Question Period Note: Learn to Camp Program

Learn to Camp Program

• Parks Canada places belong to all Canadians. They represent the very best that Canada has to offer and tell the stories of who we are, including the history, cultures and contributions of Indigenous peoples.
• Developing new and innovative programs and services, like Learn-to Camp, allows more Canadians, including youth and newcomers, to experience the outdoors and learn about our environment and heritage.
• The Learn-to Camp program creates a connection between first-time campers and the Canadian camping experience, builds awareness of family health and wellness and introduces children and families to a lifetime of outdoor activities.
• In 2017, the Government of Canada expanded the Learn-to Camp program which has enabled 276 000 more Canadians to connect with nature.
• The goal of the expanded program is to help Canadians overcome barriers to connecting with nature and experiencing Canada’s national parks and historic sites.

STATISTICS
• The Learn-to Camp program was launched in 2011. Between 2011 and 2016, more than 16,000 participants have taken part in the program.
• In the 2016 Federal Budget, $5.1M over five years was allocated to expand the Learn-to Camp program, a commitment also reflected in the Minister’s mandate letter.
• As a result of the expanded Learn-to Camp offer, over the past three years (2017, 2018, 2019), the program has reached 276 000 Canadians through an enhanced program offer.
CHRONOLOGY
• The Learn-to Camp program was introduced in 2011 as part of Parks Canada’s 100th anniversary.
• In the 2016 Federal Budget, $5.1M over five years was allocated to expand the Learn-to Camp program, a commitment also reflected in the Minister’s mandate letter.
• In spring 2017, six Learn-to Camp hubs were established across Canada in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver. Each hub delivered various daytime outreach events (workshops, day events, pop-up activities and participation in festivals and other community events) and overnight events. The same formula was used in 2018 and again in 2019. Current funds sunset on March 31, 2021.
OBJECTIVES OF THE LEARN-TO CAMP EXPANDED PROGRAM
• Provide opportunities for Canadians to learn new skills that would allow them to create memorable experiences and increase their connection to nature.
• Build awareness and promote camping experiences and related activities available both within and outside Parks Canada locations to families, especially those from urban locations.
• Foster a sense of connection to Canada’s heritage places through memorable experiences and increased knowledge obtained while participating in outdoor activities.
TARGET AUDIENCES
• The program has been very effective in reaching its target audiences of low and middle income families, families with young children, new Canadians, and urban Canadians. The participants are more diverse, more urban than the average Parks Canada visitor and low and middle income families are also over-represented as participants.

Question Period notes as provided by the Department to the Minister’s Office