Frequently asked questions

It’s normal to feel like you have lots of questions - sending your child to an overnight camp requires preparation and dedication from parents, too. We invite you to scroll below for answers. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, send us an email and our team will be happy to guide you.

meals, travel & lodging

  • Yes.

    The Whistler Athletes’ Centre in-house catering team will work around your dietary restrictions and/or allergies.

    If this applies to you, indicate your dietary restrictions and/or allergies clearly on the appropriate registration forms. We encourage campers with anaphylaxis allergies to email us with more details.

    If you have anaphylaxis allergies, you must bring 2 epipens.

  • All meals are included between camp Kick-Off and Wrap-Up. More specifically, dinner on July 10 until breakfast on July 19, inclusively.

  • The closest airport is Vancouver International Airport (YVR), located approximately 2 hours south of Whistler.

  • We recommend booking our Airport Shuttle so campers can get to know each other & our Empower Staff from the moment they step foot at the airport. This shared travel experience will help campers form connections right away. The experience starts now!

    To take advantage of this add-on, select “Airport Shuttle” at registration. You will be asked to provide a flight itinerary. Empower Staff will individually reach out to campers to organize transportation.

    Campers flying in to YVR on July 10 will be greeted and supervised by Empower Staff from 8am until their scheduled shuttle.

    This optional add-on is $149 + GST each way.

  • We recommend booking our Airport Shuttle.

    To take advantage of this add-on, select “Airport Shuttle” at registration. You will be asked to provide a flight itinerary. Empower Staff will individually reach out to campers to organize transportation.

    Campers flying out of YVR on July 19 will be driven to the airport, receive assistance to check-in, and be walked to the security gate.

    This optional add-on is $149 + GST each way.

  • If you have selected the Airport Shuttle add-on, our Empower Staff will help your child with the flight check-in.

    If your child is travelling by themselves, we will walk them to the security gate and release them from our care then.

    If you have paid for an Unaccompanied Minor Service with your airline, we will transfer duty of care to the airline agent after the check-in process is completed.

  • The Empower Camp Kick-Off starts at 3pm on Thursday, July 10.

    If you are arriving by air, you can:

    • Organize your own transportation to Whistler.

    • Book our Airport Shuttle add-on and be greeted by our staff at the airport.

    If you are arriving by car:

    • Meet our crew at the Whistler Athletes’ Village at the scheduled check-in time.

    The Empower Camp Wrap-Up is at 10am on Sunday, July 19.

    If you are leaving by air, you can:

    • Organize your own transportation to the Vancouver Airport.

    • Book our Airport Shuttle add-on and be driven to the airport by our staff.

    If you are leaving by car:

    • Parents/Guardians should plan to pick-up their camper at 10am at the Whistler Athletes’ Village.

    For late arrivals or early departures, please email us to discuss logistics.

  • All rooms are double-occupancy. Campers of the same gender and similar ages are paired as roommates for the duration of the camp.

    If you are attending Empower Leadership Camps with a friend or sibling of the same gender, you can request to be roommates by email.

    You may inquire about single occupancy rooms by email. There is an additional cost of $575 + GST (non-refundable).

  • Campers are staying at the Whistler Athletes’ Centre located at 1080 Legacy Way, Whistler BC V8E 0K3.

camp format, activities & certifications

  • Download our Information Package to learn more about our Camp Format.

  • Download our Information Package to read more about our Daily Overview.

  • No, your child must select only one pathway. Both mountain bike and tennis training sessions are scheduled on the same days. Groups are split by pathway for 2.5 days over the duration of the camp.

  • Mountain bike training is provided by PMBIA Certified Coaches and Trainers.

    Tennis training is provided by Tennis Canada Certified Coaches.

    For pathway-specific details, click here.

  • Our Empower Staff, with the help of Mountain Skills Academy’s guides, will decide on the destination and route based on group size, site availability, and weather.

    Possible hikes include Elfin Lakes or Garibaldi Lake.

  • Empower Leadership Camps’ goal is to equip campers with coaching, group management and decision-making skills, through certification training, outdoor adventures, and team challenges.

    Depending on the selected pathway and camper’s age, certifications and sessions include:

    • PMBIA Ride Leader

    • Training Session with PMBIA or Tennis Canada Certified Coaches

    • Hands on coaching experience, shadowing a Combo Camps coach

    • Flat water kayak course with Don from Captain Holiday’s Kayak and Adventure School

    • Meal planning and learning to fuel for adventure with a Nutritionist

    • Lean to plan an overnight hiking expedition, guided by Mountain Skills Academy

    • Soft skills that will carry campers through the start of their professional life (interpersonal skills, team work, problem-solving, initiative)

    Download our Information Package for a detailed list of certifications and skills.

camper safety, protocols & contact

  • We understand that you may want to contact your camper while they are at Empower Leadership Camps. The best times to reach them at are:

    • Between 7am-8am PST

    • Between 5pm-6pm PST

    Note that campers will not have access to their phones outside of those times.

  • Your child may want to contact you while they are at Empower Leadership Camps, to share updates of their recent adventures. They will have access to their phones at the following times:

    • Between 7am-8am PST

    • Between 5pm-6pm PST

    Note that campers will not have access to their phones outside of those times.

  • Letters or packages can be mailed to the Whistler Racket Club:

    4500 Northlands Blvd, Whistler, BC V8E 1C7

    Please do not mail any letters or packages to the Whistler Athletes’ Centre.

  • Our camper to coach ratio is 8:1.

  • Yes, campers are supervised 24/7 by Empower Staff and/or by coaches during pathway-specific training.

    Empower Staff also sleeps at the Whistler Athletes’ Centre and are on stand-by should any issues arise throughout the night.

  • All activities, challenges, and training sessions are included in the registration fees and are at no extra cost to the campers.

    We do suggest bringing approximately CAD$100 to cover possible incidentals or for purchases of souvenirs.

  • For the purpose of connection, Empower Leadership Camps is a phone-free and tablet-free environment during activities and sessions. Specific times are built in each day’s schedule for campers to use their phones/tablets:

    • Before breakfast (around 7am-8am PST)

    • Before dinner (around 5pm-6pm PST)

    Campers will not have access to their phones/tablets during sessions, activities, or overnight.

  • Should your child get sick or injured, a staff member will inform you by phone or email.

    For illnesses or injuries that require medical attention, campers will be driven to the Whistler Health Care Centre for treatment.

    If your child is ill or injured and can no longer partake in the scheduled activities, we will give your child a rest day (with supervision), if appropriate. If the illness or injury is severe or doesn’t subside, we may have to request your child is dismissed early. In such cases, we will work with you to reschedule flights and shuttle arrangements.