Summer Youth Retreat
NEW! for Teens
VIBE WEEK
Good people. Good nature. Great possibilities!
Vibe Week is a brand-new Fircom 5-night Escape for teens finishing Grades 11 and 12 (ages 16-18) who want something real: the kind of real you only find in nature, in late-night conversations, in shared adventures, and in moments that don’t need a screen to matter.
Come ready to share your voice and shape your experience!
DATE:
Sunday-Friday, August 23-28, 2026
Your Facilitators:
Andrea McLaren & Drew Climie
Fee: $950.00
Accommodation:
Craigcroft: Triple Occupancy
Maximum 24 participants.
Registration Opens
February 2026
What’s the vibe of Vibe Week?
No pre-set schedules!
Whether you’ve spent the summer leading kids at camp or you’re just craving a break from the grind (and your phone), this week is built for you. No rigid schedules. No pressure to perform. Just real experiences, real friendships, and genuine moments that unfold because you help shape the week.
We will dump a giant “activity bucket” on the table and build the week with you. Choose from a mix of hikes, art, ocean time, reflection, creative sessions, meaningful discussions, and whatever ideas you and your crew bring. Our leaders hold the edges, but the vibe is co-created by everyone.
Show up as you are. Help make the week what you want. Leave with memories that weren’t manufactured by an algorithm.
Your Week includes a buffet of Wilderness Challenges:
Hiking near or far
Voyager paddling
paddleboarding
swimming
optional group overnight camping experience at Halkett Bay.
Pick your adventures.
Go Back for seconds! :-)
Community Building - Chill Vibes:
outdoor movie night
board games
lounging time
non-fire campfires
stargazing
Storytelling
Creative & Reflective Vibes:
art sessions
yoga offerings
guided self-exploration on values and self-compassion
Pick your ….. ……. ……
.
Contribution Vibes:
Hands-on learning
opportunities to contribute to the Fircom garden
Site Projects
FACILITATORS:
Andrea McLaren
Andrea McLaren is an experienced facilitator and psychotherapist dedicated to fostering genuine connections. She brings energy, fun, compassion and curiosity to her work with young people. While based in East Van, in her spare time she hikes and paddles, and is currently working towards becoming a certified paddleboard instructor. Andrea is passionate about sharing how deepening our connection with nature can profoundly impact our well-being and consciously strives to live in a way that supports the earth and all its inhabitants. When asked what excites her most about this event, she said: “The opportunity to be with young people and to support and grow with them while we all relax, play, and learn together at beautiful Fircom.
Drew Climie
Drew is a guide and educator who uses the power of nature to help people on their wellness journey. As a certified paddling instructor, hike guide, and trauma-sensitive yoga teacher, Drew specializes in creating unique outdoor experiences that foster personal growth. He brings warmth, understanding and a calm energy to his work. He is passionate about promoting a reciprocal relationship with the environment, believing that as we receive the restorative gifts of nature, we are compelled to protect local ecosystems and all natural areas. Drew's goal is to help people build resilience, find peace, and connect with their own strength in natural spaces while inspiring a shared mission to care for the planet.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Accommodation:
Craigcroft Lodge
Our dorm-style building with a huge and yet cozy common area, kitchen, deck and two washrooms.
Sleeping: 12 bedrooms (6 upstairs and 6 downstairs; three teens per room). Retreat leaders will also stay in Craigcroft and will be accessible through the night. For one night we plan to offer a camp out in Halkett Bay with the entire group!
Meals:
Our group will have access to a full kitchen within Craigcroft, where we will prepare a few meals (breakfasts and one evening BBQ). Most of our lunches and dinners will be in the main dining hall, prepared by the Fircom Kitchen Team. Some of these meals may be eaten off site, especially if we choose to hike/be on water, have a picnic and camp overnight.
getting to/from Fircom
Arrival & Departure:
Sunday, August 23, 2026: Depart Horseshoe Bay at _____pm. TBC
Depart Fircom on Friday, August 28 at 10:30 or 11:00 am, arriving back to Horseshoe Bay before 11:30am TBC
Check in will take place at the Public Dock in Horseshoe Bay Village (pictured above). Please be on the dock with your bag(s) no later than 20 mins prior to water taxi departure.
Friday, August 28, 2026: Depart Camp Fircom at 11:30am TBC.
More info about Gambier Island.
Ground & Site Map >.
Questions?
Email us at info@fircom.ca
