Surf, hike, and camp your way through Spring Break with the best experiences Vancouver Island has to offer for youth.

For Spring Break (March Break) 2027, we are excited to offer a spectacular 6-day  outdoor leadership and camping journey visiting three of our favourite spots on Vancouver Island: Parksville, Tofino, and Ucluelet. It’s an epic overnight adventure teen surf-camp-road trip adventure!

While others are staying home or running away to warmer climates, we’ll be heading out into our beautiful BC coastal temperate rainforest of a backyard on an experience that proves that Tofino has so much to offer, no matter the season. In this unique youth overnight experience, youth will partake in activities such as surfing, outdoor skill-building lessons, and visits to the Roy Henry Vickers Museum, Tofino Botanical Gardens, and so many other hidden gems!

Like most of our camps, the Salty Express is also Duke of Edinburgh’s Award APPROVED. Earn your Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award with us! Click here to learn more.

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Itinerary, packing list and essential trip information.

Six days, five nights: Rathtrevor on nights 1 and 5, and Tofino on nights 2, 3 and 4.

• Reconnect with yourself and nature during a digital detox with no technology or external distractions. During the experience, our focus is on the youth we are sharing the journey with. As long as you’re with Fireside, it’s just delicious group meals, the smell of the cedars, and the distant crashing of waves against the shore.

• Bond with experienced and inspiring instructors who will be there for you 24-7. They’ll teach you plant identification, camp management, and so much more!

• Take to the waves in Tofino, Canada’s #1 surfing destination. No prior experience, no problem! We can arrange surfing lessons for all who need them.

• Enjoy the finest of Vancouver Island art at the Roy Henry Vickers Art Gallery.

• After a long day of exploration, there’s nothing better than S’MORES around the campfire with your new friends. Enjoy fresh, nutritious meals that you made yourself!

Take the morning ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Vancouver Island and head to Rathtrevor campground. Set up camp, settle into the group, practise camp skills and plan the route and adventure together. Explore the beaches and forest before our first night of camping. Overnight: Rathtrevor (night 1). Exact sailing and travel instructions will be shared before departure.

Up early, we will pack up our camp and say goodbye to Rathtrevor beach and head to Tofino! On our way, we will stop at Coombs’ Goats on the Roof at the famous Coombs Market and Cathedral Grove to check out some incredible old-growth trees. Once in Tofino, we’ll set up camp (glamping style) at our planned Surf Grove campground, a peaceful campground with excellent services such as picnic tables, washrooms and shower facilities, beach access, and more! In the evening, we’ll take a sunset walk along the beach to visit some secret tidal pools (we’ll have masks for students to really check them out!) and participate in a beach photography lesson. We’ll end the day around the campfire for some stories of Tofino and the West Coast. Hole in the Wall is an optional stop en route if time allows. Stops depend on access and schedule. Overnight: Tofino (night 2). Campground arrangements remain subject to booking.

Up early, we’ll eat a hearty breakfast and do some team-building. We’ll practice our outdoor skills (knots, tarps, and outdoor cooking lessons). We will pack our lunches and head into town to explore. In town, we will visit the iconic Tofino Museum and art galleries to learn more about the area. After exploring the urban zone, we will head to the Tonquin Trail for a stunning

rainforest and beach hike and lunchtime picnic. Then, we will head back to camp for dinner and a fire. Here we will share stories and practice our campfire songs. Activities adapt to weather, access and schedule. Overnight: Tofino (night 3).

In the morning, we will participate in a sunrise ceremony, eat a delicious breakfast, and participate in an afternoon surfing lesson with Surf Sister. After riding the waves, we will return to camp for free time (siestas, slack lining, beach time). For dinner, the group will participate in an Iron Chef cooking competition, followed by a student skit night by the campfire. Surf lessons remain subject to provider booking and conditions. Overnight: Tofino (night 4).

Travel back from Tofino to Rathtrevor and set up camp for our final night together. A second surf session remains part of the activity plan, subject to schedule and provider booking. Horne Lake Caves is an optional activity during the Rathtrevor portion of the trip, with timing kept flexible and subject to access and booking. Overnight: Rathtrevor (night 5).

Wrap up the adventure at Rathtrevor, pack down camp and travel to Nanaimo for the planned 4 p.m. return ferry. We will debrief the journey and enjoy our last moments together as we wind down the experience. Participants purchase dinner on the ferry with their own spending money. Pickup is planned for 5:45 p.m. at Horseshoe Bay; final travel instructions will be shared before departure. The planned ferry time does not confirm a reservation.