $100 - $400 Lake Cowichan, BC
8885 Lakeview Park RdJul 05-11 $1,100 Lake Cowichan, BC
8885 Lakeview Park RdJul 26-Aug 01 $1,100 Lake Cowichan, BC
8885 Lakeview Park RdAug 02-08 $1,100 Lake Cowichan, BC
8885 Lakeview Park RdJul 12-18 $1,100 Lake Cowichan, BC
8885 Lakeview Park RdJul 19-25 $1,100 Lake Cowichan, BC
8885 Lakeview Park RdAug 09-15 $1,100 Lake Cowichan, BC
8885 Lakeview Park RdAug 16-22 $1,100
Registration Details
Please note students can only attend one week of The YES Summer Camp per year. This is to ensure we leave space in our programs so as many BC youth can attend. Also, when you leave one of our camps, a really strong community is formed and it may be challenging to step into an unformed group for another week.
Camp rates are already subsidized by the Credit Unions of BC, however sponsors from around BC are available to further support camp registration fees. Visit our website for a list of our sponsors. Each sponsor has a different process for selecting participants, so please get in touch with sponsors in your community to find out more.
All youth are welcome to register for camp, and details can be found at www.theyes.ca/summer-camp
Financial Aid & Payment Details
Payment Options:
Deposit required with acceptance Yes Credit card payment Yes Maximum installments available 10 Scholarships & awards:
Total annual scholarship fund: $10,000 CAD-
BC Credit Union & Co-op Sponsors
Type: Need basedAmount: 100% Deadline: Rolling
Age: 14 to 18
Details: Every year many participants attend our summer camp programs through camper sponsorship provided by various Credit Unions and Cooperatives in B.C. Although the cost of camp is already subsidized, we along with our generous supporters make every effort to make camp accessible to all families and their children.
If you are a participant or parent/guardian looking for support, there are two ways to obtain sponsorship:
1. Ask your local Co-op or Credit Union, or 2. Apply for subsidy from The YES
Application Details: Sponsorship is available to those who require financial support. In our effort to making camper fees more affordable, our office offers partial subsidies for our Summer Camp program. Sponsorship request forms must be submitted minimum two weeks prior to camp. If you are interested in obtaining some subsidy, please fill out the Subsidy Request Form at www.theyes.ca/finding-sponsorship
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Reviews & Insider Perspectives
The YES (The Youth Excellence Society) reviews on OUR KIDS
4.7 (8 total reviews)
Get a range of perspectives to understand the day-to-day experience, the program quality, and the skills and personal growth kids gain. Star ratings are calculated from verified written reviews only.
- 2 verified written reviews
- 5 short-form reviews
- 1 OUR KIDS reviews of The YES (The Youth Excellence Society)
Latest reviews for The YES (The Youth Excellence Society)
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Gallery
Photo Gallery
Video Gallery
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Meet the Staff
Director's Message
As a former participant of The YES Camp I have the unique perspective of having been a camper, volunteer, staff member and now Executive Director of this remarkable organization. What I can say after over two decades of involvement, is that this program has a positive and often transformational affect on the lives of those who get involved.
For me, as a teenager, this program was exactly what I needed to find a supportive community of peers who celebrated me for who I was, a community of youth inspired by the idea of creating positive change, and a platform to help me develop the leadership and life skills I needed to move forward. As a volunteer and later program staff I was able to work on an inspiring team, dedicated to the well being of youth, and committed to each others' success. And as the Camp Director and Executive Director, I have had the pleasure of leading an extraordinarily talented group of diverse leaders whose sole mission is to provide a positive experience for youth that contributes to their growth and development as individuals.
Our camp is unique. We meet each participant where they're at and work with them with a combination of care and respect. We try to show each teenager that they're not alone in their struggles, and raise their level of self-worth and resiliency through social connections, self-esteem and the influence of positive role models, while at the same time encouraging them to expand their comfort zones, take risks and embrace the discomfort of growth and expansion.
This program can be life changing. I've experienced it myself, and observed its affect on thousands of teenagers over the last 25 years. We hope you'll come and experience the power of the program yourself.Staff and Counsellors
The YES Staff team are an incredible group of over 50 individuals from around BC. While the majority of our staff are YES Camp Alumni, we also have highly skilled individuals with experience in youth leadership, education, empowerment and counselling. Joining the YES Staff team is highly competitive, and the quality of our facilitators is second to none.
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Location & Operations
Address
Lake Cowichan, BC8885 Lakeview Park Rd, Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, V0R 2G0Victoria, BC100-556 Herald Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1S6OnlineVirtual ProgramBusing
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Camp Bus (Bus fee: Included in Camp Cost)
Location Address Pick up Drop off West Kelowna West Kelowna, BC V1Z 3Y4, Canada 8:15 am 6:45 pm Merritt 3999 Airport Rd, Merritt, BC, Canada 9:30 am 5:30 pm Abbotsford Abbotsford, BC V2S 0E7, Canada 12:45 pm 3:15 am Vancouver 1150 Station Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada 2:00 am 1:45 am Horseshoe Bay Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal, West Vancouver, BC, Canada 2:45 am 12:50 pm Nanaimo Departure Bay Road, Nanaimo, BC, Canada 5:45 pm 9:50 am
Property Details
Sports facilities
- Soccer Field
Landscape
- Beach
- Forested Area
- Lake/Pond/River
- Nature Trails
- Open Field
More details about property: Our camp facility comes with an incredible kitchen staff that serves us nutritious meals and snacks, buffet style. One of the largest buildings on site is our main hall and dining area, which is attached to our big, outdoor patio. We use our main hall for many activities, as well as our two large upper and lower fields.
We love being able to run activities that connect us back to nature and the land that we are on. Thanks to this site, we’re able to offer teenagers an opportunity to go canoeing, swimming, play field games and more.Accommodations
Sleeping Accommodations
- Cabins
- Dorm or Building
Amenities
- Electricity in Sleeping Area
- Shower in Sleeping Area
- Toilet in Sleeping Area
Washrooms Facilities
- Flush Toilets
- Showers (indoor)
Are meals provided? Yes. The CLEC (Cowichan Lake Education Centre) has their own kitchen staff that provide excellent and healthy meals, with a wide range of choices. They are able to accommodate special diets and allergies. Meals are served buffet style with many choices. All meals include a variety of fruits and veggies.
Is The YES (The Youth Excellence Society) technology free? Yes. All participants are required to hand in their cellphones or any other device that can connect to the Internet on the first night of camp. Cell phones and other devices will be securely stored by the staff team and will be returned on the last day of camp (Saturday morning). We believe that our programming is most successful when participants limit screen time, and spend intentional moments with the community at camp. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to support this goal by not requiring that youth check in throughout the week. Participants can request to make a phone call or send a message home with a staff member when needed.
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Camp Bus (Bus fee: Included in Camp Cost)
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What's New
In the News
February 10, 2026
Registration is Open for The YES Camp 2026 Season!
At The YES, youth aged 14-18 have the opportunity to expand their leadership and team building skills and connect with youth from across BC!... Read More
September 17, 2025
The YES Celebrates 50 Years of Leadership, Community & Connection
The YES marks 50 years of empowering youth in BC through leadership, community, and connection!... Read More
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